[By NBC-1TV H. J Yook]Burrows Paper Corporation, headquartered in Little Falls, New York, today announced another step in its Innovate and Invest global strategy. The company is implementing a simultaneous conversion and expansion project, part of a comprehensive strategic plan to expand Burrows domestic paper and global packaging business groups. Burrows is a worldwide supplier of light weight specialty paper and packaging solutions.

In announcements to staff and customers today, Rose Mihaly, President and Chief Operating Officer, stated the investment will both advance Burrows market position and yield operational efficiencies. Burrows 2014 action plan calls for the conversion and redeployment of physical facility use and machine components in its Mill Street paper mill. “In July, Burrows will shut down its 90-inch wide paper machine, PM2, and begin repurposing the machine components and space to the adjacent paper machine, PM3, at the same facility,” said Mihaly. “By dismantling and redeploying the smaller paper machine, we will realize a series of improvements including better traffic flow, safety enhancements, increased productivity on PM3, and the ability to dedicate other equipment to meet special customer requests,” Mihaly said.

“Our goal is for the transition to have little or no effect on employment levels,” Mihaly stated. “This has been a collaborative process with our union leaders, from planning to arriving at an implementation schedule. Employees assigned to PM2 today will continue as usual through later this year,” continued Mihaly. “During the transition, we will work closely with each person to align skills and interests with job opportunities in our Mill Street and Mohawk Valley mills, and in other Burrows facilities.”

This latest initiative is similar to company investments in its Mohawk Valley mill, where an older machine was removed to allow for facility improvements, creating production efficiencies and opportunities for product development. Following installation of new equipment this summer, Burrows will launch a new patented product for which it has already secured commercial orders. “Our primary goal with changes of this nature is to implement improvements while ensuring uninterrupted service to customers,” said Mihaly. “That starts with our outstanding employees who understand customer expectations and reliance on Burrows products.”