Tour the Paper-Making Process at Pixelle Specialty Solutions™

Summary

Pixel Specialty Solutions, with a century of expertise, offers a diverse range of specialty papers and customized solutions. Their integrated mills in Pennsylvania and Ohio combine sustainable forestry practices with innovative papermaking processes, utilizing both hardwoods and softwoods to produce high-quality paper products. The company's commitment to environmental responsibility is evident through their transition to natural gas, minimizing carbon emissions and reducing their environmental impact. A tour of their facilities showcases the papermaking process, from sustainable forestry to the production of paper, highlighting their dedication to continuous improvement and customer service excellence.

Takeaways

• 🌲 Pixel Specialty Solutions is a leading supplier of specialty papers with over a century of experience.
• 🏭 The company operates fully integrated pulp and paper mills in Spring Grove, Pennsylvania, and Chillicothe, Ohio.
• 🌳 Pixel is committed to sustainable forestry and has invested over 100 million dollars in transitioning from coal to clean burning natural gas to reduce carbon emissions.
• 🔍 Certified foresters at Pixel work closely with landowners to ensure responsible timber harvesting and minimal environmental impact.
• 🪵 Timber is classified into softwoods and hardwoods, with different grades used for various applications such as furniture, pallets, and paper.
• 🌿 The Pennsylvania mill was one of the first to achieve triple chain of custody forestry certification from the Forest Stewardship Council, Sustainable Forestry Initiative, and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification.
• 🔄 In the wood yard, logs are debarked, chipped, and screened to isolate wood fibers for the pulping process.
• 🔧 The pulping process involves separating cellulose fibers from lignin using heat and chemicals in a digester.
• 📜 The paper-making process refines the pulp, blends in fillers and dyes, and then the mixture is spread onto a moving wire mesh to form a sheet of paper.
• 🔄 The paper is then pressed, dried, and undergoes quality checks with high-tech scanners that can detect minute defects.
• 📦 Finished paper is prepared according to customer specifications, packaged, and shipped, with capabilities to convert rolls into various sheet sizes.

Q & A

What is the core business of Pixel Specialty Solutions?

Pixel Specialty Solutions is a leading supplier of specialty papers, with over a century of experience in crafting high-quality paper products and providing exceptional customer service.

Where are Pixel's fully integrated pulp and paper mills located?

Pixel's fully integrated pulp and paper mills are located in Spring Grove, Pennsylvania, and Chillicothe, Ohio.

What is the significance of Pixel's tour through the papermaking process?

The tour is designed to showcase Pixel's commitment to continuous improvement, environmental sustainability, and the innovative use of technology in their papermaking process.

How does Pixel Specialty Solutions demonstrate its commitment to sustainable forestry?

Pixel has a long-standing commitment to sustainable forestry, being the first to develop sustainably managed forests in Pennsylvania and Maryland, and investing over 100 million dollars to transition mill operations from coal to clean burning natural gas.

What is the role of certified foresters in Pixel's forestry operations?

Certified foresters assist with individual tree selection and thinning, work closely with private landowners and developers for responsible timber harvesting, and provide expertise to minimize environmental impacts during harvesting.

How does Pixel differentiate between softwood and hardwood during the wood classification process?

Pixel differentiates between softwood and hardwood based on the type of tree leaves; hardwoods have leaves, while softwoods have needles.

What is the purpose of the pulping process in papermaking?

The pulping process is used to separate cellulose fibers from the lignin, which is the substance that holds the fibers together, in order to produce pulp for papermaking.

Why is a uniform chip size important in the pulping process?

A uniform chip size is important because it increases the yield and quality of wood fiber produced during the pulping process.

What is the purpose of bleaching in the papermaking process?

Bleaching is used to brighten the fibers, turning them from their natural brown color to white, which is necessary for the production of printing and writing papers.

How does Pixel Specialty Solutions ensure the quality of its paper products?

Pixel uses high-tech scanners to detect variations in face weight, moisture, caliper, opacity, brightness, and physical defects in the paper at high speeds and wide widths, ensuring a high-quality product.

What is the significance of the triple chain of custody forestry certification achieved by Pixel's Pennsylvania mill?

The triple chain of custody certification from the Forest Stewardship Council, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, and the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification signifies that Pixel's Pennsylvania mill adheres to strict environmental and social standards in its forestry practices.

How does Pixel Specialty Solutions support its customers with logistics and supply chain visibility?

Pixel has invested in FourKites, a supply chain visibility platform, allowing customers to track their shipments in real-time with updates every 15 minutes and alerts for unexpected delays.

What is the final step in the papermaking process before the paper reaches the customer?

The final step in the papermaking process is the finishing area, where paper is prepared according to customer specifications, packaged, and shipped as finished rolls or sheets.