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| Press Archive > Corporate |
Mohawk Paper Mills Celebrates 70th Anniversary |
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COHOES, NY – In a region where stories of manufacturing decline seem to be the norm, Mohawk Paper Mills, Inc. stands out as an unusually successful enterprise. On August 26th, Mohawk will celebrate the 70th anniversary of its incorporation by George O'Connor. From humble roots in the Great Depression, Mohawk is today a leading manufacturer of premium papers for offset and digital printing and is known for its innovative, highly successful entrepreneurial approach to a conservative industry. According to Tom O'Connor, Sr., chairman and chief executive officer, this culture has been carefully crafted over time. "We have invested heavily in people, machinery and technology to meet the complex business challenges of the twenty-first century. My father always believed that employees were our greatest asset and we have worked hard to develop a culture where both union and non-union employees could thrive." This philosophy has contributed to dramatic growth over the past decade – despite a difficult period for the paper industry – creating a 100,000 ton-per-year manufacturer that is rooted in Upstate New York, with an international reputation for excellence. With an impressive list of process and product innovations to its credit, Mohawk is a blend of the best of the old economy and new economy, and is seen as a market leader by its customers in the United States and internationally. Evidence of the company's scope of reach is the extensive list of major companies such as IBM, Hewlett Packard, Daimler Chrysler and Keebler Foods, who select Mohawk paper for their annual reports. "While many of our competitors are consolidating or shutting down, we have been growing our business in terms of geographical reach, productivity and volume," reported Tom O'Connor, Jr., president and chief operating officer. "A major source of our success is our passion for innovation linked with strong management and a strategic focus on the future." This passion for innovation is exemplified by Mohawk's entry into the emerging digital paper market. Early to recognize the potential of new digital presses, the company launched Mohawk Digital Papers in 1998, the first line of premium papers specifically engineered for the new presses just being introduced by Xerox, Xeikon and Heidelberg. Today the mill is known by leading equipment manufacturers as a highly adaptable supplier of high-performance papers that lessen press downtime and improve the visual quality of printed output. "This initiative would not have been possible without our ongoing commitment to capital investment," said Tom O'Connor, Sr. The company is currently in the midst of a $15 million capital improvement program for the Cohoes and Waterford plants, which will increase productivity and respond to growing demand for the company's high-quality products. This is on the heels of a $90 million capital investment that, in the early 1990s, made Mohawk a value leader in the premium text and cover market. Further evidence of Mohawk's innovation, leadership and long-term commitment to the paper industry and New York's Upstate region, was the addition of the Mohawk Specialty Converting Center, which opened in September of 2000 in Cohoes. This facility offers innovative solutions to paper mills, distributors and retailers through world-class converting and packaging services. Mohawk is supporting the converting initiative with significant investments in personnel, state-of-the-art converting equipment and expanded services. Not only has Mohawk become a leader in the manufacture of fine printing and writing paper for national and overseas markets, the company is also a strong advocate of environmental conservation. While many companies still view environmental management as a burdensome and costly activity, Mohawk looks at environmental management as a way to make them a more efficient and competitive company. "We take exceptional pride in our ability to balance and integrate the company's day-to-day operations with our commitment to environmental and energy management," shares Tom O'Connor, Jr. Mohawk's most recent environmental/energy initiative was announced in November of 2000 when the company was selected by the State of New York to participate in a $3.6 million 'green energy' project. Supported by Governor George E. Pataki, the project will harness methane gases from the Town of Colonie landfill to fuel electric generators at Mohawk's Cohoes mill. Two years earlier, Mohawk partnered with the Town of Colonie and NYSERDA to co-fund a study to determine the level of energy that could be obtained from the landfill, and whether Mohawk would be a good candidate for the power. "Seventy years of experience has made Mohawk not just a better paper manufacturer, but also a better employer and member of the community," explains Tom O'Connor, Sr. "We look forward to a long future of changes, advancements and exciting opportunities." Mohawk Papers Mills, Inc. is a leader in the manufacture of premium printing papers. From its flagship grade, Mohawk Superfine™, through patented Inxwell® products, Navajo® and Options®, Mohawk has engineered its papers to provide optimal performance for offset sheet-fed, and web as well as for digital printing. For press information, please contact: Laura Shore shorel@mohawkpaper.com
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