Volume 3, Number 2
May 1990

Mill Conversions

A letter from the South African Paper Conservation Group last November included some news from the paper industry:
"Good news greeted us on our visit to the Enstra mill of SAPPI (South African Pulp and Industries (Pty) Ltd.), with the amount of the conversion to alkaline sizing by alkyl ketene dimer from 1 November 1989. It certainly will be easier on our pockets to have a local supply of alkaline paper--at last!"

The James River mill at West Linn, Oregon, can be considered to be converted to alkaline as of April 1990, when its two communications papers machines were converted, because the other two machines in the mill make groundwood papers. The two coated web offset grades made on these machines, Capistrano II and Sonoma, are now being manufactured with alkaline base paper as sell as alkaline coating. They have been made with an alkaline coating for the past year. They are made without internal size, in weights as light as 45 lb., and are woodfree (freesheet).

That makes a total of five machines converted in James River Communications Papers mills : two at West Linn, two at Groveton, and one at Camus (#20, converted October 31).

Cross Pointe's Number 3 machine at its Flambeau mill in Park Falls, Wisconsin, converted to alkaline last year, and it began making product in January 1990. It will be making opaques and book paper.