KAUKAUNA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Ahlstrom’s Thilmany Paper Mill celebrated 140 years of service to the paper industry and the Fox Valley community on Tuesday.
“In an industry as old as papermaking, 140 years is insignificant,” a news release stated. “But, in telling the story of the historic Thilmany Paper Mill, those 140 years serve as a measure of progress, not a measure of time.”
The mill was founded in 1883 by Oscar Thilmany, the company’s namesake, and purchased by Finish-based manufacturer Ahlstrom in 2018.
Tuesday’s anniversary event brought together current and former mill workers and their families for guided tours of the mill’s #15 paper machine.
“The Thilmany paper mill has manufactured tons of different grades of paper over the years and provided thousands of different jobs to the community,” said Addie Teeters, head of marketing communications. “It’s just really exciting to bring employees and their families here so that children and multiple generations of papermakers can come back and see what’s happening here at the mill today.”
The Thilmany Paper Mill manufactures specialty paper products including food packaging, e-commerce packaging, building and construction papers and medical papers.
This specialization has helped keep the mill in business, Teeters said. “The unique thing about a mill like this is that we’re super specialized to customer specifications, and that’s what’s really kept us competitive and open for so many years.”
Teeters added that the Thilmany Mill’s presence in Kaukauna has made a big impact on the community’s economy.
“When you take a look at normal economic multipliers, one paper mill job in this community can actually have an economic impact of six times. That goes from supporting other businesses in the area to other contractors that we’re bringing in,” Teeters said. “So, the economic impact of having an ‘anchor’ store such as the Thilmany Mill in a community is incredibly impactful, and we really appreciate the community’s support in order for us to have the mill running for years to come.”
