On January 2017, a digester incident brought fluff pulp and containerboard production at the International Paper (IP) Pensacola mill to a halt.
April 4, 2017
On January 2017, a digester incident brought fluff pulp and containerboard production at the International Paper (IP) Pensacola mill to a halt. A week after the explosion, the mill partially resumed fluff pulp operations, but kraftliner production had to be suspended for a longer period of time and could only be resumed fully at the beginning of April.
Including capital expenses, the company estimates total costs related to the incident will be between USD 80 and USD 120 million. The majority of these costs are expected to be recovered through insurance coverage. IP did not reveal the loss of kraftliner and fluff pulp production incurred due to the standstill. Containerboard capacity of IP Pensacola mill amounts to 500,000 tpy of kraftliner and corrugating medium. The mill’s pulp line has a production capacity of 190,000 tpy of fluff pulp used for manufacturing absorbent hygiene products like baby diapers, feminine care, adult incontinence, and other non-woven products.
