Shanying International renames acquired Kentucky paper mill

Phoenix Paper Wickliffe LLC, a subsidiary of Shanying International, is in the process of hiring maintenance and operator positions for the paper mill in Wickliffe, Kentucky, according to reports from WKMS-FM radio, Murray, Kentucky.

Earlier this year, China-based investment group Global Win Wickliffe LLC had acquired this idled paper mill from Verso Paper on behalf of Shanying International, one of China’s five largest containerboard producers. According to a news release from the office of Kentucky Gov. Matt Berlin, the company plans to invest $150 million to upgrade the mill after it acquired the mill for $16 million. 

The mill has been officially renamed Phoenix Paper Wickliffe LLC. WKMS-FM reports that a Ballard County Judge/Executive Todd Cooper says groups of employees are expected to begin working at Phoenix Paper Wickliffe between mid-January and April, with production expected to begin in early 2019. 

The Phoenix Paper Wickliffe mill will serve as Shanying’s first pulp and paper production facility in the U.S., according to the company website. The company says that the Ballard County location will produce pulp and kraft packaging paper. When operated by Verso, the mill made coated paper.