SP Newsprint Machines Recognized for Efficiency

SP Newsprint Co.'s. No. 2 Paper Machine in Dublin, Ga., ranked first in the world in overall newsprint productivity for 2002 by producing at an annual average rate of 1069.1 kg/cm. To achieve this productivity level, the paper machine sustained an overall 90.9 percent operating performance with an average speed of 5,486 feet per minute. The No. 2 Paper Machine was manufactured by Metso (formerly Valmet), started up in 1989 and was rebuilt in 1998. It has achieved single day speed of 5780 feet per minute.

Dublin's No. 1 Paper Machine, which started production in 1979, earned 16^th place in productivity and 4th place in operating efficiency.

Newsprint is produced on both machines using 100 percent recovered fiber as the fiber source.

Jack Carter, Dublin Mill Manager commented, "It has taken a great deal of effort to reach the highest position among the world's newsprint producers. Operating at this world class level helps assure our company's ability to compete in the market."

SP Newsprint Co.'s. No. 5 Paper Machine, in Newberg, Oregon ranked first in the world in operating efficiency with a rate of 94.0 percent. Efficiency is the mill's actual production compared to its capacity. High operating efficiency is indicative of high uptime and low waste and losses.

Craig Walker, mill manager for the Newberg facility, said "I'm proud of the Newberg team who once again took our No. 5 machine to number one. This helps to maximize the benefit of the investment SP Newsprint made in our Quality Improvement Project completed in 2001."

Both Newberg paper machines consume 50% recovered fiber as the fiber source.

The measures of productivity and operating efficiency are based on comparisons of the average 12-month 2002 performance of 123 newsprint machines located in the USA, Canada, Europe, Africa and Asia.