May 30, 2014. /Lesprom Network/. Georgia-Pacific plans to invest approximately $40 million in new technology and equipment to expand its plate manufacturing capability at the Dixie® facility in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Construction is in progress, and the new line is expected to start up in 2015, as the company said in the press release received by Lesprom Network.

"Georgia-Pacific already has invested more than $30 million since 2012. This latest investment will further modernize the plant and improve its long-term competitiveness in plate manufacturing while meeting the growing demands of our consumers and customers," said Larry Balch, Dixie plant director.

The investment at the Fort Smith plant is part of more than $100 million of planned investments at other Georgia-Pacific facilities in Arkansas during 2014.

With this expansion completed, the Fort Smith plant is expected to employ more than 350 people. In Arkansas, Georgia-Pacific facilities employ more than 2,400 people with total annual compensation and benefits of approximately $179 million.

Georgia-Pacific and its subsidiaries are among the world's leading manufacturers and marketers of bath tissue, paper towels and napkins, tableware, paper-based packaging, office papers, cellulose, specialty fibers, nonwoven fabrics, building products and related chemicals.