UMaine Receives Donation of Papermaking Equipment
Contact: Media contact: Nick Houtman, Dept. of Public Affairs, 207-581-3777
ORONO, Maine — The Pulp and Paper Process Development Center at the University of Maine has received a donation of papermaking equipment worth $500,000. The machine — a hot soft nip calendar — came from the former Beloit Corporation Research and Development Center in Rockton, Ill.
The equipment is used to apply a finish to paper at the end of the production line, says Mike Bilodeau, center director at UMaine. It will be used for research by companies that work with the center to develop new papermaking methods.
Since UMaine lacks space for the equipment, the Brascam mill (the former Great Northern Paper mill) in Millinocket is storing it temporarily. Five tractor-trailers delivered the equipment to the mill this week. UMaine officials are discussing future arrangements for the machinery with Brascam officials.