The Georgia-Pacific mill in Wauna will see significant investment, as the company recently announced it will invest more than $150 million to rebuild paper machines at the mill.
The investment will rebuild a vintage 1965 paper machine into a “world-class machine” to produce paper for Angel Soft® and strategic private label bath tissues.
The Chronicle & Chief reached out to Georgia-Pacific to understand the scale of the investment and what it means for the Columbia County community. Communications Manager Christy Ward explained the significance of the move.
“This is very exciting news for the Wauna team. The No. 1 Paper Machine (PM) was the first paper machine to be commissioned at the Wauna Mill on September 1, 1965,” Ward said. “This project will be a complete rebuild, with nearly every component replaced with state-of-the-art technology.”
The modernization project will help ensure the plant and overall business remain competitive in the marketplace, according to a Georgia-Pacific news release.
Ward said there are currently five paper machines in operation at the Wauna mill and the development will not impact the “number of team members” on PM No. 1.
“This rebuild will create a safer and more enriching work environment for our team members working on the No. 1 paper machine, which is transitioning from a 1960s-era paper machine to a modern paper machine,” Ward said. I did.
Engineering and related work has begun and the machine is expected to be commissioned in 2026. The company said 500 construction and contract workers will be on site at the plant during peak construction.
“We are excited to invest in the market-leading Angel Soft® bath tissue and the strategic private label brands we support,” said Vivek Joshi, president of Georgia-Pacific's tissue, towel and napkin retail business. “There is,” he said. “This investment will allow us to grow these brands and continue to serve our loyal consumers with the superior quality they expect.”
“This is a great investment for the Wauna team and community, and it has been a great time working at the Wauna factory,” said Brian Solheim, vice president of manufacturing at the Wauna factory. We are proud of the work our team members do every day to make our company a safe, competitive and strategic location for our product business. We appreciate all the support and partnership our community provides us. ”
The Wauna factory currently employs more than 700 people. This factory produces retail bath tissue, paper towels, and napkins used by consumers across the country. This investment is not expected to increase employment.
“For Columbia County, we continue to be a great employer for Columbia County residents, and this investment will continue to provide good-paying jobs on this paper machine,” Ward said. “As other paper mills in Oregon close, Georgia-Pacific is making significant investments in modernizing the facility, which we believe is a long-term strategic facility for the Georgia-Pacific region. It shows that I will continue.”
Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia-Pacific, the company and its subsidiaries are one of the world's leading manufacturers and distributors of bath tissue, paper towels and napkins, tableware, paper-based packaging, cellulose, specialty fibers and construction products.
The company operates more than 150 facilities, employing approximately 30,000 people directly and creating “over 80,000 jobs indirectly.”
