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Interesting Details 

• Sonoco recently announced their all-cash purchase of U.S. Paper Mills Corporation, for an undisclosed amount.

• The U.S. Paper Mills Corporation was a relatively small source of PCBs to the Fox River, releasing roughly 1% of the total PCBs contaminating the river, according to the Wisconsin DNR.  (See Sources.)  The company recycled some of the trimmings and PCB contaminated wastepapers originating from the carbonless copy paper made by NCR Corporation and Appleton Papers, Inc. This recycling contaminated U.S. Paper Mills' wastewater discharge to the Fox River.

• Sonoco is also buying Hayes Manufacturing Group Inc., a privately held company based in Neenah which makes paper tubes and cores, and paper cans for products such as snack chips and bread crumbs. Sale terms have not been disclosed.  Subject to regulatory approval, the purchase  may be complete in the fourth quarter.   Hayes has about 235 employees at factories in Menasha and Greenville, and had sales of $56 million last year. 

Sonoco Corporate Communications - A09 
North Second Street 
Hartsville, SC, USA 29550 

Tollfree: 1-800-377-2692 

Sonoco, a publicly-owned company, is the eighth largest maker of packaging products in the world.  It was founded in 1899, as the Southern Novelty Company, in Hartsville, South Carolina. 

Prior to the acquisition, Sonoco had purchased from U.S. Paper less than five percent of its paperboard requirements for conversion into composite cans.  Sonoco uses lightweight paperboard in making composite cans for Pringles potato chips and other consumer packages. Sonoco also makes industrial packaging, including heavy-duty paperboard cores used in paper manufacturing. 

Sonoco statistics:

$2.7 billion in sales in 2000

295 operations in 33 countries serving customers in 85 nations. 

30 paper mills worldwide.

42 paper machines

17,500 employees

1.75 million tons of total global paper manufacturing capacity

most products are made from recovered paper, approximately 2-million tons annually on a global basis.

Sonoco representatives stated after the acquisition of U.S. Paper Mills, "We expect to generate free cash flow of approximately $750 million over the next five years.  The Company's cash flow will be used to fuel our higher growth rate businesses, such as flexibles, protective packaging and packaging services; to further strengthen our strong cash flow generating integrated paper-based businesses, such as engineered carriers and composite cans; to reduce debt or repurchase stock; and for paying dividends, which we have done since 1925." 

Div: Industrial-Paper Products                                 Phone:  (608)-231-3060 
Product: research & development                             Fax: (608)-231-3133
555 Science Dr., #B
Madison, WI 53711

Div: Industrial Products                                          Phone:  (920)-727-4747
Product: engineered carriers                                    Fax:  (920)-729-9361
1324 Earl St.
Menasha, WI 54952-1415

Div: Consumer Products  Phone:                             Phone:  (715)-845-7311
Product: metal ends/sealed-safe closures                  Fax:  (715)-848-4928
(Metal Processing Center)
833 S. 60th Ave.
Wausau, WI 54401 

Div: Consumer Products                                        Phone:  (715)-842-5641
Product: composite cans                                        Fax:  (715)-842-4190 
840 S. 66th Ave.
Wausau, WI 54401

Div: Paper                                                            Phone:  (920) 336-4229
Product: chipboard, lightweight corestock               Fax: (920) 336-6104
Sonoco - U.S. Mills, Inc. 
824 Fort Howard Avenue 
De Pere, WI 54115 

Div: Paper                                                            Phone:  (920) 725-7115
Products: heavyweight and lightweight chip,            Fax:  (920) 725-4869
core, can and tube stock 
Sonoco - U.S. Mills, Inc. 
69 Washington Street 
Menasha, WI 54952

Corporate Information Prior to Sonoco’s Acquisition: (some of this information may have changed now)

U.S. Paper Mills Corporation, a privately held corporation, is North America's leading producer of corestock for the tissue and toweling industry, plus paperboard and canstock, with over 95% of their paperboard converted into a core, can or tube.  Their plants use 100% recycled paperboard.   They have 220 employees in Wisconsin and approximately 170,000 tons of manufacturing capacity.  2000 sales were approximately $70 million.

Sonoco representatives said Sonoco has no plans to change the U.S. Paper operations.  Sonoco stock rose 65 cents after the purchase announcement, closing at $25.65 a share.

