BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS
BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT
Innovating with the Times HOW THIS MAINE COMPANY HAS TRANSFORMED OVER THREE CENTURIES
I F Y O U I M A G I N E Maine nearly 300 years
which primarily supports sales, logistics,
ago, you would likely not recognize many
IT and finance operations employing
of the places you know and love today.
Mainers throughout the state.
While Maine is a state abundant with
Let’s take a look back at this history
natural beauty, and a majority of its in-
to see how Sappi has transformed and
habitants and businesses prioritize the
adapted over the course of three centu-
preservation of that beauty, change is in-
ries to remain a critical part of Maine’s
evitable over such a long period of time.
economy while also advancing paper in-
novation and sustainable manufacturing. Written by Beth Cormier, VP of Research, borhoods have grown, and throughout Development & Sustainability, Sappi North America the centuries of change there has also THE 18 00S: THE B E G INNING O F THE
32
Maine State Chamber of Commerce
been consistent growth for one business
WE STB R OOK MIL L A ND PA PE RMAKING
in Maine. Sappi North America, a subsid-
INNOVATION
iary of Sappi Limited, a global pulp and
In 1854, an early pioneer in the world of
paper provider, has roots in our state that
coated printing papers named Samuel
go as far back as 1854. The company owns
Dennis (S.D.) Warren came to the rural
and operates two paper mills in Maine:
outpost of Westbrook, Maine and pur-
the Somerset Mill in Skowhegan, which
chased a small paper mill situated along
is, in fact the company’s largest mill at
the Presumpscot River for $28,000. That
over 2,500 acres, and the Westbrook
purchase, which equates to $870,000 to-
Mill and Technology Center, which is the
day, included two paper machines that
company’s oldest mill and has a unique
had a production output of about 3,000
history of its own. Sappi also operates its
pounds of paper per day. S.D. Warren
Shared Service Center in South Portland,
named it the Grant, Warren and Compa-
PHOTO TOP: PAUL CLOSE PHOTOGRAPHY; LEFT & RIGHT: COURTESY SAPPI NORTH AMERICA
Towns have been established, neigh-
