Hood Container of Louisiana unveiled plans to upgrade and expand its St Francisville paper mill located in West Feliciana Parish in Louisiana, US, in July 2020.
The company started discussions with Louisiana Economic Development for the expansion project in May 2019. The State of Louisiana offered an incentive package to the company, including $200,000 Modernisation Tax Credit to be provided over five years to secure the project.
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The estimated investment involved in the project is $50m. The expansion will support 75 construction jobs while retaining 306 existing employees and a $23m annual payroll at the mill.
Hood Container mill location
The paper mill is located close to the north of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on the eastern banks of the Mississippi River.
The location is favourable to ensure efficient customer service and environmental stewardship.
Hood Container paper mill expansion details
Previously known as the Crown Zellerbach and Tembec mill, the facility was acquired by Hood Container in 2015. Since the acquisition, the company has been continuously upgrading the mill to improve its manufacturing process efficiency.
The current expansion project will re-purpose and modernise the paper mill.
State-of-the-art technology will be implemented in the facility to improve its operations. Two digester blow-line refiners will be installed to improve the mill’s pulp-refining operation efficiency.
A secondary headbox and additional dryer cans will be installed to improve the paper quality and production.
Previous expansions
Hood Container upgraded the paper mill in two phases to increase paper production, in 2016.
The H1 paper machine of the mill was installed with a modern press section to increase containerboard production. Further, a recycling plant was installed.
Sustainability features
The paper mill utilises green fuels such as bark and sawdust to generate the majority of the boiler’s energy. Shipping schedules are optimised to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions for improved transportation efficiency.
The company’s corrugated facilities practice many green options such as maintaining low volatile organic compounds (VOC), converting 50% natural organic resin glue, employing renewable natural resources, and capturing and returning scrap to paper mills for recycling.
Hood Container uses sustainable resources and recycled fibre for manufacturing its products. The company’s divisions are FSC and SFI-certified.
Hood Container’s product portfolio
The mill produces kraft paper and linerboard for box packaging. The company offers solutions for different segments such as design, e-commerce packaging, digital printing, and logistics.
The Barberan Jetmaster 1680, a six-colour UV single-pass digital printer at the mill can deliver litho-like quality print at high speeds.
The company produces boxes with greater accuracy. The graphic packaging solutions include the capability to print 100L/S and down to a five-point font, with halftones, reverse outs and detailed graphics.
Marketing commentary on Hood Container
A wholly-owned subsidiary of Hood Companies, Hood Container was established by the acquisition of the New Johnsonville Paper Mill from International Paper in July 2012.
Hood Container owns and operates linerboard, medium and speciality paper manufacturing operations in New Johnsonville and St Francisville.
The company acquired the St Francisville paper mill from Amzak Capital Management in October 2015. Three facilities of the company, located in Asheville, Chicago and Greensboro, were awarded the Safety Excellence Award from The Corrugated Container Industry in June 2020.
Hood Companies, through its subsidiaries, offers forest and wood products, building and construction materials, and packaging products throughout North America.
