Snowflake
The Snowflake mill sits on a 19,000 acre (7,700 ha) site, about 180 miles (290 km) northeast of Phoenix. Constructed in 1961, it was originally a four-machine and multi-product mill. More recently, it has focused its production on recycled newsprint.
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Our Mill |
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Recycled Newsprint |
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Our Community |
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Our Mill
Snowflakes' two newsprint machines have a combined capacity of 375,000 tonnes. An additional machine produces corrugated linerboard, also from recycled feedstock. Currently operated under contract, this machine has a capacity of 123,500 tonnes.
Extensive capital investments and a strong commitment to continuous improvement have secured Snowflake's status as one of North America's most cost-efficient producers.
The mill is served by the wholly owned Apache Railway Company, which operates 45 miles (72 km) of track between the mill and Holbrook, Arizona. This provides an efficient connection to the main regional railroad, and in combination with trucking routes, provides for efficient product movement throughout the southwest United States.
Snowflake's newsprint production is currently concentrated almost entirely in the 45.0 and 48.8 g/m2 basis weights. The mill has transitioned to a much higher proportion of production in the lighter and environmentally preferred 45.0 basis weight in recent years, and it now represents 60% of newsprint capacity.
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Recycled Newsprint
Snowflake produces a 100% recycled product, marketed under Catalyst's Marathon™ brand name. It uses a feedstock composed on old newspapers and old magazines, sourced from within Arizona and other freight-logical locations. Its two modern de-inking lines use flotation technology and have a combined annual capacity of 456,000 bdmt/year.
As a pure-play recycled producer, Snowflake is well-positioned to meet accelerating demand for such products, and to assist customers in achieving the expanding range of regulatory requirements with respect to recycled content in newsprint.
Snowflake's increasing output of lighter basis weight grades is responsive to both environmental and economic criteria. Such papers require fewer inputs to produce; provide more surface area per tonne; reduce transportation, handling and storage requirements; and provide operating efficiencies in the pressroom.
Snowflake produces quality newsprint that provides good on-press performance regardless of weight, and which is largely sold to newspaper publishers within the southwest. Smaller portions are put to a variety of uses by commercial printers.
Customer satisfaction teams continuously interact with customers and can provide fast-response on-site assistance if needed.
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Our Community
The Town of Snowflake is a growing community of about 5,000 residents, in the foothills of the White Mountains. Snowflake is home to a variety of enterprises, ranging from paper making to hydroponics, while farming and ranching are widely practiced in the surrounding area.
Located just to the south of the Colorado Plateau, Snowflake is at a high elevation and does receive some snow. The town name, however, actually honours its 19th century founders Erastus Snow and William Flake.
Located just to the south of the famed Historic Route 66, Snowflake features a large number of heritage homes and buildings, and the spirit of this era is celebrated each July with the Pioneer Days festival.
