ESCANABA, Michigan – Omya and NewPage Corporation kicked off operations with a ribbon-cutting ceremony today at the precipitated calcium carbonate plant located at the NewPage Escanaba paper mill site.

The Omya plant brings seven new jobs to the community.

PCC is an essential raw material used in the papermaking process. It lends to key properties such as bulk, opacity, brightness and whiteness. PCC is manufactured using lime and carbon dioxide (CO₂).

The Escanaba mill previously purchased PCC from another supplier. With the PCC plant on-site, the mill saves on transportation costs. The lime needed for the PCC manufacturing process is purchased from the Upper Peninsula.

The environment also benefits from the on-site plant. Before the PCC plant was in operation, the CO₂ produced by the mill was emitted into the air and considered waste. The on-site plant uses CO₂ generated by the Escanaba mill in the process, reducing the environmental impact.

“We’re very pleased to see this PCC plant in operation at the Escanaba mill,” said NewPage Chief Executive Officer George Martin. “This plant is a step toward helping us achieve our long-term vision. The creation of this plant deepens our relationship with our strategic partner, Omya.”

Escanaba Mill Manager Roger Rouleau said, “By locating the plant here at the Escanaba mill, it’s not only mutually beneficial for Omya and NewPage, the improved economics and job creation help support the local economy.”

Tony Colak, CEO for Omya Region Americas said, “We are very excited to see this new PCC plant for NewPage Escanaba in operation. Most importantly, we are pleased to be a strategic supplier and partner with NewPage. The close collaboration between Omya and NewPage has resulted in this long-term commitment.”