Kiwanis hear from FQ Tissue about operations, more
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LOCK HAVEN -- The Lock Haven Kiwanis Club heard an update regarding First Quality Tissue and some of its sister operations during its recent meeting.
Speaker Chair Mike Flanagan, CEO of the Clinton County Economic Partnership, welcomed FQ's Director of Operations, Bill Garbrick, and Converting Manager Jeff Dietrich to give a general overview of the company and its operations. Flanagan noted it's one of the largest employees, with roughly 1,500 residents working at either its McElhattan or Lock Haven facilities.
Garbrick said First Quality's motto is "Make things better."
"We aren't the first to do this, but we've seen opportunities in the market to make things better," he said.
First Quality Tissue in Lock Haven -- located at the former Hammermill Paper facility -- produces paper towels and toilet paper.
Garbrick said First Quality first began in McElhattan in 1989, where it produced, and still does, adult incontinence products. The tissue plant was purchased and began operation in 2004 with paper towels.
The Lock Haven facility has three paper machines, with each phased in since 2004. The expansion has allowed the facility to produce large quantities of paper towels and toilet paper that's shipped across the country.
According to Dietrich, the plant produces about 1 million rolls of paper towels and 1.2 million rolls of toilet paper in a day. He estimates the plant produces over 700 millions rolls in a calendar year.
"It's a very high volume of product," he said.
That product is sold to large companies such as Walmart, Target, Amazon, Costco and even Michigan based grocery store chain Meijer, Dietrich said.
In all, the company produces products for over 40 different labels.
He noted that these products don't feature First Quality's logo, however its own brands -- Panda and Plenty -- do.
Panda and Plenty are typically sold to small retailers such as local Amish stores and other Mom and Pop companies, he said.
First Quality's footprint in Lock Haven is a large one. According to Garbrick, it has about 2.5 million square feet -- or 65 acres -- of facility that's under roof. The facility employs roughly 600 people, he added.
With such a large number of local residents, Dietrich said FQ's owners, the Damaghi family, encourage each facility to give back to the community.
"The owners expect all of our businesses to be part of the community," Dietrich said.
One of its largest community projects, Dietrich said, was putting $5 million toward the construction of a new roadway near Walnut Street to reduce truck traffic within the City of Lock Haven.
Other, smaller ways the company gives back is through donations to local businesses, events and non-profits.
Most recently, First Quality has partnered with Hope Enterprises to offer its clients the opportunity to take part in a work program.
"We have a group that comes on site everyday to do repackaging work and other small jobs," Dietrich said. He noted the employees at First Quality Tissue have been extremely welcoming, and ensure each individual feels part of the team.
Outside of Clinton County, First Quality also has facilities in Lewisburg, South Carolina, and -- most recently -- Canada.
Garbrick said the company recently purchased a pulp factory in Canada this year. Prior to this purchase, the company opened a facility in Drumsville, Canada in 2015.