ND Paper reactivates Rumford R12 machine with first test roll after two years
ND Paper has successfully produced the first paper roll on the R12 machine at its Rumford mill in Maine, marking a critical step toward commercial reactivation after a two-year halt.
On November 5, 2026, ND Paper achieved a significant operational milestone at its Rumford mill in Maine by producing the first paper roll on the R12 machine. The asset had been idled since 2024 amid challenging market conditions, making this successful trial a definitive step toward its potential commercial reactivation.
Strategic shift toward packaging grades
The Rumford facility operates as a fully integrated site and a cornerstone of Maine's forest products economy, employing approximately 530 workers. It boasts an annual capacity of 215,000 tons of packaging paper, 300,000 tons of coated and uncoated freesheet, and 120,000 tons of northern bleached hardwood kraft pulp. The R12 machine is one of three primary paper production lines at the mill, alongside R10 and R15.
The idling of R12 two years ago reflected a broader industry struggle with declining demand for traditional printing and writing papers. However, ND Paper has been executing a strategic pivot. Back in 2020, the company announced a comprehensive diversification plan to expand R12's capabilities. Originally built to produce coated and uncoated freesheet, the machine was targeted for upgrades to handle specialty packaging grades, including natural kraft liner and unbleached recycled bag and converting papers.
Pending commercial return
While the recent weeks of testing culminated in the successful production of the first roll, ND Paper has not yet specified the exact paper grade manufactured during this trial run. Furthermore, a definitive timetable for the machine's return to full commercial service remains unconfirmed.
Parent company Nine Dragons Paper has injected over $330 million into the Rumford operation since acquiring it in 2018. This capital allocation underscores a clear industry trend of transitioning legacy graphic paper assets into flexible, high-demand packaging production lines. The successful test on R12 demonstrates that the technical groundwork for this transition is yielding tangible results, positioning the mill to better capture the growing market for paper-based alternatives to single-use plastics.
Enjoying this article?
Register free to save and share.