U.S. Paper Mill plans to restart paper production at the former Pixelle Specialty Solutions mill in Chillicothe, Ohio, with Paper Machine 12 expected to return to operation by December.
The company has begun recruiting employees for paper production and says it is giving priority to some workers who were employed at the site before Pixelle ceased operations in August 2025.
Thirteen current employees have been assigned to prepare Paper Machine 12, known as “The Chief,” for restart. U.S. Paper Mill said the machine is expected to be fully operational and ready to manufacture paper by December. The company has not disclosed the grades to be produced or projected production volumes.
U.S. Paper Mill acquired the Chillicothe facility in October 2025 following Pixelle’s closure. Since then, the complex has been repositioned to accommodate a range of industrial activities. More than 180 people are currently working at the site, according to the company.
The company is also in discussions with several businesses exploring additional paper manufacturing opportunities at the complex. It estimates that paper-related operations could add as many as 350 employees over the next year, although that figure remains dependent on the development of those projects.
The planned restart of PM12 would bring papermaking back to a site with a long history of paper production and mark a new phase in the redevelopment of the Chillicothe mill.
U.S. Paper Mill Company, LLC is a U.S. manufacturing startup led by owner John Todoroki and affiliated with U.S. Medical Glove Company. The company is developing the former Pixelle Specialty Solutions site in Chillicothe, Ohio, as a multi-industry manufacturing hub while restoring paper production at the facility.
