Upload
anordstrom
View
228
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
8/15/2019 IP 75th Commemorative Book
1/32
S AV AN N AH PA P
E R M I L
L
8/15/2019 IP 75th Commemorative Book
2/32
4 A M E
R I C A B
A C K T
O W O R K
1 0
A M E R I C A
B A C K
T O W O R K
1 6
A M E R I C A
B A C K
T O W O R K
3 6
A M E R I C A
B A C K
T O W O R K
4 2
A M E R I C A
B A C K
T O W O R K
4 8
A M E R I C A
B A C K
T O W O R K
5 4
A M E R I C A
B A C K
T O W O R K
2 6
A M E R I C A
T O W
O R K
1970s 1940s 1980s 1950s 1990s 1960s 2000s 1930s
8/15/2019 IP 75th Commemorative Book
3/32
1852 1861
1870
1874
1874 –1984
1930s
1910 –1920
Teacher, Francis Wolle invents 1st
machine to make paper bags.
Union Bag Machine Co. formed
and licensed the bag machine
design to bag makers aroundthe country.
90% of bags in the US were madeon Union Bag designed machines.
Union Bag Machine decides to start
making bags, forms Union Bag & Paper
Co. by merging 7 companies that hadbeen using Union Bag machines.
Union Bag & Paper grows to making
4 billion bags a year, supplying 80%of all bags sold in the United States.
By the 1930s Union Bag &
Paper Co. had factories and
mills throughout the country
Bag makers began to switch to Kraft paper. The
Kraft process was invented in Sweden by accident
and the word “Kraft” is Swedish for strong. UnionBag did not produce Kraft paper so it was forced
to buy and import Kraft paper to compete withthe other major bag makers.
THE HISTORY OF UNION BAG
8/15/2019 IP 75th Commemorative Book
4/32
Sleepy colonial city spared the worst of the Depressiondue to the agricultural trade through the Port of Savannah
City and county government planned to help employment
by creating a Forestry Corporation that would put peopleto work cleaning up forest land
Little industry, economy still based on agriculture and
naval stores (turpentine and rosin from abundant pineforests) as it had been for over a century
91,000estimated populationaverage apartment rent
$500average used car price
$0.35price of a dozen eggs
$0.25the price of a chicken
dinner out on the town
IN THE YEAR 1936:
THE CITY OF SAVANNNAH
Savannah Morning News Apr. 4, 1933
Site of 19th century brick works
Only Georgia plantation that wasindustrial rather than agriculturally based
Used special sheds on rails to cover
anduncover the kilns, thought to beone of the earliest “railroads” in the
United States
Vacant until early 1917 when
Diamond Match Co. built a plant
that only operated for a few years
Henry Ford would buy the Hermitage
Mansion and other buildings, moving
them to Richmond Hill in 1931 leavingthe property vacant except for the
Diamond Match buildings
THE LOCATION HERMITAGE PLANTATION6 7
8/15/2019 IP 75th Commemorative Book
5/32
America
Back toWork
1930s
8/15/2019 IP 75th Commemorative Book
6/32
Pioneering researcher in
using southern pine to make
Kraft paper
While a chemistry professor
at UGA in 1899 he went toGermany and learned about
the Kraft process and their
forestry methods
What he saw helped him save
the southern turpentine industryby using a method to collect
turpentine and rosin without
quickly killing the tree
His work to turn longleaf pine
into useable Kraft pulp madecoastal Georgia a desirable
place for a paper mill
Worked hard to convince
companies like Union Bag &
Paper Co. to build Mills in this
area, and his lab in Savannahmade the area even more
appealing as a site for a Mill
Col. E.George Butler
to Alexander CalderJune 16, 1935
“There are many thingswe have done to make
it possible for a firmsuch as yours to come
South, all we are asking
is that one will, we willget one for our people—
never quit—my sincerehope is that it is your
firm.”
“ If I thought thatSavannah was not the
place for you I wouldbe the first to admit it”
Col. E. George Butler
to Alexander Calder
January 25, 1935
“Just say the word old
fellow and we will showyou real effort Here’s to
a Union Bag plant at
Savannah with no ifsands or ma ybes….”
