Clearwater Paper to Install Metso Tissue Machine


Spokane, Washington, USA, 24 March 2011 -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Clearwater Paper Corporation (NYSE: CLW) today announced it has selected Metso Corporation of Helsinki, Finland, to manufacture its new through-air-dried (TAD) tissue machine, to be installed at the company's previously announced Shelby, North Carolina, tissue converting and distribution facility.

In June 2010, Clearwater Paper announced it would build the new through-air-dried (TAD) tissue machine and converting facility at Shelby. The new production and distribution capabilities of the facility will increase the company's ultra and premium offerings to existing Southern and East Coast customers and create new opportunities to expand the company's private label consumer tissue business to other retail grocery chains in the region.

Construction of the first phase — converting and warehouse areas of the facility — is on schedule and the company expects to begin converting production at the facility in the second half of 2011. The new Metso paper machine is expected to begin production during the second half of 2012.

The company believes that TAD technology is the most efficient and effective way to provide softness, strength, convenience, and absorption in tissue products. Metso's machine will comprise a complete tissue production line with stock preparation equipment and TAD tissue machine, including a multilayer headbox, through-air dryers and air system, and a dust management system. The production line also will feature Metso's patented belted reel technology. The production line will be optimized to produce ultra TAD quality tissue and towel products at high speed and efficiency.

Clearwater Paper manufactures quality consumer tissue, away-from-home tissue, hard roll tissue, machine glazed tissue, bleached paperboard, pulp, and wood products at 14 manufacturing locations in the United States and Canada. The company is a premier supplier of private label tissue to major retailers and wholesale distributors, inluding grocery, drug, mass merchants, and discount stores. The company also produces bleached paperboard used by printers and packaging converters. Clearwater Paper's 3800 employees build shareholder value by developing strong customer partnerships through quality and service.