About the Mill
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.
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 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.
A farm on the mill site uses treated effluent to irrigate feedlot crops, and a biomass facility (separately owned and operated) will soon use mill byproducts and tree thinnings to produce state-approved green energy for sale onto the grid.
Quick Numbers
| Newsprint: |  |
375,000 tonnes |
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| Paper Machines: | |
Two (excluding corrugated medium machine) |
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| Employees: | 425 (including Apache Railway employees) | |
Mill Facts
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two de-inking lines with combined capacity of 456,000 bdmt/year, one installed in 1997 and the other rebuilt in 1999 |
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feedstock includes both old newspaper and old magazines, sourced largely within Arizona and adjacent states |
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large bulk of production in 45.0 and 48.8 g/m2 basis weights, with significant recent increase in lighter basis weight production |
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nearly 90% of production sold within Arizona and three adjacent states (California, Texas and Nevada) |
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energy self-sufficient, with on-site 69 MW power-generation facility and FERC-qualification enabling sale of excess power onto the grid |
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broad-based customer satisfaction team approach, and “you call, we haul” emergency-delivery policy |
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