CHARLESH. HERTY
COL. E. GEORGE
BUTLER
Made Vice Chairman of the Savannah
Industrial Committee in 1934
He had responsibility for working to
attract industry to the Savannah area
Butler was the lead negotiator andmain cheerleader for Savannah
His determination was critical inhelping Savannah change from an
agricultural to an industrial port city
and getting the well paid jobs thatcame with that change
The “Colonel” was most responsible
for helping Savannh win the contestfor the Union Bag Mill
THE NEGOTIATIONAt an October 1, 1934 meeting of
the Savannah Industrial Committee,
Chairman H. C Foss reported that Union
Bag and Paper Co. was interested in
building a plant in the Southeast to take
advantage of the Kraft pulping research
done by Dr. Charles Herty. Early in 1935Dr. Herty concluded that a commercial
paper mill in the region was feasible and
that Union Bag and Paper Corp was
in definite negotiations to build one.
At his first meeting with Union Bag
& Paper, E. George Butler was
informed that Savannah was not
being considered and that Jacksonville,
Pensacola and Mobile were more li kely
potential mill sites. So began the hard
fought and determined pursuit of a Union
Bag Mill for the City of Savannah….
Alexander Calder to Col. E. George ButlerNovember 30, 1934
“You may rest assured that Savannah will be given very
thorough consideration and as soon as we have decidedon a site we will be glad to advis e you.”
“As I told you in Savannah, I made so many good
friends there that it is going to be very difficult to decideto locate elsewhere. However, I must not let sentiment
interfere with my business judgment. ”
10 11
8/15/2019 IP 75th Commemorative Book
7/32
Alexander Calder to Col. E. George Butler
November 30, 1934
“At a meeting with the Mayor this
morning it was decided that they would
very much like to have a celebration hereat the plant when you begin construction
of same…which of course will spreadthe news of this great project for our city
and section.”
“Please advise us when you plan to start…we ill arrange to buy a few ten cent store
shovels, etc., to do the job
up right.”
Alexander Calder to H. C. Foss
May 31,1935
“Many thanks… We are off tothe races and should make
good speed from here on.”
470 acre site leased for
1 cent per year for the first35 years, then $10,500/yr.
for the next 64; option to
buy property for $250,000at anytime.
Low rail and river/ocean
shipping rates, free railswitching, and no cost
construction of rail sidingsor roads into the Mill
Came with tax exemptions
and liability exemptions
In return, Union Bag agreed
to build a certain sized
facility immediately, finishon time, use local materials
and local labor, and control
the costs of construction
…AND WHAT ADEAL IT WAS
Savannah Morning News, May 30, 1935
A DEAL!Finally! Colonel Butler’s persistence paid off,
but what really sealed the deal for Savannah
was good old cash. The loans, tax breaks and
promises of service from the rail, steamship
and local supply companies put Savannah over
the top. It was all worth it, the promised jobs
and impact on the local economy would be a
huge boost to the city and county.
ALEXANDER CALDERStarted with UnionBag in 1913 as a
bag salesman
Made the biggest saleby getting the F. W.
Woolworth account
In 1927 convinced
Union Bag to switch
to all Kraft pulp
In 1931 became
Union Bag & Paper
Co. President
Led Union Bagthrough the
Depression, neverhaving a year where
the company lost
money–even duringthe worst of the era
Made the decisionthat the company
needed to build a Mill
where the trees were…the South
12 13
8/15/2019 IP 75th Commemorative Book
8/32
Boilers going up …
Construction began in June 1935 with acompany and a man well known in the
US paper industry. Merritt– Chapman &Scott (general contractor) and George F.
Hardy (consulting engineer) had workedon many large, challenging projects
around the United States.
View from the Woodyard side, debarking
drums, chip conveyor on the left, boilers,digester room in the center and paper
mill / bag plant on the right.
Foundation of the paper mill,
Diamond Match buildings in thebackground which will become
the bag plant.
(Below) View towards the Savannah River,
showing work on building foundations
(Right) One of 3 lime kilns going in
(Left) No. 1 PM is installed
(Below) No. 1 PM is ordered
CONSTRUCTION
14 15
8/15/2019 IP 75th Commemorative Book
9/32
START UP
First Load of Wood Delivered to the Savannah Mill, May 18, 1936 By late May 1936, the Savannah
Mill was coming to life, a littleless than a year from the start
of construction. The “official”opening opening was not
scheduled until October, but
the owners and builders of thisbig new mill were anxious to
see it run, and it seem to runwell … very well.
