First Quality to Add New Tissue Machine in South Carolina
Lock Haven Hoping for Second Machine
LOCK HAVEN – First Quality Tissue late last week announced its new paper machine will be located in Anderson, South Carolina, but local economic officials are hoping they’ll be able to get a planned second machine to locate at the old International Paper site in Castanea Township.
First Quality Tissue, a privately held leading manufacturer of ultra-premium towel and tissue products, made the announcement by news release from Great Neck, NY. The company said the South Carolina site will house one of two additional paper machines, expected in late 2015 and 2016 respectively.
The location for the second additional machine, according to the company, “is under serious consideration and will be announced within the next few weeks after completion of due diligence.”
Mike Flanagan, head of the Clinton County Economic Partnership, released a statement in which he noted the ongoing due diligence: “We are still going through the due diligence process for the second tissue machine. We have had several meetings over the last month or so and many are working with First Quality to make this plan a reality. The former International Paper site has its advantages, but also challenges. We are working on all of them and will continue to work until the decision is made on a second site. FQ has over 1,600 employees working in Clinton County and we will do our best to help make that number grow.”
Flanagan’s announcement is in line with reports earlier this year that Lock Haven was in the running for an additional machine. There is presently one at the old I-P site while the new machine in South Carolina will be the third at that facility.
The complete announcement from First Quality:
“First Quality Tissue, a privately held leading manufacturer of ultra-premium towel and tissue products is pleased to announce the following update to our most recent strategic expansion plan.
As previously announced, the company has made plans to add two additional TAD paper machines with an estimated annual capacity of 140,000 tons. The startup of these machines is expected to be late 2015 and 2016 respectively. The first of these two TAD machines is now confirmed for installation at First Quality’s existing Anderson, South Carolina site.
With the addition of this machine to the existing operations, the Anderson site will include three TAD machines with a combined estimated capacity of 210,000 tons. The location of the second TAD machine is under serious consideration and will be announced within the next few weeks after completion of due diligence.
“First Quality leadership recognizes the current and future requirements and expectations in the ultra-premium category. Consistent with our business philosophy we are focused on our customers and the ultimate consumers who use and value our products. Additional state of the art manufacturing capacity reaffirms First Quality’s commitment to the industry and ensures First Quality’s ability to meet the growing demands of our customers in a timely and efficient manner”.
Since inception, almost eleven years ago, First Quality Tissue has been committed to providing ultra-premium tissue and towel products to its customers in the United States, Canada and select International locations. The company has already installed four state of the art Through-Air-Dried (TAD) machines – two in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania and two in Anderson, South Carolina. This additional investment will result in an estimated capacity of 500,000 tons of paper.”
The First Quality group of companies began operations in Clinton County in 1989 and at last report had some 1,600 employees at a variety of facilities in Wayne and Castanea Townships, making the Great Neck, NY-based company the largest employer in the county.
Meanwhile the company is proceeding with additional parking and warehousing plans in Wayne Township.