Website: http://www.uspaper.com/

U.S Paper Mills Executive Officers

Robert J. Cloud, Board Chairman & Exec. Vice President
Thomas L. Olson, President & CEO
Kathleen T. Riley, Controller
James Schmidt, Technical Director
Dennis Hagman, Director of Finance & Administration
Thomas Lemorande, National Sales Manager
Larry Van Vonderen, Product Service Manager
Linda Schingen, Sales Service Manager

Locations

Wisconsin --- De Pere  (Oncore), the company's original paper mill and core manufacturing site, and the Menasha Mill Division

Minnesota --- Oakdale (Ideal Paper Tubes and Cores) 

Illinois --- Jackson (Core Pak)

(This was U.S. Paper Mill Corporation's Executive Office - prior to Sonoco's purchase.  Some of this information may have changed due to the Sonoco acquisition)

8254 Fort Howard Avenue
De Pere, WI 54115            (P.O. Box 5850, De Pere, WI 54115-5850)

Phone:  920-336-4229
Fax:  920-336-6104

Key personnel

Ken Kurtenacker, Division Manager
Dean Re, Plant Engineer

Served by Fox Valley & Western Railroad

Paper Mill Stock Preparation: Pulpers: 2. Screens: 2. Refiners: 2 disc.  Cleaners: 1-hi-density. Paper Machines. 1 Fourdrinier 82" Width 72" Trim 750 fpm. and 40,000-tons. Dryers. Drums: 45 42". Finishing Plant. Rewinders: 1 two-drum.

Steam and Power:  Two power boilers fueld by gas and wood.  32,000 pounds per hour of steam.  100% of electricity is purchased. Frequency phase: 60, 3. 

Intake Water Treatment: 160,000 gallons used per day from the City water system.

Wastewater Treatment:  Primary treatment, then sent to the City sewage system.

Products: 100 tons per day of chipboard and core stock.  This location dedicates it's entire production to lightweight corestock.

Air Emissions Information --- gathered and posted by the Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources

(some of this information may have changed due to the Sonoco acquisition)

69 Washington Street
Menasha, WI 54952

Phone: 920-725-7115
Fax: 920-725-4869

Served by Union Pacific Railroad

Leaders:

Keith D. Mutchler, Division Manager
Douglas Dieterich, Operations Manager
Tim Wilson, Plant Engineer

Paper Mill Stock Preparation:  Pulpers, 3.  Refiners: 6. Screens: 17.  Paper Machines. 1 Nine-Cylinder 145" Width 127" Trim.  1 Fourdrinier 138" Width 116" Trim. 130,000 ton capacity.  Dryers. Drums: 79 at 56 psi, 30 60" at 160 psi.  Calenders: 3. Winders: 2. Finishing Plant. Rewinders: 1. Sheeters: 1. Circular Saws: 1.

Steam and Power:  One power boiler fueled by natural gas.  165,000 pounds per hour of steam.  180 psi pressure.  Electricity: Freq. Phase: 4160 v.  60, 3.

Intake Water Treatment: 8 million gallons used daily from the Fox River.

Wastewater Treatment: Primary Treatment: 3 million gallons per day treatment plant (two 2 million gpd clarifiers).  Wastewater is sent to the municipal wastewater treatment plant.

Products:  Heavyweight and lightweight chip; core, can and tube stock, corrugating medium, and specialty grades. 375 tons daily.

Online Location Map

EPA Facility Detail Report

EPA ENVIROFACTS REPORT ON U S PAPER MILLS CORPORATION

Air Emissions Information --- posted by the Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources

Sonoco company website
U.S. Paper Mills company website
News Article: "Sonoco Completes Purchase of U.S. Paper Mills Corp." PRNewswire, Aug. 24, 2001
News Article: "Sonoco planning to purchase De Pere-based U.S. Paper Mills." Joel Dresang, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. July 12, 2001 
Sonoco Products Company, Capsule Information --- Hoover’s Online Business Network
Sonoco Products Company, Financial Information --- Hoover’s Online Business Network
Sonoco Products Company, Stock Information --- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
News and Analysis - Hoover’s Online Business Network
Hayes bought out by Carolina company