(Left) Savannah Morning News,
May 18, 1936
(Center Left)Forest Geological
Review, June 1936
(Center Left) Atlanta Journal
Constitution, July 22, 1936
(Right) Savannah Morning
News, Sept 30, 1936
16 17
8/15/2019 IP 75th Commemorative Book
10/32
GRAND OPENING CONTINUED GROWTHThe City fought hard to win i t, a year was
spent building it, the equipment and the
process had been proven … Now it was time
to declare it open for business and to invite
the community to see it. October 1, 1936 was
announced as the official opening of the mill
with a full slate of ceremonies and events.
From the day that constructionwas started there were already
plans to expand the mill. Just
as No. 1 PM was starting to run,construction on No. 2 PM and
expansion of the pulp mill wasbegun. Most of the buildings
in the mill were originally builtwith at least one temporary
wall to allow for expansion.
The Savannah Morning Newswas dedicated to the Union
Bag Savannah Mill opening on
October 1st, 1936, in additionto the stories and pictures, the
paper was full of thank you,welcome congratulations ads
from local businesses, thoseinvolved in the mills constructionand Union Bag itself …
By the end of the1930s Union Bag
had a big well established mill andvery active employee athletics. The
Union Bag Athletic Association(UBAA) sponsored baseball, softball,
basketball, bowling and boxing
teams. In 1939 they published thefirst formal monthly mill news
magazine, ”The Digester” andprovided both a ball park and golf
course on the mill site. The golf
course was called Mary CalderGC after the mother of Alexander
Calder. Alexander Calder, who wasa college athlete, felt strongly that a
company athletics program wouldhelp employees be healthier and
happier. Company wide there were900 members in the UBAA and 400directly in some sports activity.
(Bottom Right)
Savannah Morning News,
October 1, 1936
(Top Right)
Savannah
Morning News,
October 1, 1936
(Bottom RIght)
Savannah
Morning News,
September 26, 1936
18 19
8/15/2019 IP 75th Commemorative Book
11/32
1940s
THE ‘BAG’
GOES TO
WAR
By August 1945, 1867 “Baggers” had gone off to war.
8/15/2019 IP 75th Commemorative Book
12/32
MORE WOMEN BEGANTO WORK IN THE MILLBy 1943 women were stepping into many jobs left open by the men
going off to war. The paper in the picture represented the 2 millionth
ton produced in the Mill between 1936 and November 1945
y g gg g
In Feb. 1945 the Boatwright triplets signed up, 2 did notpass the physical, all three had been in the paper mill.
The 1940’s dawned with a continuation of the constantgrowth in the Mill. Union Bag continued to expand
the Mill with more paper machines, boilers and other
equipment going in, but events made growing moredifficult and effected everything….America and Union
Bag went to war with our entry into WWII.
SACRIFICE AT HOME
The Mill was put on war footing in 1941-42
By December 1943, Union Bag had lost
it’s first employee. George Richardson , a
former pulp tester, was lost with most of
his crew when their B-17 was shot down
over North Africa.
Along with many Americans,
the Savannah Mill flew a
service flag, which in Feb.
1945 showed that we had
1145 employees in the armed
forces and 8 that had lost
their lives.
22 23
8/15/2019 IP 75th Commemorative Book
13/32
The Savannah Mill continued the nearly constant growth
…Pape r, and in particular paper for packaging, that began
with the mills construction in 1936. It was said that theoriginal general contractor never left the mill site for the
first 20 years. Paper and in particular paper for packagingwas declared a critical war material, so Union Bag was
able to get the permission to use valuable steel and othermaterials to continue to expand production at the mill.
(Right Top)
Savannah Morning News
December 22, 1942
(Right Center)This photo shows what was
planned or installed as of 1946in the Mill. Add to that PM5 in
1948, 10PB and 5 Turbine in 1949.Pretty impressive at a time
when materials and labor werein short supply
(Right Bottom)The Box Plant in operation in
October 1947
9PB going up in March 1945.
At 200,000 lb/hr steam and450 psi, it was twice as big as
any other boiler at the mill.
In 1948/49 10 PB wasbuilt, at 500,000 lb/hr and
1200 psi, making it thelargest mill boiler in the
world at the time.
T h e e x p a n s i o n a l s o i n c l u d e d a n e w c
r a n e f o r t h e w o o d y a r d .
