WestRock Announces $410 Million Investment in Florence County Mill

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Packaging and Paper products major WestRock Company has announced that it plans to invest around $410 million in upgrading the Florence, South Carolina kraft linerboard mill. The planned investment, spread over two years, is expected to provide big boost to the mill’s operational quality and product efficiency as a result of installation of new machines.

The company press release stated that the multi-million dollar investment comprises of installation of a modern 330” kraft linerboard machine and related infrastructure to support the machine operations. The state-of-the-art machine is expected to have a capacity to produce 710,000 tons of kraft linerboard per annum. The machine will be housed in a building adjacent to the existing mill plant. The installation works of the new machine is expected to commence soon. WestRock looks forward to commence production from the new equipment during the first half of 2020. The new machine will replace three older paper machines at the plant. Accordingly, shutdown of these machines is scheduled to take place in 2020, alongside commencement of production from the new machine.

WestRock Company CEO Steve Voorhees appreciated the support extended by the Florence County Economic Development Partnership and the S.C. Department of Commerce. Further, he hoped that the investment will convert the Florence mill into a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and sustain the good manufacturing jobs offered to the community. He also committed an investment of nearly $60 million over the next five years to support new machine and other mill projects.

Meantime, Florence County Economic Development Partnership Chairman Frank J. “Buddy” Brand termed the new investment by WestRock as one of the largest in recent history. The investment at Florence mill is a significant development for the people of the County, he added. Kent Caudle, Florence County Council Chairman noted that the expansion will further reinforce WestRock’s status as one among the top employers in Florence County.

Founded in 2015, WestRock is an American corrugated packaging company headquartered in Norcross, Georgia. Its operations are spread across nearly 30 countries. The company was the recipient of 13 awards including the prestigious Eco Award at the recently held Annual Paperboard Packaging Competition.