Chillicothe, Ohio – The Chillicothe mill is set to commence its routine annual shutdown on Friday, September 6. This essential maintenance period will focus on inspecting, repairing, replacing, and upgrading key equipment throughout the facility. As part of Pixelle’s ongoing commitment to enhancing mill operations, employee welfare, and community engagement, the company will invest $14 million in this year’s upgrades aimed at improving reliability, performance, and safety.
The shutdown will see the participation of over 640 contractors from more than 50 companies, many of which are local to Chillicothe and Ohio. Notable local and regional contractors include Clearcreek Construction, IRR, MPW, SES, TPM, Allen Refractories, Capital City Crane, FCX, and Piping & Controls. Pixelle appreciates their contributions and anticipates that the influx of workers will positively impact local businesses, including hotels and restaurants.
Residents living near the mill should be aware that some steam venting is expected during the shutdown. The loudest noise is anticipated between September 21 and 22 as the Pulping and Recovery Boiler operations are restarted. Efforts will be made to minimize noise disruptions during this period.
For those interested in the engineering and manufacturing aspects of the mill, or simply curious about the work being performed, the following major equipment will be involved in the Annual Outage:
- Lime Kiln
- Pulp Mill
- Recovery Boiler #9
- Evaporator Unit
- Paper Machine #12
- High Voltage Electrical Equipment
The Chillicothe mill thanks the community for its continued support and looks forward to resuming regular operations with enhanced efficiency and safety.
