Area Development
Orchids Paper Products Company, a company that specializes in the manufacturing of high-quality, private label consumer tissue products, is establishing manufacturing campus in Barnwell, South Carolina. The company plans to invest at least $110 million, and create 134 new jobs in Barnwell County.

Located at 285 Midfield Road in Barnwell, South Carolina, Orchids’ new South Carolina operations will initially focus on converting existing product currently shipped from the company’s other facilities. Build out and startup of the converting lines will come in phases, with the first line expected to become operational at the end of 2015, and the second line expected to become operational in the second quarter of 2016. As the company adds paper production, engineering and construction of the paper machine is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2015 and be operational by the beginning of 2017.

“This project will be a major step forward in our vision to become a national supplier of high quality consumer tissue products. Following a thorough analysis of the important aspects of a greenfield site, such as our current customer base and growth opportunities, logistics, workforce skills and abilities, and local and state incentives, we chose Barnwell for our first greenfield site,” said Orchids Paper Products Company President/CEO Jeff Schoen.

“From the Governor to the South Carolina Department of Commerce to Barnwell County's economic development team to the city of Barnwell, we found South Carolina to be very responsive to our company's business needs,” he added.

The company currently manufactures products at its northeast Oklahoma facility and in Mexicali, Mexico through a strategic alliance with Fabrica de Papel San Francisco. Total paper capacity at these two sites is approximately 94,000 tons per year. The site in Barnwell, SC is expected to produce approximately 35-40,000 tons per year, boosting the company’s total production by over one-third.

As an incentive, the Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved a $1.9 million Closing Fund grant to Barnwell County to assist with the costs of infrastructure improvements and site preparation as well as job development credits related to the project.

“Last year, rural counties accounted for approximately 30 percent of the jobs recruited to the Palmetto State. With today’s announcement that Orchids Paper Products has selected Barnwell County as the location of its first Southeastern operations, rural South Carolina has achieved yet another big victory,” said Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt.

“The people of Barnwell welcome Orchids Paper Products to our community. Every job created provides a better future for not only an individual, but for a family. On behalf of Barnwell County Council, we will continue to foster a pro-business environment to encourage both new and existing companies to grow.