Sep 10, 2009. /Lesprom Network/. The second production line at the Harmac pulp mill is up and running. President Levi Sampson said almost all of the 45 extra workers required have been hired and the line is expected to ramp up to full capacity on September, 14, which will increase productivity at the mill by 40%, as canada.com reported. The second line will bring the mill's output to almost 30,000 tonnes of northern bleached softwood kraft pulp per month. He said the second line is now only operating at 15% until a new batch digester, used to cool the wood chips in pulp production, is installed over the next few days. "We've been working hard to get the second line in operation and it's great to see a lot more of our guys back on the job," Sampson said. Plans to begin operating a second line at Harmac have been in place since Nanaimo Forest Products, a four-way partnership that includes Harmac workers and three private partners, bought the 60-year-old mill last summer for $13.2 million. Those plans were put on hold until the markets improved. With pulp markets in China (where Harmac sells almost half its products) remaining strong, mill officials felt it was time to expand operations.