Georgia-Pacific’s Naheola, Alabama, mill is set to receive an investment of more than $120 million for a new tissue machine and roll storage building to support the company’s retail bath tissue business.

While the new tissue machine will replace two older machines, it will increase capacity and support new tissue converting lines that are currently being started up at the mill. These latest investments continue the modernization of the Naheola mill, which includes ongoing construction of a new biomass boiler and woodyard.

“This is a great day to celebrate for our employees, the Naheola mill community and most importantly for our current and future customers,” said Kathy Walters, Group President – Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products Group. “All of these stakeholders benefit from these investments to make the Naheola mill a modern and competitive operation.”

Engineering and related work has begun, and the actual startup of the machine is scheduled for 2020.

“This is one of many investments we are making at our operations across the State of Alabama, and it highlights the long history and great relationships we have in the state and in the communities where we operate,” said Christian Fischer, CEO and president of Georgia-Pacific.

The Naheola mill currently employs more than 900 people and produces retail bath tissue and paper towels used by consumers across the county. The mill also makes bleached paperboard which is sold on the market and is used to make Georgia-Pacific’s Dixie plates, cups and bowls.

Across Alabama, Georgia-Pacific currently operates eight facilities, employs more than 2,600 employees directly, pays more than $204 million in direct wages and benefits and creates more than 9,300 jobs indirectly in the state. In the past five years, capital investment at the Naheola mill has totaled more than $500 million, and Georgia-Pacific’s statewide investments have totaled approximately $1.6 billion.