By ROBERT GIBSON

Last updated at 17:25, Tuesday, 03 January 2012

TISSUE manufacturer SCA Hygiene Products has created more than a dozen jobs and is expanding its apprentice programme after switching production of some of its paper towel products from mainland Europe to Prudhoe.

A multi-million pound investment in a new production line will enable SCA to produce Tork zigzag-folding paper towels in the UK for the first time.

This will significantly reduce delivery times to hotel, hospital and commercial customers.

Site manager at Prudhoe, Tony Richards, said: “We are delighted that Prudhoe Mill has won this investment which helps to provide new employment, safeguards existing jobs and gives support to the local economy.

“This project is the latest in a long line of key investments designed to improve the performance of our business, deliver significant environmental improvements and ensure that we remain on track to achieving a long-term, sustainable future for the mill.”

The company has recently finished recruiting for next year’s Graduate Accelerator Programme.

Mr Richards said: “This is where we take people leaving university with an engineering degree and put them through a two-year development programme. Coupled with our recruitment of 11 new operations staff, internships for three university students and our long-standing apprenticeship programme, we are confident that our investment will secure our future in Prudhoe.”

Further investment in a new de-inking plant will also help the company meet environmental targets by enabling it to remove ink from recycled waste paper, such as newsprint and office stationery, and reuse it in the production process.

The Prudhoe Mill, part of the Swedish owned SCA group, employs 440 people and manufactures one in five toilet rolls sold in the UK.

First published at 09:07, Monday, 02 January 2012
Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk