By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

MAPLESVILLE — South Coast Paper is set to celebrate a milestone of 500,000 tons of paper processed in the plant.

“It is a huge and significant milestone for an independent paper converter,” Dale Enfinger, vice president of converting, said. “For an independent paper converter that had very grassroots starts that is a very significant milestone. I think it also speaks volumes on our workforce as well as the quality of product.”

He said the company’s ability to be flexible and adaptable in serving its customers, the nation’s large paper manufactures, has led to this milestone.

Enfinger said plans are underway for an internal celebration and banners commemorating the occasion. He said knowing the exact moment the plant hits that mark is difficult, but it will be surpassed by Jan. 25.

Paper is not produced at the plant. Instead, it is shipped in from the large paper mills South Coast contracts with. The paper enters the plant as humungous rolls of paper, which are cut to the needed sizes and packaged.

“We bring in rolls of paper and convert it to sheets of paper,” Enfinger said.

These include copy paper for printers (white and colored), folio paper for commercial paper, return postcards that are used in magazines, etc. Enfinger said there are 300 different varieties sized at the plant on nine lines.

The plant receives an average of 15 trucks and three railroad cars of paper rolls each day, and they process just as much. All scraps from the process are gathered up to be returned to the paper mills for recycling.

The facility has been recognized for safety and by suppliers with awards.

South Coast Paper began the move to Maplesville in December 2005. Today, 135 employees work at the facility. Enfinger said the company has had a positive economic impact on the town, not just as an employer but also through its use of local suppliers. HR manager Rosa Gilmore said the company also uses local companies for any catering needs.

South Coast is active in the community by supporting Maplesville High School. Gilmore said some of the high school students usually work there during the summers.

“[For] some of them this is their first job,” Gilmore said.

Plant tours are also given to the juniors and seniors.