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Clearwater Paper Celebrates Grand Opening of Its Shelby Converting Facility

^{Published on 2011-06-21 11:10:53 - Market Wire}
 

SPOKANE, Wash.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Clearwater Paper Corporation (NYSE:CLW)a" At a ceremony today in Shelby, N.C., Clearwater Paper Corporation (NYSE:CLW) announced the grand opening of its newest tissue facility located in Cleveland County. Gov. Bev Perdue, who has provided assistance to the project, was onsite to participate in the dedication.

"Many critical commitments were made and fulfilled during this massive effort, demonstrating a great deal of dependability and integrity from all parties involved"

aThe dedication of this facility today ties back to one of Clearwater Papera™s core business strategies a" to focus on growing the consumer products segment of the company,a said Gordon Jones, chairman, president and CEO of Clearwater Paper. aThe fantastic level of support we have received from city, county and state officials in North Carolina has reinforced our decision to build this facility at Shelby.a

Clearwater Paper has hired 100 local employees and expects to hire approximately 150 more workers before the project is completed. The project is expected to include seven converting lines capable of producing ultra-grades of private label tissue products and includes a Through-Air-Dried (TAD) paper machine, which is expected to be completed by the end of next year. The first two production lines have already started up at the site.

aMany critical commitments were made and fulfilled during this massive effort, demonstrating a great deal of dependability and integrity from all parties involved,a said Vince Reese, Shelby plant manager. aBut we are not done yet. Next comes our TAD paper machine, which will give us the ability to increase our premium and ultra tissue offering to better compete with nationally branded products.a

When completed, the facility is expected to produce approximately 10 million cases of bathroom tissue and paper towels each year. The paper machine is expected to produce 70,000 tons annually.

ABOUT CLEARWATER PAPER

Clearwater Paper manufactures quality consumer tissue, away-from-home tissue, hard roll tissue, machine glazed tissue, bleached paperboard, pulp and wood products at 15 manufacturing locations in the U.S. and Canada. The company is a premier supplier of private label tissue to major retailers and wholesale distributors. This includes grocery, drug, mass merchants and discount stores. The company also produces bleached paperboard used by quality-conscious printers and packaging converters. Clearwater Paper's more than 3,800 employees build shareholder value by developing strong customer partnerships through quality and service.

For additional information on Clearwater Paper, please visit our Web site at [ www.clearwaterpaper.com ]. Inquiries about Clearwater Paper tissue products can be made to [ tissue@clearwaterpaper.com ].

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 as amended, including statements regarding completion of new tissue converting lines and capabilities, hiring, completion of a TAD paper machine, increased production capabilities, expansion of business opportunities and ability to compete, and product offerings. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections that are subject to change, and actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, the company's ability to complete its new facilities; competition from larger producers; customers' product preferences; changes in the United States and international economies; changes in raw material and energy costs; cyclical industry conditions; competitive pricing pressure for the company's products; changes in freight costs and disruptions in transportation services; unanticipated manufacturing disruptions; changes in general and industry-specific laws and regulations; unforeseen environmental liabilities or expenditures; labor disruptions; and other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in the company's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and the company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements.

For more information on Clearwater Paper, please visit our website at [ www.clearwaterpaper.com ].