In the United States (US), LignoTech Florida LLC, a joint venture owned by specialty pulp majors Norway-headed Borregaard ASA (55%) and US-headed Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. (45%), has officially been opened. Located in Fernandina Beach, Florida (FL), the 110 million US$ investment represents a production capacity of 100 000 tonnes (dry) lignin. In a planned second phase, the capacity can later be expanded by another 50 000 tonnes.
According to Borregaard, the plant which was opened on June 26, 2018, has been in test operation for some time, and the facility is now producing saleable lignin. At the time of the opening ceremony, 600 tonnes had been delivered to US customers in June.
We are very pleased that we have been able to finish the construction of the new plant on time and within the estimated cost budget, and we are confident that the facility has the targeted capabilities, said Per A. Sørlie, President and CEO of Borregaard.
Initially, it was foreseen that the products from the new plant would be sold primarily to applications within the construction industry.
However, based on the inherent properties in the raw material, a number of alternative markets have been identified. The construction segment will still be very important, but the share of sales going to this end use is now foreseen to be below 50 percent in 2018.