24 25
8/15/2019 IP 75th Commemorative Book
14/32
1940
1949
The construction continued
throughout the 40’s with thefinal additions between 1946
and 1949
The decade started with
about 3,000 employees and
producing 620 TPD on threemachines. At the end of the
40’s the mill employed almost4500 and produced roughly
950 tons on 5 machines.
The mill had installed:
1-7PB, 1-7 RB, 1-3 LK, 1-3 TG
and PM 1-3 and the bag plant
1-10PB, 1-10RB, 1-4 LK, 1-5TG,
PM 1-5, the bag plant, tall oilplant and a box plant
PM5 going up, looking from the
wet to the dry end of the machine
PM5 construction, from thedry end of the machine
In October 1943, J.C.
Graham, a boilermechanic in the powerarea was recognized for
buying the most war
bonds. In 10 months in1943 he purchased $4,000
in bonds, a huge sumfor the time. He used the
proceeds from his afterhours farming to help
support the war effort.
Union Bag always had a
strong tradition of givingback to the community,
the war was no exception,as part of charitable
drives during this periodin supporting the war effort.
G. W. E. Nicholson, mill
and resident manager,celebrates another
successful communitychest and war drive in 1944.
Mr. Nicholson, Resident Manager andcrew celebrate putting PM5 into operation.
PM5 made its first paper on the morningof Oct 15, 1947 just as a hurricane was
coming ashore near Tybee Island. Despite90 mph winds and a 12 foot storm surge,
the crew “brought the machine in.”
26 27
8/15/2019 IP 75th Commemorative Book
15/32
1950s
THE MARCH OF
PROGRESS
Booming from both the war and post war
demand for packaging, Union Bag continued to
expand with 2 new paper machines (6&7), 2 new
power boilers (11 & 12), a new kiln, 2 recovery
boilers (11 & 12), 6,7 &8 turbine improvements to
the woodyard and more warehouse space.
(Left) 12PB under construction
(Center) Inside the kiln, showing
heavy chain to break up lime.
(Right) LK 7 under construction,
replaced #1 & 2 kiln
8/15/2019 IP 75th Commemorative Book
16/32
Extension to pulp mill(Left) 11 power boiler
nearing completion in July
1957. When finished, itwould produce 450,000 lbs
/hr and burn 70 tons/hr ofbark from the wood used by
the mill. It will be the mill’s
largest power boiler.
(Right) To make room for
new equipment some of theold had to go, 1st the large
stack on the river and then
the Diamond Match watertower which had been at the
site since 1917, and a fixtureof the mill skyline since it was
constructed in 1936.
(Bottom Left) ShineJackson watches the
first pulp go downPM6
(Bottom Right) A
crowd waits for PM6to start up
On Dec 31, 1959PM7 made its first
paper with a crowd
in attendance.
(Bottom Left) 12recovery boiler going
up in Nov 1955, at thetime the largest recovery
boiler in the world.
(Bottom Right) No. 6turbine, largest mill
turbine to date. The millturbine room generated
enough power to supplyRichmond, Virginia.
PM6 foundation
11 recovery boiler
30 31
8/15/2019 IP 75th Commemorative Book
17/32
(Left) New Flumet
(Center) New wood
“escalator
(Right) New flume
in operation
(Left) There was even a herd
of goats that kept the weeds
down in the salvage yard!
(Left Center) The mill had a
staff of painters that applied
10,000 gal/year of paint to
everything in the mill
(Right Center) The mill
blacksmith, W. E. Yokum
carried on an old trade with
some modern tools
(Right) Mr. & Mrs Jarvis had
a total 100 yrs of service
making bags for Union Bag
(Below) The mill still had
employees and sons of
employees going off towar and sometimes not
coming back (bottomleft), this time it was the
Korean war.
UNION BAG WAS TRULY A SMALL CITY
By the mid 1950s employment had reached 5,300, Union Bag was trulya small city of people doing just about everything. We had carpenters,
plumbers, gardeners, tin smiths, boilermakers and every other taskand type of people imaginable including all of those shown here …
(Top Left) Early 1950s
woodyard showing someof the 1,700 cords per
day that the mill used. InFebruary 1951 ,the yard
held 85,000 cords, an alltime high.
