Marcal Paper Mill's CEO Says They'll Be Back In Business Soon

ELMWOOD PARK, NJ - After the Marcal Paper Mill property was destroyed in a massive fire last January and the plant was shut down, the company announced it plans to be back in business soon.

On Monday, Rob Baron, the company's president and chief executive officer, said they'll return to regular paper making operations sometime this month, less than a year after a 10-alarm fire destroyed its manufacturing facilities in Elmwood Park and caused the immediate shutdown of the business.

See More: Fire Consumes Marcal Plant In Elmwood Park

“We’ve all waited 330 days to be able to say that Marcal was ‘back in business,'" Baron said. "That day has arrived.”

On Jan. 30, 2019, more than 100 firefighters worked to battle the blaze that destroyed 31 of the plant's 36 buildings, along with Marcal's iconic sign. No injuries were reported.

In June, the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office said it is unlikely they'll ever know the exact cause of the fire because it was too intense and left too much damage.

Read More:Authorities Say Marcal Fire Cause Still Unknown

Baron said, “The prospect of such an announcement seemed impossible eleven months ago, when a devastating fire eliminated eighty years of manufacturing history in less than eight hours. Thanks to the support we have received from the awesome New Jersey community, and the efforts of our entire team, we will soon return to regular papermaking operations in Elmwood Park.”

Earlier Coverage: Marcal Paper Mill Demolition To Start

Baron added, “We understand that many in our family lost a lot the day the fire struck our mill, and we have done everything possible to try to help them recover. We also understand what Marcal means to Elmwood Park, to Bergen County and to New Jersey as a whole; we were -- and now will be again -- the one and only recycled tissue manufacturer in the Garden State.”

Baron also said Marcal will host an event soon at the site to thank those who supported its recovery efforts and to celebrate Marcal's return.

"Marcal is one of the oldest tissue manufacturing companies in the country. It started as a small, family-owned business and became a symbol of New Jersey’s industrial economy, a trusted employer and valued steward in this community,” Baron said. “We did not want to just start up some machines and fail. From day one, we wanted to give ourselves a fighting chance to hire back as many people as we could, as fast as we could, while ensuring we had a viable, sustainable roadmap to thrive -- in a very challenging market.”

Following the fire, Baron said Marcal "coordinated an aggressive program of assistance for those team members whose jobs were lost that day" and that workers were connected with "new employment opportunities and critical human services" from state and local officials, as well as dozens of employers.

Additionally, Marcal provided associates with financial assistance and extended health insurance coverage, he said.

The company did not indicate on Monday if previously employed workers at the plant would be offered their old jobs back.

The recovery process also included a merge with Nittany Paper, a converting operation in Pennsylvania, to ensure that the paper rolls manufactured in Elmwood Park can be converted into final product for sale, according to Baron.

"The fire substantially destroyed sixteen acres of property, including twenty-one paper converting lines. By merging with Nittany, Marcal has secured the only viable pathway to restarting operations in Elmwood Park now, and saving its brand, while leaving open future opportunities for growth or redevelopment at its site in New Jersey," he said.