In 2014, Irving Pulp & Paper announced a $450 million revitalization plan for its facility in Saint John, New Brunswick. The upgrades were in response to the government increasing the amount of softwood that can be cut annually by 20%, and would be the largest investment in a pulp mill in Canada since 1993. The plant, which produces 360,000 tons annually and accounts for 350 jobs, was looking for a cost effective, efficient build-out to provide the best return on this investment.

Irving Pulp & Paper was looking for a low cost option that could exceed all environmental and safety standards. And despite the very corrosive combination of sea water and acidic pulp solutions, they originally specified a painted system to meet the budget constraints. However, thanks to concerted and repeated efforts by many parties, the specification was eventually changed to hot-dip galvanizing.

The specifiers were well aware of the tough, long lasting protection of hot-dip galvanized steel, but they erroneously believed that hot-dip galvanized steel would be too expensive. Once the specifiers understood the initial cost of hot-dip galvanizing was very competitive with the selected paint system, the decision to convert the specification was easy.  In the end, two miles of pipe conveyor as well as two large building structures (a total of 2,500 tons of steel) were hot-dip galvanized.

Hot-dip galvanizing added substantial value to the project because of its long-life and ultra-low maintenance. Even in the aggressive, corrosive environment of a pulp and paper mill, galvanized steel will serve the interests of Irving Pulp & Paper without increasing the capital cost of this critical investment for many years to come.