(Top Right) New woodyard
skyline show new chipsilos and conveyors. In
early 1954 the mill was
voted one of the 7 wondersof Georgia by the Associa-
tion of Civil Engineers.
(Left Top) From only 600
employees in 1936, theshift change in the 50s
was probably that manypeople by itself …
(Right) The growth of
the mill between 1936and the mid 1950s was
astounding as shown inthis photograph.
(Left Bottom) This is the
first group of bag plantemployees in 1936, all
48 of them. In 1951 therewere 783 employees in
the bag plant.
32 33
8/15/2019 IP 75th Commemorative Book
18/32
(Right & RIght Middle)
Murals that were painted
by Atlanta artist David
Reese for the reception
area of the Administation
building in March 1952
(Left Middle) Movie
“Green Gold” shooting on
PM5 October 1951
(Left) Union Bag crowd
at “Green Gold” showing
October 1951
(Right) Mill Exports were
increasing as Europe rebuilt
from the war and the port of
Savannah built new facilities.
(Left) Hundreds visited the
mill, including the Chamber
of Commerce above and
Beaufort County High School
students. 400 visited in June
57 alone.
1861 1874 1884 1956UNION BAG MACHINE CO. UNION BAG AND PAPER CO. UNION BAG AND PAPER CORP UNION BAG–CAMP PAPER CORP.
82 years after becoming
Union Bag and Paper Corp,
Union Bag merged with Camp
Manufacturing to become
Union Bag-Camp Paper Corp.
Camp Manufacturing was born
in 1874 as a lumber company
in Virginia. By the 1950s it had
a large paper mill in Franklin,
Virginia that made bleached
paper grades. Now Union Bag
had two paper mills and a
multitude of product lines …
34 35
8/15/2019 IP 75th Commemorative Book
19/32
NEWMILESTONES
1960s
After 20 plus years of almost …And by 1965 it had planted its In 1966 with just hours to spare
8/15/2019 IP 75th Commemorative Book
20/32
p y
continuous construction activityat Savannah shifted from building
to running. The company wasfocused on its new Mill in Franklin
Virginia and it rapidly expandingcollection of box plants. The focus
at Savannah was in completing
the a few remaining buildingprojects and setting records…
Union Bag began planting pine
seedlings in 1938, by 1960 it hadplanted its 100 millionth…
y p
200 millionth, which included92 million given to private land
owners. The 200 millionth wasplanted at Mary Calder GC and
dedicated to Arthur Jeffords headof procurement, killed in an auto
accident the year before.
j p
on New Years eve, PM7 producedthe 1 millionth ton for that year, a
record production for a paper millthat would stand for years. Paper
Mill Superintendant C. E. (Shine)Jackson celebrates the achievement
38 39
(Left) K1 digester starts to rise! (Right) K1 nears the top… (Top Right)
8/15/2019 IP 75th Commemorative Book
21/32
The K1 control room.
(Bottom Left)
Gala Banquet at the Deso-to celebrating 25 years!
(Bottom Center)
Alexander Calder Sr.accepts a plaque from
the Savannah Chamber of
Commerce on the Mill’s25 years in Savannah.
(Bottom Right)1961 was a big year as it
was the 25th anniversary
of the mills birth and the100th for the origins of
the c ompany.
40 41
A DECADE OF
8/15/2019 IP 75th Commemorative Book
22/32
RECORDS!At the dawn of the decade the mill
had 5300 employees and produced
around 2000 TPD. The Mill consistedof 10-12PB, 1-8TG, 4-13RB, 1-6LK, 44
Batch digesters and 1-7PM. The boxplant, bag plant, tall oil and the
chemical plant
Through the decade the
mill set numerous records:
1962: 2517 TPD
1964: 2598 TPDMay 65: 2624 TPD
Aug 65: 2673 TPDNov 65 2673 TPD
The Mill finished the decade with justover 5,100 employees and produced and
average of 2,523 tons
The Mill consisted of 10-12PB, 1-8TG,4-13RB, 1-6LK, 44 Batch digesters, K1 con-
tinuous digester and 1-7PM. The box plant,bag plant, tall oil and the chemical plant
(Left) In 1962, Alexander Calder Sr.,
the man that launched Union Bag andSavannah towards the papermaking re-
cord books by placing a bet on Savannahpassed away on Sea Island Georgia at the
age of 76. H e had already passed the torch
to his son and heir, Alexander Calder, Jr.
