The 2023 AICC Southeast Summit drew more than 60 attendees to Kingsport, Tennessee, earlier this month to tour Domtar’s mill and play in the annual golf tournament.
AICC members, including several first-time attendees, saw Domtar’s venerable, now modernized, Kingsport Mill at the industry event. Originally opened in 1916, the mill is a downtown landmark on the Holston River. Through extensive renovation, Domtar converted the facility into the company’s first 100 percent recycled containerboard facility. It is expected that the mill will be able to produce and market about 600,000 tons of recycled linerboard and corrugated medium annually, making it the second-largest recycled containerboard machine in North America. Domtar sells its output to independents.
The attendees received a tour that began with the historical aspects of the mill and progressed through the renovations and upgrades that have made the mill a showcase of the most modern paper-making technology. The mill utilizes 50,000 tons of recycling residuals and other by-products that otherwise would enter landfills.
“AICC appreciates Domtar opening the facility for our members. It is impressive to see one of the widest, fastest, paper machines in the world creating 100 percent recycled product. It is the cleanest paper mill that I have ever visited,” said AICC President Mike D’Angelo.
The golf tournament was held on the Cattails Golf Course at the MeadowView Marriott Resort. The winning team included Gregg Diethorn, Longreach International; Greg Jones, SUN Automation; James Moncure, J.M. Fry; and Chris Neighbors, Cumberland Container.
AICC is appreciative of its sponsors: Domtar, along with Haire Group, AG Stacker, Bobst, SUN Automation, Independent Corrugator, American Corrugated Machine, Independent Paperboard Marketing, Baysek Machines, EAM Mosca, and TranSouth Logistics.