CALHOUN, Tennessee -- Resolute Forest Products Inc. announced the successful start-up of its new tissue machine in Calhoun, Tennessee. The first tissue parent roll was produced on February 28, 2017.

The machine will continue its scheduled ramp-up through 2017 and is expected to be producing at maximum capacity toward mid-2018. With its fully operational converting facility, converted tissue products sold from Calhoun are now manufactured entirely from parent rolls produced on-site.

The Calhoun tissue operation, built at Resolute's pulp and paper mill, has the capacity to manufacture 66,000 short tons (60,000 metric tons) annually of premium private-label tissue, including bath and towel, aimed at the at-home market.

With its state-of-the-art machine, three converting lines and integration of pulp from the existing Calhoun pulp mill, this will be one of the most efficient and cost-competitive tissue operations in North America once full production is achieved, positioning Resolute as a key player in this growing market segment.