38 | Leading mill launching into new era Under new ownership, Whakatāne Mill is achieving record production Whakatāne Mill: Toi-EDA REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Email enquiry.trg@mondiale.co.nz Internet www.mondiale.co.nz Phone +64 9 256 4111 WE BRING THEWORLD TO YOU Proud to provideWhakataneMill with seamless end-to-end Supply Chain Solutions. • Global Freight Forwarding • Customs Clearance • 3PL &4PLWarehousing • Transport &Distribution • Supply Chain& Logistics Congratulations Whakatane Mill on your 1 year anniversary - Proudly supporting local business For all your Transport needs: Containers • Swinglift • Flatdeck Heavy Haulage • General Freight • Storage Waiotahi have an Approved Transitional Facility and Accredited Staff who can take care of your Import and Export Container requirements. www.waiotahi.co.nz 027 301 5785 or 0800WAIOTAHI Whakatāne held its collective breath last year when it looked as though their local mill was in danger of closing. Thankfully, an investors’ consortium arrived in time to save the day. Under new ownership, Whakatāne Mill is achieving record production and the future is looking bright. As a major processor of New Zealand wood fibre, the Whakatāne Mill has long served as a powerhouse in the local Eastern Bay economy where it plays an important role as a local employer. In a broader context, the mill is also making a very significant contribution as Oceania’s only folding box board mill. Last May, the mill’s ownership passed from SIG Combibloc to an investment consortium led by European investor Dr Dermott Smurfit that also includes New Zealand investors with experience in the paper and packaging sector. At the time, the Eastern Bay of Plenty’s economic agency Toi EDA welcomed the Smurfit consortium to the business community and noted that many local families would be relieved to learn of the new owners’ plans to build a more competitive mill operation. Kim Newth This July marked Whakatāne Mill’s first full year under its new ownership and what a successful year it has been with production results highlighting strong performance to date. WML’s Chief Executive Ron Hooper announced that a record output of Folding Box Board (FBB) and Carrier Board had been achieved, after a total withdrawal from the Liquid Packaging Board (LPB) market. Along with record production of ground wood pulp – totalling 50,000 tonnes – some 90,000 tonnes of LPB was transformed to other packaging grades. Adding to the momentum is ‘Operation Big Bang’ in the form of a new capital investment programme that is lifting the mill’s total annual capacity from 150,000 tonnes of paperboard to over 200,000 tonnes. “We’re thrilled at our performance over the past 12 months and are proud to be leading Whakatāne Mill into a new era that is strongly focussed not only on production but also on building community relationships and sustainability,” says Ron. This renewed community commitment can be seen in WML having been formally welcomed in a ceremony with local Ngāti Awa iwi in a Mihi Whakatua. The mill’s management team is proud to be serving as whānau to the local iwi. WML’s Executive Chair Ian Halliday described the first year under new ownership as one that had brought tremendous growth and transformation. “Thanks to the improvements we’ve made to WML, including expanding its production capability, and with the help of our partners and employees, it’s now stronger than ever,” says Ian. With its improvement and growth focus, the future of the mill and its employees is on strong ground and looking secure. Working with CEO Ron Hooper in the new management team are CFO Mickael Gohier, Sales Director Emma Webb, Operations Director Jarod McGregor and HR Director Lynsey Standen. Today, WML directly employs a team of 180 people, mostly from the local Whakatāne area. The mill first started operating in 1939, sourcing its raw materials from North Island pine forests to produce export paperboard. Today, Whakatāne Mill is known for its quality range of folding boxboard, carrier board and food service board products sold under the iconic Formakote brand into the fast food, food retail and beverage sector. Reflecting the mill’s fresh new direction, a new logo was revealed in July. Green in colour to embody the area’s forestry and pristine native bush, the logo resembles a bird’s wing in upward flight to symbolize the mill’s positive trajectory. Whakatāne Mill is proud to be certified to the Forestry Stewardship Council Chain of Custody and Controlled Wood Standard and also meets stringent food safety management system standards.
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