Recovering from a Catastrophic Fire

Sometimes it takes an adverse event to come back stronger than ever—and that was the case for the Paper Excellence Group, a leading global supplier of pulp, paper, tissue, packaging, and wood products. A major upgrade is now complete at the company’s Resolute Forest Products pulp mill in Menominee, MI, following a catastrophic fire that destroyed the warehouse, infeed conveyor, and bale finishing line in October 2022.

Thankfully, no one was injured and because rebuilding was required, the company took the opportunity to update its recycled bleached kraft pulp mill with state-of-the-art equipment.

While recent events have tested our resilience, we have handled those adeptly and we are ready to turn the page with exciting news. We are very thankful to our loyal customers for their support during this difficult time and are pleased to be able to provide the full range of products and bale packaging options we have in the past.

A modern facility transforms operations.

Beginning September 2024, the Paper Excellence Group will bring online a Recycled Bleached Kraft (RBK) bale finishing line that will include the most advanced technology, enhancing bale integrity with bales that are pressed and wrapped in recycled wrapper.

This customer-preferred bale will also improve handling and storage efficiencies, including streamlining truck and railcar loading. Furthermore, the company is underscoring its capital commitment to the business through several other investments. These include an upgraded forward cleaner system which will provide improved ink-removal capabilities and process reliability; an improved pulper trash handling area; and a brand-new warehouse that will feature enhanced safety systems, such as a larger fire suppression system and fire walls with automatic fire doors between storage areas to segregate wastepaper from finished pulp inventory.

Our commitment to innovation and supply security remains unwavering, and these technological investments not only enhance our production capabilities but also translate into a superior product and reliability for our valued customers.

Despite the challenges posed by the fire, the Paper Excellence Group returned to service as quickly as possible in March 2023, ensuring that customers continued to receive the high-quality products they expected from Menominee — and now this bale finishing line marks a return to full capabilities. While undergoing repairs, the mill worked diligently redefining their ability to offer an expanded range of end-use applications.

Throughout the disruption, pulp quality was never impacted. Customers can expect the same levels of consistent brightness and cleanliness they’ve always valued.

Aerial view of Resolute Forest Products’ Menominee Pulp Mill. Image: Paper Excellence Group

‘Krafting’ better results with recycled bleached kraft.

The Menominee mill’s signature product, RBK or recycled bleached kraft, will maintain the consistency customers have come to expect, and the enhanced production investments will ensure a reliable supply for years to come.

The sustainable product is 100% air dried, a process ensuring the highest-quality product and bale integrity when compared to other drying methods. It is also certified to FSC Recycled standards as well as SFI.

The deinking process is the most advanced in the industry due to multiple stages of cleaning that remove impurities and give the mill the ability to produce a consistently superior clean pulp. This is ideal for all paper, packaging (food and non-food), or tissue needs.

To complement this superior product, the Paper Excellence Group continues to provide the caliber of technical support and industry-leading customer service. “We look forward to speaking with clients about how we can elevate any project they have in mind with our RBK,” says John McDonald, vice president and managing director, the Americas, for the Paper Excellence Group. 

A Bright Future.

“While no company wishes to go through an event like we did, we are thrilled to return to our normal operating system, reaffirming our core beliefs to excellence and safety,” McDonald says. “We are proud of these new enhancements that underscore our commitment to pulp—and most importantly, all of our customers.”

For more information, please contact Ginger Bower, General Sales Manager at Paper Excellence Group, at [email protected].