Between March 1961 and December
1962 the mill worked 2,102,000 man
hours without a Lost Time injury. A
record for any company f acility.
Evidence of the safety
culture, In December ‘61,
Union Camp offered em-
ployees the opportunity to
buy seat belts for their cars
through the company.
Speaking of records,
Savannah set one
with a 3.6” snowfall
on Feb 8, 1968. It
broke a record that
went back to 1899! 1 9 3 6 T O 1 9 6 1
A S I D E B Y S I
D E C O M PA R
I S O N
T O S E E H O W
FA R W E ’ D C O
M E
M i l l s to re s i n
1 9 3 6 ( le f t ) a s
o p po sed to 1
9 6 1 ( r ig h t )
M i l l w r ig h t s w
o r ked i n t he
b u i ld i ng o n
t he le f t i n 1 9
3 6
a s co m pa red
to t he o ne o
ne t he r ig h t
i n 1 9 6 1
Ga rage re pa
i r o f yo re fi n i s
he s se co nd b
e s t i n
co m pa r i s
o n w i t h “ tod
a y ’ s” ga rage.
( r ig h t )
1966: World record1,001,202 tons, first
mill to produce over1 million tons in a year
42 43
8/15/2019 IP 75th Commemorative Book
23/32
A HISTORY OF STEWARDSHIP
As early as 1945, the Savannah mill was
hard at work reducing its air emissions
through the installation of precipitators
that would treat the emissions from nine
recovery furnaces.
Wastewater treatment also became a
critical focus for the mill. It was announced
in 1967 that a large, 310’ diameter
clarifier would be constructed to treat the
mill’s wastewater – five years before the
Clean Water Act was signed into law. As the
clarifier was nearing completion, plans were
already being made for secondary treatment
of the site’s wastewater. The plans included
installation of a pipeline under t he Savannah
River to carry the wastewater from the clarifier
to a new lagoon on Hutchinson Island.
The final section of pipeline was installed in
1972 and the system was put into service,
resulting in significant improvements in the
mill’s wastewater quality.
While the Savannah mill continued to grow and
prosper, it was becoming apparent throughout the
company and the nation that more needed to be
done to reduce industry’s impact on the environment.
The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1970 and the
signing of the Clean Water Act in 1972 reflected these
growing concerns and that change was needed.
Union Camp was quick to answer the call to
action and developed numerous large scale projects
to address both air and water issues.
By the end of the 1970s, the company had spent
over $56MM on environmental improvements that
had dramatically impacted both air and water quality
in Savannah and formed a legacy of environmental
stewardship that continues to this day.
ENVIRONMENTAL
STEWARDSHIP TAKES CENTER STAGE
8 washline progress 1977
1970s
44 45
The 14 Recovery
Furnace near
l ti Th“We believe this represents the
8/15/2019 IP 75th Commemorative Book
24/32
While work was proceeding on the new secondary wastewater treat-
ment system, Union Camp was working on other environmental
projects as well.A new sanitary sewage collection system was being developed to
tie in with the City of Savannah treatment plant that was under
construction.
New venturi scrubbers were installed on all three lime kilns to
reduce particulate emissions.
Then Union Camp announced plans for a new recovery
furnace. The new furnace was anticipated to cost $34MM
and would enable the mill to close four, older, less efficient
recovery furnaces. It would result in massive reductions of
particulate and odors.
(Top left) The first shipment of paper from the mill to
China was in July 1979.
(Top right) Verner F. Kelly was appointed Director of
New Environmental Protection Dept.
(Bottom left) ‘Shine ON’: In 1972 a fixture of the Sa-
vannah Mill retired. C. E. (Shine) Jackson began his
papermaking career at a number of Mills in Louisiana,
Virginia and South Carolina before coming to work at
the new Union Bag and Paper Mill in Savannah in 1936.
He started as a backtender, became shift foreman in 1942,
assistant Paper Mill Superintendant in 1946 and finally
Paper Mill Superintendant in 1948. This is the job he held
until he retired. He started up or helped start up 6 of the 7
machines and figured he had been in on making 22 million
tons of paper.
(Bottom right) A long standing icon of the mill – the last of two
mill water towers – was taken down
GOVERNOR CARTERCOMES TO SAVANNAHIn 1971, a number of key events occurred
that highlighted the company’s dedication
to environmental improvement:
In April, Alexander Calder, Jr., the President of Union
Camp Corporation, announced the creation of the
company’s first Department of Environmental Protection.
