Ishinomaki, Miyagi Perfecture, Japan, 16 September 2011 -- Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. has moved forward with reconstruction efforts at its Ishinomaki mill in Miyagi Prefecture, which sustained damage as a result of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that struck eastern Japan, with paper machine 8 being brought back into service on 16 September. This is the first paper machine at the mill to resume operation as a result of reconstruction efforts during the six months since operations came to a complete halt after the mill was hit directly by the tsunami.

While Ishinomaki mill suffered severe inundation damage from the tsunami, the main body of the paper machines was largely undamaged. Work began in late March to remove the dirt and rubble that was deposited on the mill grounds with a view to resuming operations. Heavy equipment and personnel from the whole company were brought in to push forward with the restoration, setting up a temporary office in May, and restoring the mill's power source by bringing the in-house generator back into operation in August. Work toward resuming operation of the paper machines continued, with the full-scale operation of paper machine 8, which produces printing paper, commencing on 16 September. Currently, production is progressing smoothly.

The company plans to steadily resume operation of paper machines by continuing with the restoration work based on its plan for paper business revitalization announced on 03 August.