Wausau to Rebuild Brainerd Machine for Tape-Backing Paper Production

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Wausau Paper, Mosinee, Wis., USA, this week announced that its board of directors approved a $27 million capital investment to provide tape-backing paper production capabilities at its mill in Brainerd, Minn. Scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2011, the rebuilt machine will utilize state-of-the-art technology to produce a wide range of unsaturated tape-backing paper, the base stock used to produce masking tape, while retaining the flexibility to produce premium printing and writing products.

Thomas J. Howatt, president and CEO, noted that "this investment solidifies our leadership position in the global tape market and reaffirms our commitment to support growth of domestic and international customers. Once complete, the rebuild will equip us with one of the most advanced and cost-effective unsaturated tape-backing machines in the world, enabling us to further penetrate this highly specialized market. While extending its production capabilities, the Brainerd mill will continue to have the capability to produce premium printing and writing products including our flagship Astrobrights line of brightly colored paper. We remain committed to the success of both our printing and writing and tape customers and this investment ensures the flexibility to effectively serve both market categories."

The Paper segment was formed by the January 1, 2010, combination of Wausau Paper's Specialty Products and Printing & Writing businesses into a single operating unit focused on profitable growth in five strategic markets: food, tape, print & color, liner, and industrial.