Updated Equipment: Georgia-Pacific investing in Wauna mill

The Chronicle & Chief reached out to Georgia-Pacific to understand the scale of the investment and what it will mean for the Columbia County community. Public Affairs Manager Kristi Ward explained the significance of the move. 

“This is very exciting news for the Wauna team. No. 1 Paper Machine (PM) was the very first paper machine to start-up at the Wauna mill on September 1, 1965,” Ward said. “This project will be a complete rebuild and nearly all of the components will be replaced with state-of-the-art technology.”

This modernization project helps position the mill and the overall business to continue to be competitive in the market, according to a Georgia-Pacific news release.

Ward said that the Wauna mill has five paper machines operating at this time, and that the development will not affect “the number of team members” on No. 1 PM.

“This rebuild is going to make a safer and more fulfilling work environment for our team members that work on No. 1 Paper Machine as they will shift from a 1960’s machine to working on a modern paper machine,” Ward said. 

Engineering and related work has begun, and startup of the machine is scheduled for 2026. At peak construction, 500 construction and contract-related workers are expected to be onsite at the mill, according to the company. 

“We are excited to invest in our market leading Angel Soft® bath tissue and strategic private label brands we support,” said Vivek Joshi, president of Georgia-Pacific’s retail tissue, towel and napkin business. “This investment will allow us to grow these brands and continue to serve our loyal consumers with the great quality they have come to expect.”

Brian Solheim, the Wauna mill’s vice president – manufacturing, added, “This is a great investment in our Wauna team and in our community, making it an exciting time to be working at the Wauna mill. I am proud of the work our team members do every day to make this a safe, competitive and strategic location for our Consumer Products business. I’m grateful for all the support and partnership that the community provides us.”

The Wauna mill currently employs more than 700 people. The mill produces retail bath tissue, paper towels, and napkins used by consumers across the country. Employment is not expected to increase because of this investment.

“For Columbia County, we remain a large employer for Columbia County residents and this investment will continue to provide high-paying jobs on this paper machine,” Ward said. “At a time when other paper mills have closed in Oregon, Georgia-Pacific is putting significant investments into modernizing our facility. It shows that we remain a long-term, strategic facility for Georgia-Pacific.”

About Georgia-Pacific 

Based in Atlanta, Georgia-Pacific, and its subsidiaries are among the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of bath tissue, paper towels and napkins, tableware, paper-based packaging, cellulose, specialty fibers, and building products. 

The company operates more than 150 facilities, employs approximately 30,000 people directly, and creates “more than 80,000 jobs indirectly.”