Gov. Nathan Deal joined Rayonier executives and other dignitaries Wednesday to celebrate the completion of Rayonier’s $385 million cellulose specialties expansion project at its mill in Jesup.

The project added 190,000 metric tons of additional production capacity to the mill. Rayonier’s technically advanced cellulose specialties fibers are used in everyday products such as flat-panel televisions, computer screens, impact-resistant plastics, filters, tires, paint, food and pharmaceuticals. The company produces the only wood-based cellulose specialty fibers pure enough to be used in the highly-demanding manufacture of LCD screens.

“Georgia’s rural economies are built on the strength of the forest products industry, and this region has reaped the economic benefits from the Rayonier facility since the 1950s,” Deal said. “Rayonier is one of Georgia’s largest exporters at the Port of Savannah, and the (cellulose specialities) project was one of Georgia’s largest capital projects last year.

“We have no doubt that Rayonier’s investment will keep our state at the forefront of the forest products industry for generations to come.”

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