ARP started up in November 1978 with the production of unbleached softwood pulp and made its first bleached kraft pulp in March 1979. The mill initially produced about 1,000 tons per day and operated as a swing mill, switching from softwood and hardwood pulps depending on customer orders. ARP made its first millionth ton on April 23, 1982.

Due to process optimizations and improved efficiency through the years, Alabama River Pulp now produces over 1,300 tons per day. The Claiborne site expanded in 1991 when Alabama Pine Pulp mill was added as a second pulping line. Combined, the two pulp mills produce about 2,700 tons per day, and with the Woodlands division employ about 550 employees with an annual payroll of $53 million.

In celebration of ARP's production milestone, commemorative banners were erected at the plant to mark the 10 Millionth Ton Event and each employee will be awarded a rolling cooler as a special memento. Also during the month of March, APP will make its sixth millionth ton of pulp, bringing the entire site past the 16 million ton mark.

To put it in perspective, 10 million tons of pulp would make:

*286 billion diapers - would diaper each of the 72.3 million children in the United States for 16 months

*33 billion rolls of paper towels

*3.2 trillion sheets of copy paper - enough paper to stack up 27 miles high on a football field or cover the state of Alabama 1.4 times

As one continuous strip, it would be 968,000 miles long and reach around the earth 122 times.

"We celebrate this achievement recognizing that it has been made possible by the hard work of our dedicated employees - past and present," stated ARP Executive Vice President/General Manager Robert A. "Pete" Black, Jr. "We also appreciate the supporting role of our other many stakeholders, including our wood suppliers, vendors, business associates and community leaders. We look forward to continued success and anticipate many more milestones in the future."