Hongfa Li, chairman of Shandong Tranlin Paper Co.Tran lin (left)and Jerry Peng, CEO of the company’s U.S. subsidiary, addressed the crowd Thursday’s groundbreaking. Photos by Michael Schwartz.
A massive industrial project in the works in Chesterfield County took a ceremonious step forward this week.
A celebratory groundbreaking was held Thursday morning on the site of Tranlin Inc.’s forthcoming paper and fertilizer manufacturing complex that will eventually take shape on 850 acres off Willis Road. The company, the U.S. subsidiary of Shandong Tranlin Paper Co. in China, has said it will invest $2 billion in the facility and create 2,000 jobs.
The company specializes in what it calls “tree free” paper products, instead using leftover straw and corn stalks from farms to produce items like tissues, paper towels and napkins. It then uses residue from that manufacturing to make fertilizer.
Gov. Terry McAuliffe addresses the crowd.
The event included remarks from a lengthy line of local, state and international politicians and Tranlin executives. Among them were: Gov. Terry McAuliffe; Tranlin CEO Jerry Peng; Hongfa Li, chairman of Shandong Tranlin Paper Co., who was described by Peng as “the Steve Jobs of the paper industry;” Hong Zhu from the Chinese embassy; and Xuanyu Zhang , deputy mayor of the paper company’s hometown in Liaocheng, Shandong.
“There’s only one thing that would turn out this many people in the woods in the Bermuda District of Chesterfield County – and that’s jobs,” County Administrator Jay Stegmaier said to the crowd.
While the dignitaries each got the digging of the site jump-started Thursday, the development of the property still has a ways to go.
Tranlin spokeswoman Julie Rautio said the company is finalizing the purchase of the remaining land it needs for the facility – around 700 additional acres owned by the Reynolds family. The company purchased 60 acres from Allied Concrete in March for $3.18 million.
Tranlin’s products are made from straw and corn stalks instead of trees.
Design plans are in the works and a variety of permit applications still need to be filed with numerous government agencies at the local, state and federal level, Rautio said.
“We anticipate our first phase of construction to be completed in 15 to 18 months after the permits are in place,” Rautio said in an email “Then we will start the construction of the second phase shortly after. We expect to complete the entire project construction by late 2020.”
Operations will begin in phases based on construction schedules, with some potentially starting in 2017.
“And we are making various efforts to accelerate the entire engineering and construction process and to bring forward the time to start operations,” Rautio said.
The company is still interviewing contractors, engineers and the like and expects to issue formal requests for proposals soon.
Tranlin has already hired a number of senior managers on the ground here and is currently hiring for initial jobs in engineering, sales and logistics. It keeps small offices in Charlottesville and Chesterfield.
Hongfa Li, chairman of Shandong Tranlin Paper Co.Tran lin (left)and Jerry Peng, CEO of the company’s U.S. subsidiary, addressed the crowd Thursday’s groundbreaking. Photos by Michael Schwartz.
A massive industrial project in the works in Chesterfield County took a ceremonious step forward this week.
A celebratory groundbreaking was held Thursday morning on the site of Tranlin Inc.’s forthcoming paper and fertilizer manufacturing complex that will eventually take shape on 850 acres off Willis Road. The company, the U.S. subsidiary of Shandong Tranlin Paper Co. in China, has said it will invest $2 billion in the facility and create 2,000 jobs.
The company specializes in what it calls “tree free” paper products, instead using leftover straw and corn stalks from farms to produce items like tissues, paper towels and napkins. It then uses residue from that manufacturing to make fertilizer.
Gov. Terry McAuliffe addresses the crowd.
The event included remarks from a lengthy line of local, state and international politicians and Tranlin executives. Among them were: Gov. Terry McAuliffe; Tranlin CEO Jerry Peng; Hongfa Li, chairman of Shandong Tranlin Paper Co., who was described by Peng as “the Steve Jobs of the paper industry;” Hong Zhu from the Chinese embassy; and Xuanyu Zhang , deputy mayor of the paper company’s hometown in Liaocheng, Shandong.
“There’s only one thing that would turn out this many people in the woods in the Bermuda District of Chesterfield County – and that’s jobs,” County Administrator Jay Stegmaier said to the crowd.
While the dignitaries each got the digging of the site jump-started Thursday, the development of the property still has a ways to go.
Tranlin spokeswoman Julie Rautio said the company is finalizing the purchase of the remaining land it needs for the facility – around 700 additional acres owned by the Reynolds family. The company purchased 60 acres from Allied Concrete in March for $3.18 million.
Tranlin’s products are made from straw and corn stalks instead of trees.
Design plans are in the works and a variety of permit applications still need to be filed with numerous government agencies at the local, state and federal level, Rautio said.
“We anticipate our first phase of construction to be completed in 15 to 18 months after the permits are in place,” Rautio said in an email “Then we will start the construction of the second phase shortly after. We expect to complete the entire project construction by late 2020.”
Operations will begin in phases based on construction schedules, with some potentially starting in 2017.
“And we are making various efforts to accelerate the entire engineering and construction process and to bring forward the time to start operations,” Rautio said.
The company is still interviewing contractors, engineers and the like and expects to issue formal requests for proposals soon.
Tranlin has already hired a number of senior managers on the ground here and is currently hiring for initial jobs in engineering, sales and logistics. It keeps small offices in Charlottesville and Chesterfield.
Nam Long Company specializes in supplying wood chips for fuel and paper materials. Look forward to cooperating with your Company.