31

In 1955 the company announced the decision to install No. 9 paper machine.

It was a huge project. Half a million cubic yards of earth were excavated for the building. Twenty thousand cubic yards of concrete were poured into forms requiring 2 million board feet of lumber and about 1,300 tons of reinforced steel. The building required 800 tons (300 miles) of structural steel.

Bill Thompson,
The Powell River Mill Story

32

# 9 Construction Site
1 October 1955
Powell River, British Columbia, Canada

Credits:
P00470
Powell River Studio

33

The giant No. 9 was designed to produce a trimmed sheet 246 inches wide at speeds up to 2,500 feet per minute. It was 262 inches wide (almost three feet wider than No. 8) and 350 feet long, with 72 drier rolls weighing about 11 tons each.

34

Number 9 Paper Machine
Circa 1963
Powell River, British Columbia, Canada

Credits:
OS098
Al Pauling

35

On September 10, 1962 Number 1 paper machine was shut down after the last roll came off the winder. However, the life of this machine was not yet over. It was later started up again. In 1971 both Number 1 and Number 2 paper machines were finally retired.

36

Number 1 winder 50 Years later
10 September 1962
Powell River, British Columbia, Canada

Credits:
P08064
Catalyst Paper, Powell River Division

37

The last reel from Number 1 paper machine (end of run, 1961) is run through the winder and cut to desired widths before being moved to the wrapper.

38

Last reel through the winder
10 September 1962
Powell River, British Columbia, Canada

Credits:
P03501
Catalyst Paper, Powell River Division

39

Hoisting the last reel onto the wrapping machine.

40

Last rolls from #1 winder
10 September 1962
Powell River, British Columbia, Canada

Credits:
P03406
Catalyst Paper, Powell River Division

41

After nearly 50 years of continual service, the final roll from the final reel produced on Number 1 paper machine is on its way to the finishing room.

42

Last roll
10 September 1962
Powell River, British Columbia, Canada

Credits:
P00663
Dunstan Studios-Powell River Studio

43

1964: Number 10 Paper Machine.

The Company announced a huge expansion including a 324-inch paper machine with 52 driers, which would dwarf the giant No. 9 beside it. On June 27, 1967 after months of meticulous training for the crews, and with amazingly few complications, "The Monster" began making newsprint.

Made by Beloit International of Canada Ltd. in Sorel, Quebec, the Machine, Powell River's No. 10 was the largest in the world. It was designed to run at 3,000 feet per minute and was equipped with a data recording system that could be linked to computer. Number 10's 160,000 tons annual output boosted the Powell River mill's yearly newsprint output to 692,000 tons, keeping it in first place as the world's largest single-unit producer. It increased MacMillan, Bloedel and Powell River Company's production to over a million tons a year. In March 1973 No. 10 was operated at 3,000 feet per minute and 300 inch trim continuously for 48 hours, setting a Canadian record.

Bill Thompson,
The Powell River Mill Story

44

Number 10 Paper Machine and Winder
Circa 1965
Powell River, British Columbia, Canada

Credits:
FC114