Pratt Industries has announced plans to build its fourth, 100 percent recycled paper mill – eventually bringing the company’s overall containerboard capacity to 1.5 million tons.
The new, $260 million mill will be located in Valpariaso, In., adjacent to the company’s existing box-making plant which is the world’s largest.
Chairman and owner Anthony Pratt said construction would begin in March, next year, and be completed by July, 2015.
“This new facility will allow us to better service the needs of our expanding customer base not only in the Midwest, but throughout the United States,” Anthony said. “And Indiana is a perfect fit for us. We’ve been a part of the business community here for many years now and we know there is a skilled, reliable workforce available to us.”
The mill will occupy a new 250,000 square-foot building on a 50-acre site. It will include a wastewater pre-treatment facility and road improvements. When it reaches full capacity, the new facility will produce 360,000 tons of recycled paper each year.
Pratt expects the new mill will eventually employ more than 100 people. The company currently employs more than 300 at the box plant. It expects to begin hiring paper machine operators, equipment operators, electrical and instrumentation technicians, shipping representatives, waste yard personnel, shift supervisors and maintenance associates late next year.
Valparaiso mayor Jonathon Costas believes the project represents “the single largest private taxpaying investment in the history of the city.”
“And Pratt’s state of the art green recycling technology will help conserve America’s forests and landfills,” he said. “It has been a real pleasure working alongside Pratt executives to pave the way for this expansion and it is clear to us why they have become the world’s largest privately-held 100% recycled paper and packaging company.”