Governor Jimmy Carter visited the Savannah mill on
May 7th to present the mill, along with 10 other Georgia
Pulp and Paper mills, with good citizenship awards.
The awards were given in recognition of the industry’s
voluntary cooperation in the drive toward cleaner air.
completion. The new
recovery furnace and
liquor oxidation system
came online in 1974,
significantly reducing
stack emissions of
sulfur compounds.
Announcement of new program
#8 washline
progress 1977,
started up in
Jan 1978
e be e e t s ep ese ts t e
largest commitment that has been
made to environmental improvement
at any existing facility in our industry.
We expect it to bring our Savannah
pulp mill into full compliance with
existing federal and state regulations;
beyond that, it will make a real
contribution to the people of
Savannah and the city itself.”
–President Alexander Calder, Jr.
46 47
8/15/2019 IP 75th Commemorative Book
25/32
As the mill approached its fiftieth year of op-eration, its role in Union Camp was getting
less clear. Newer mills within the company,
such as Montgomery and Eastover, werelarger and more efficient than the Savan-
nah Mill, and were creating competitionfor production and capital.
If the Savannah Mill were to remain
competitive, it needed to improveefficiency and capacity. During the
decade, the mill was granted the
capital it needed to grow and remaina world class integrated facility.
In March 1980, #5PM was modernized to include a
new headbox, screens and other critical equipment.
In December 1980, the Savannah Mill set a new
world production record. It had exceeded 1MM
tons twice before, and was still the only mill on
record to have ever exceeded that threshold.
GETTING BIGGER AND BETTER
1980s
48 49
8/15/2019 IP 75th Commemorative Book
26/32
LEAPING FORWARD WITH PDQ
On February 29, 1988 (leap year), it was announced that
the mill had received approval for a new $375 MM proj-
ect that would focus on Productivity, Dependability, and
Quality (PDQ) improvements.
Scheduled to be completed in 1991, the project would
reduce costs, increase production and improve the qual-
ity of our products.
#13 POWER BOILERTAKES SHAPEIn 1981, construction began on a new power boiler
for the mill. The new boiler, #13, was a major step
toward future manufacturing efficiency and making
the mill self sufficient in electric power production.
It was the largest boiler of its type in the industry.
The $91MM boiler was the first in the US built to
supply steam at over 1500 psig. The technology for
the new, electrode type precipitators for t he boiler
were only introduced in the industry in 1979.
(Above) While some processes
were getting more modern,
some still remained unchanged
after many decades, such as the
mill’s blacksmith, Sam Eady.
(Right) The new power boiler
wasn’t the only thing being built
at the mill during this decade.
There was also a new chip
storage system and roll handling
system in the works to make
the processes more efficient.
New coal handling system
50 51
New K2 digester#8PM completed
8/15/2019 IP 75th Commemorative Book
27/32
Several other key pieces of equipment were included in the
project: a new #7 lime kiln to replace #4, #5, and #6 lime kilns, a
new long log chip mill and a new system for collecting odorous
TRS (total reduced sulfur) gases from around the mill. The TRS
collection system was installed to reduce odor by over 95%.
(Left) #7 Lime kiln with #4, #5, #6 in background
OUT WITH THE OLD,IN WITH THE NEWThe 1990s were a time of tremendous growth and
modernization for the Savannah Mill. Construc tion ofProject PDQ was nearing completion and brand new,
state-of-the-art equipment was being commissioned.Bythe time the project was completed, the productivity and
reliability of the entire mill was vastly improved, thus
cementing its position as the largest integrated pulp andpaper complex in the world.
Though the 1990s brought vast changes to the millin the way of new, modernized equipment, the greatest
change was yet to come. On April 30, 1999, Union
Camp became part of International Paper. This neworganization would prepare the Savannah Mill for
the 21st century.
THE
MODERNIZATION OF THE MILL
K2 announcement
#8PM under construction
It wasn’t long after the completion
of Project PDQ that both #15 Recovery
Furnace and #10 Turbine Generator
were commissioned as well.
