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One less freight customer ?

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One less freight customer ?
Posted by blue streak 1 on Thursday, April 16, 2020 12:46 PM

Maine paper mill in Jay had explosion.  Here is a trucker's video of the explosion.  Watch out for the language !

https://nypost.com/2020/04/15/insane-video-captures-massive-paper-mill-explosion-in-maine/ 

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Posted by BaltACD on Thursday, April 16, 2020 3:35 PM

blue streak 1
Maine paper mill in Jay had explosion.  Here is a trucker's video of the explosion.  Watch out for the language !

https://nypost.com/2020/04/15/insane-video-captures-massive-paper-mill-explosion-in-maine/ 

Explosion and explosive language about it.  Who knew?

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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, April 16, 2020 3:43 PM

While the few pictures I've seen post-explosion show extensive damage, there was apparently little fire.  Looks like a pressure vessel filled with slurry failed.  At the end of the video you can see pretty much everything being covered by the mess as it fell back to earth.

Reports were that this particular operation at the plant was largely unmanned.  There were no injuries, according to officials.

I haven't seen any reports of what the explosion means to the plant as a whole.

LarryWhistling
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Posted by Erik_Mag on Thursday, April 16, 2020 4:13 PM

My guess was that it was a chemical recovery boiler that exploded, one clue being the black goop (black liquor) that was landing on the windshield at the end of the full length video. There is a pool of liquid sodium sulfate in the bottom of the furnace and I assume that liquid water made contact with the resulting steam explosion, which then led to nursting of the water tubes, leading to an even bigger steam explosion.

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Posted by BaltACD on Thursday, April 16, 2020 4:43 PM

I am certain the aroma was of Chanel #5 quality! [/sarcasm]

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Thursday, April 16, 2020 6:08 PM

You guys are overlooking the big news here. This was a PAPER plant. Wait until this breaks in the media and there's another run on toilet paper!Mischief

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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Thursday, April 16, 2020 7:43 PM

But didn't tree68/ Larry post here a couple weeks ago that the big Marcal plant in northern NJ just came back on line?

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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, April 16, 2020 7:49 PM

Paul_D_North_Jr
But didn't tree68/ Larry post here a couple weeks ago that the big Marcal plant in northern NJ just came back on line?

Wasn't me.  Besides, I thought most of that plant went to the ground.  Maybe not.

LarryWhistling
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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Thursday, April 16, 2020 8:14 PM

It definitely burned to the ground about 2 years ago - one of the largest fires in NJ, as I recall.  But whoever it was said it recently reopened.

- PDN. 

Edited: Burned 1 year ago - 10 alarm fire.  Elmwood Park, NJ.  Here are links to info about the reopening:

https://nj1015.com/a-year-after-fire-marcal-paper-mill-is-back-what-it-looks-like-now/ 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jO6xyv84G5I - 1:29 video. 

https://abc7ny.com/paper-plant-destroyed-by-fire-reopens-in-nj/5893807/ - "CEO Rob Baron announced that the company, which bills itself as New Jersey's one and only recycled tissue manufacturer, intends to hire 100 people to get back to regular operations." (emphasis added)

I think "recycled tissue manufacturer" means they make the tissue out of recycled paper, not that they recycle used tissue . . . Ick!

 

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Posted by seppburgh2 on Thursday, April 16, 2020 8:30 PM

You mean toilet paper is made in America? There's been none in Harrisburg PA for several weeks. Looks like none now for the rest of the year.

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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, April 16, 2020 8:34 PM

seppburgh2

You mean toilet paper is made in America? There's been none in Harrisburg PA for several weeks. Looks like none now for the rest of the year.

Stopped at the grocery store today whilst on another errand.  There wasn't a lot of TP there, but it was available.  And I believe Randy has been hauling some around the country.

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Posted by MMLDelete on Friday, April 17, 2020 12:58 PM

I live in Maine. Here are a couple of quotes from local media:

"The company that owns the Androscoggin Mill, Pixelle Specialty Solutions, released a statement Wednesday saying at approximately 11:55 a.m. there was an "apparent rupture" in a pressure vessel in the pulp mill that released a mixture of wood fiber, water, and pulping liquor."

"The explosion happened in a digester, which is a 70-foot tall machine that uses pressure to turn wood chips into pulp for paper."

My impression is that there is a possibility the mill will never reopen, but that is by no means a foregone conclusion. If that mill closes, it will be a disaster for Jay (the town it's in) and the surrounding region.

 

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Posted by tree68 on Friday, April 17, 2020 1:40 PM

Lithonia Operator
My impression is that there is a possibility the mill will never reopen, but that is by no means a foregone conclusion. If that mill closes, it will be a disaster for Jay (the town it's in) and the surrounding region.

A lot may depend on whether the rest of the mill is still viable.  If the equipment is old/outdated/obsolete but is still in use simply because it still works, this may well doom the plant.

LarryWhistling
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Posted by Erik_Mag on Saturday, April 18, 2020 12:28 AM

Lithonia Operator

"The explosion happened in a digester, which is a 70-foot tall machine that uses pressure to turn wood chips into pulp for paper."

Makes sense, that provides a better reason for the black liquor raindrops at the end of the full length video than my guess of chemical recovery boiler explosion. Guessing there will be some review of inspection records for the pressure vessel involved.

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Posted by petitnj on Saturday, April 18, 2020 8:01 AM

Fewer!

 

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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Saturday, April 18, 2020 9:01 AM

seppburgh2
You mean toilet paper is made in America? There's been none in Harrisburg PA for several weeks. Looks like none now for the rest of the year.

My wife reports that there was some yesterday at our local (north of Allentown, PA) Giant Food Store, which is a regional chain based in Carlisle, PA (about 20 miles SW of Harrisburg).  Suggest you try some of their stores.  

- PDN. 

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Posted by BaltACD on Saturday, April 18, 2020 4:12 PM

Paul_D_North_Jr
 
seppburgh2
You mean toilet paper is made in America? There's been none in Harrisburg PA for several weeks. Looks like none now for the rest of the year. 

My wife reports that there was some yesterday at our local (north of Allentown, PA) Giant Food Store, which is a regional chain based in Carlisle, PA (about 20 miles SW of Harrisburg).  Suggest you try some of their stores.   

- PDN. 

Giant, be it in Maryland or Pennsylvania is a property of Ahold Delhaize of Zaandam, Netherlands.  Just like my local Martins - I was able to get a 9 pack of Giant brand TP last week during 'Senior Hour'.  Haven't seen any TP during 'regular' store hours.

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