Sappi Fine Paper North America Completes Capital Projects Totaling $49M at its Somerset Mill

BOSTON, Dec. 16, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Sappi Fine Paper North America announced today that it has successfully completed capital projects totaling $49 million at its Somerset Mill in Skowhegan, Maine. The investment was comprised of a major capital project that upgraded recovery cycle equipment at the Somerset pulp mill, as well as 17 other related projects that improved manufacturing processes, all of which were completed on time with no interruptions to the mill's paper production.

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Through the capital project, upgrades were made to the Somerset pulp mill's recovery boiler and evaporator system which enable the facility to process more black liquor, a renewable carbon neutral fuel that is generated as a byproduct of the pulping process. As a result, the Somerset Mill benefits from increased pulp production while improving energy efficiency and further reducing its carbon footprint. This recent investment ensures that the Somerset Mill continues to be globally competitive, reliable and environmentally sound.

The project also reflects Sappi's commitment to the sustainability of the Somerset Mill and the 800 plus jobs it provides in the community.

The Somerset Mill makes coated fine paper -- Opus and Somerset web, and Flo web and sheets, which is used for premium magazines and other high-end print communications, as well as Lusterprint, which is used for packaging.

About Sappi Fine Paper North America

Sappi Fine Paper North America is a preeminent North American producer of coated fine paper used in premium magazines, catalogues, books and high-end print advertising. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Sappi Fine Paper North America is known for innovation and quality. Its brand names, including McCoy, Opus, Somerset and Flo, are some of the industry's most widely recognized and specified.  Sappi's mills in North America are triple chain of custody certified to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI), and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). Over 80% of the energy used by Sappi's North American mills comes from renewable resources, resulting in one of the lowest carbon footprints of any major North American coated paper supplier. Sappi Fine Paper North America is a division of Sappi Limited (NYSE and JSE), a global company headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with manufacturing operations on four continents in 10 countries, sales offices in over 40 countries, and customers in over 100 countries around the world. For more information about Sappi Fine Paper North America, visit: www.sappi.com/na.  For the press release, visit: http://www.na.sappi.com/aboutus/news/2010-12-16.

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SOURCE Sappi Fine Paper North America