#8PM completed
1990s
52 53
During this time, as throughout its history, Union Camp
f
In 1996, the Savannah area was chosen
to host the yachting events for the
1996 Summer Olympic games. Many
employees participated in that event,
including one employee who was an
8/15/2019 IP 75th Commemorative Book
28/32
CHANGE COMESTO UNION CAMPAs the mill was preparing to move into
the next century, a big change was about
to come to Union Camp.On April 30, 1999,
Union Camp became part of InternationalPaper Corporation.
Support from the com-
munity was overwhelming,
facilitating the transition
to the new organization.
Union Camp becomesInternational Paper
employees were giving of their time and money to help
the community, through March of Dimes (left), United Way
(middle), and the mill’s own volunteer group – VOICES.
athlete in the games and one employee
who carried the torch for one leg of its
journey to the Olympic stadium.
(Above) In November 1992,
Union Camp opened the doors of
a new Employee Medical Center
in Savannah to serve the medical
needs of all existing and retired
employees and their families.
(Right) 1993 brought with it the
announcement that Union Camp
had been chosen as Company of
the Year by American Papermaker.
(Above left) In February of
1994, a ceremony was held
at the Savannah mill to
commemorate the one bil-
lionth seedling grown at the
Bellville, GA nursery.
The seedling was planted out-
side the Main Office Building
and still stands tall today.
GIVING BACK
CHANGING LANDSCAPESWhile the new recover boiler was under construction, two
events occurred that would drastically affect many employees.
In December 1994, the announcement was made that the
Savannah Mill bag plant would be closing at the end of the
year, thus ending 58 years of bag manufacturing at the site.
In August 1994, a dryer can exploded on #6PM crippled
the machine and forced it to be down for 3 months while
repairs were made.
54 55
8/15/2019 IP 75th Commemorative Book
29/32
The challenge of optimizing a mill that was con-structed in 1936 was a daunting one. Finding the
right combination of pulping equipment, utilityequipment and paper machines to balance the mill
and make the most production was challenging. In
the end, the following equipment was retired, sothat the rest of the mill could run efficiently:
2000 – Retired 4PM
2001 – Retired 11PB, Retired 14RF, Retired 2PM
2002 – Retired 12PB, the Batch Digesters and #8 Washline
2004 – Retired 7PM
THE MILL OF THE 21ST CENTURYThe Savannah mill had undergone many changes
throughout the years as Union Camp. Now, as part
of International Paper, the mill faced new challenges
and opportunities.
The 21st century marked a time of rationalization –
restructuring and reorganizing to remain competitive
in the global market place.
While there were many struggles and difficulties
along the way, there were also many outstanding
achievements – those that can only be realized when
everyone works together toward a common goal.
Today, the Savannah Mill remains a strong,
competitive force in the world pulp and paper
market. Its employees are hard working, dedicated
and passionate about their work, their community
USHERING IN A NEW ERA
2000s
56 57
8/15/2019 IP 75th Commemorative Book
30/32
THE SAVANNAHMILL TODAYToday, the Savannah Mill is a thriving, vital part ofSavannah, providing jobs for many employees and
contractors, and product to places around the world.
SAFETY HITSA NEW LOWSafety had always
been a key focus of theSavannah mill from
very on in its history.
Through diligence andhard work, the Incident
rate at the mill continued
to fall, until in 2006, theTIR fell to its all time low of
0.58, with four recordablesfor the entire year. The mill
is still striving to reducethat level even further.
New safety record in 1971
1971
(Above) Mill hits new record
low incident rate in December
1948, with only 6 lost workday
incidents that month – lowest
since mill startup
(Top Right) New safety hats
in 1948
(Bottom Right) 1975 – only 22
lost workday cases that year
1948
1948
1975
In 2006, under this new configuration,
the mill was able to set a new produc-
tion record of 1,019,508 tons with only
three machines in operation. Thisconfiguration is what is still in place
today, and this record still stands.
The shutdown of
many of the older,
less efficient produc-tion units enabled the
mill to streamline itsoperations using the
newer remaining
equipment, including:
#5, #6, and #8 Paper Machines
K1 and K2 digesters
#15 Recovery Furnace#13 Power Boiler
#7 Lime KilnH2 and H3 Hydrapulpers
58 59
8/15/2019 IP 75th Commemorative Book
31/32
1969 1980s 1990s 2000s
1939 1951 – 19571951 EARLY 1960s
8/15/2019 IP 75th Commemorative Book
32/32