"Mutually Exclusive: Old and Obsolete"




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Jim,

I don't know if the timing was serendipitous, but your column today comes in the same week that Domtar announced the closure of the Columbus MS coated paper operation. I was one of the people who originally built and started that mill, granted I was fresh out of engineering school, but your comments kind of hit the nail on the head. The machine started in August 1982, only 28 years ago.

Since the mill was essentially non-integrated to kraft pulp and had some challenges in concept given the fiber basket, it was not as competitive as it needed to be.

If I recall correctly, Laura worked there for a while as well.

Best Regards,

Keith Van Scotter
Lincoln, Maine
USA

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Yes, Keith, the mutual exclusiveness of old and obsolete can cut both ways. It was serendipitous.

However, this leads me to two comments. The first is our upcoming "Light Green Machine" Workshop and Conference which will be held on May 1 here in Atlanta. We hope this is the start of a serious discussion on how to make competitive machines, not only with each other, but with industries (such as plastic) that manufacture competitive products. For if we can lower the cost of building and operating paper mills, we have a better chance of competing with other materials. The conference is only USD 75.00 (and we have a 100%, no questions asked, money back guarantee). More information here.

The second comment is the Columbus situation shows that we all need to be ready to move on at any time. That is the subject of our survey this week. It can be found here.

Jim

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Jim:

One point to be corrected the SP News mill in Dublin and on the west coast is not, at least for now, part of the WhiteBirch bankruptcy and in fact is not part of WhiteBirch, though they have some common ownership, Peter Brant. This may change next week when a large note comes due but for now they are OK.

Best regards,

Ken Johnson
Sandersville, Georgia
USA

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Ken, must have been the article I read.

Jim

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Bravo! I like to think of myself as old but not obsolete.

Mickey Nell McMahon
Tell City, Indiana
USA

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