Clearwater Paper Corporation has announced it has selected Metso Corporation of Helsinki, Finland, to manufacture its new Through-Air-Dried (TAD) tissue machine to be located at the company's previously announced Shelby, North Carolina, tissue converting and distribution facility.
"We chose an industry staple, a proven supplier, a machine used by many tissue companies around the world," said Brian Hoaglund, expansion project leader for Clearwater Paper. "Our team looked at all of the leading suppliers, but in the end we were most comfortable with Metso, due to their excellent engineering and quality end-product as well as top notch customer service."
In June 2010, Clearwater Paper announced it would build the new through-air-dried (TAD) tissue machine and converting facility at Shelby, North Carolina. The new production and distribution capabilities of the facility will increase the company's ultra and premium offerings to existing Southern and East Coast customers and create new opportunities to expand the company's private label consumer tissue business to other retail grocery chains in the region.
Construction of the first phase — converting and warehouse areas of the facility — is on schedule and the company expects to begin converting production at the facility in the second half of 2011. The new Metso paper machine is expected to begin production during the second half of 2012.
The company believes that TAD technology is the most efficient and effective way to provide softness, strength, convenience and absorption in tissue products. Metso's machine will comprise a complete tissue production line with stock preparation equipment and an Advantage ThruAir 200 TAD tissue machine including an OptiFlo II TIS multi-layer headbox, Thru-Air dryers and air system, and an Advantage WetDust dust management system. The production line will also feature Metso's patented Advantage SoftReel-B belted reel technology. The production line will be optimized to produce ultra TAD quality tissue and towel products at high speed and efficiency.