CROSSETT, Arkansas (From news reports) -- Georgia-Pacific announced that installation work has been completed on upgrades to the bleached board machine, known as C3, at Crossett Paper Operations. This $35 million improvement project is the latest investment over the last three years on the C3 machine. Total investment has exceeded $45 million.

This current upgrade project includes a new headbox, new coating plant and new control systems for the machine. Engineering and installation work has been completed, and the upgraded machine is expected to be producing the product later this summer.

"This upgraded machine will allow us to better serve both existing and new customers, providing improved product quality and consistency, and solidifying our long-term supply of quality bleached board," said Darren Barker, president, Georgia-Pacific Bleached Board.

Gary Kaiser, VP, Crossett Paper Operations, said, "This significant investment reflects the company's long-term confidence in our outstanding team here to produce quality product for our customers. We are very excited about these upgrades."

This investment improves the long-term future of the machine and will help preserve jobs for the teams who continue to operate and support C3, he added.

The Crossett mill is one of Georgia-Pacific's operations in the state of Arkansas. Overall, 2,700 people are directly employed by the company in the state and another 7,650 jobs are indirectly created. Total wages and benefits are more than $450 million.