L-R Sharon Teate, Casey Kicklighter, JaMark Smith, Will Tyre, Kenyon Saxon, Tamara Huff, Ryan Grove, Taylor Wood
RYAM’s Jesup Plant is setting a new benchmark for operational excellence, with a projected 50% increase in turpentine recovery by the end of 2025. This impressive gain follows a series of targeted system upgrades implemented throughout 2024 and finalized in early 2025.
Spearheaded by Area Manager Ryan Grove, the initiative was a true collaboration between the Project and Operations teams, alongside a valued customer partner. This cross-functional effort delivered technical innovation and underscored RYAM’s ongoing commitment to efficiency,
sustainability, and long-term customer value.
Turpentine, a renewable co-product of the wood pulping process, plays a vital role in products ranging from fragrances and adhesives to tires and industrial cleaners. As demand for bio-based materials grows worldwide, improving turpentine recovery is both a smart business strategy and a meaningful contribution to sustainability.
Although Jesup had made progress in recent years, untapped potential remained. Grove and his team conducted a thorough performance evaluation and introduced several key system enhancements, including:
- Installation of low-shear pumps to reduce product loss
- Rerouting of condensate lines for greater efficiency
- Addition of a cooling unit to enhance separation and collection
These upgrades are already delivering tangible results—reducing waste, improving system performance, and paving the way for more consistent, high-volume turpentine recovery.
“This was a true team effort—from operations to engineering to our customer partnership,” said Grove. “Everyone brought something to the table, and that collaboration is what made the difference.”
This project stands as a powerful example of how strategic collaboration and strong execution can turn operational challenges into long-term value. It also highlights one of RYAM’s core strengths: extracting maximum value from every part of the tree.
With these improvements, Jesup Plant is not only boosting profitability—it’s advancing RYAM’s mission to lead in sustainable material solutions.
For turpentine—and for Jesup—the future is bright.
Maximizing Value. Minimizing Waste.
