Tissue Products Mill

Summary

Clearwater Paper's consumer products division in Idaho operates around the clock, producing a wide range of paper products like bathroom tissue, household towels, and napkins. Utilizing a blend of softwood and hardwood pulp, the facility employs advanced machinery and a workforce of over 1,350 to meet national demand. With a commitment to safety, teamwork, and environmental stewardship, the plant contributes significantly to the local economy, employing the largest workforce in the region.

Takeaways

• 🌲 Idaho is home to one of the largest tissue companies in the nation, focused on private label products.
• 🚜 The primary resource for these paper products is pulp, mainly derived from sawdust and wood chips.
• 🔄 Clearwater Paper's consumer products division in Idaho operates 24/7 to meet national demand.
• 🏭 The tissue-making process begins with a blend of softwood and hardwood pulp, tailored to customer specifications.
• 💧 Water removal is a critical step in paper production, reducing the pulp from 96% water to 20%.
• 🔥 Steam is used to dry the pulp, creating a solid sheet of paper that can be processed further.
• 🏗️ The plant's machinery runs at high speeds, producing 230 tons of tissue daily.
• 📦 Over 1,750 cases of tissue products are processed hourly, with 32 forklift drivers managing storage and shipment.
• 🚚 Clearwater Paper ships products nationwide, with up to 57 trucks loaded daily for distribution.
• 🌱 The company emphasizes teamwork, safety, and environmental stewardship, contributing significantly to the local economy.

Q & A

What types of paper products are mentioned in the script?

The script mentions bathroom tissue, household towels, facial tissue, and napkins.

What is the significance of Idaho in the context of the nation's tissue production?

Idaho is part of the nation's largest tissue company focused solely on private label.

What is the primary resource used to make these paper products?

The primary resource used to make these paper products is trees.

How does Clearwater Paper's consumer products division in Lewiston, Idaho contribute to the production process?

Clearwater Paper's consumer products division in Lewiston, Idaho operates 24/7, focusing on fast, safe, efficient, and fine-tuned production to meet national market demands.

What is the starting material for the paper-making process described in the script?

The starting material is pulp, primarily made up of sawdust and wood chips.

How is the pulp mixture created for tissue production?

The pulp is combined with bales of hardwood pulp in a giant blender to create a mixture specific to each customer's product needs.

What is the initial water content of the pulp mixture when it is sprayed onto the mesh wire?

The initial water content of the pulp mixture is approximately 96%, with only 4% being solid material.

What is the role of gravity in the paper-making process described?

Gravity is used to drain water from the fiber through the mesh screen, reducing the water content to about 60%.

How does the use of rollers contribute to the drying process of the paper sheet?

Large rollers press out water, reducing the moisture content to approximately 20%.

What is the speed of the tissue-making machine and how much tissue does it produce per day?

The machine runs at 6,000 feet per minute and accounts for 230 tons of tissue per day.

How does Clearwater Paper's facility contribute to the local economy?

The facility has a local payroll and local vendor payments of more than $125 million per year, making it the largest employer in the region and Idaho's largest forest products business.

What is the commitment of Clearwater Paper's consumer products division towards the environment and its workforce?

Clearwater Paper's consumer products division is committed to teamwork, safety, and being good stewards of the environment.