Voith is breaking ground on a multi-million-dollar expansion and modernization project at its roll service center in West Monroe, Louisiana. (From left to right: Jerad Wilson, Senior Vice President, CR Meyer; Jeff Berg, Chief Operation Officer FRS, Voith Paper; Sherry Bohannon, Manager of Engineering, Voith Paper North America; David Buchanan, President FRS North America, Voith Paper; Jamon Weathersby, Painter Mechanical Shop, Voith Paper; Adam Leach, Area Manager, Maintenance, Voith Paper; Doug Garsee, Supervisor of Production, Mechanical Shop, Voith Paper; Ethan Barr, Cover Shop Lead, Voith Paper; Omar Salinas, Poly Cast Technician Cover Shop, Voith Paper; Mayor Staci Albritton Mitchell; Kris Kelley, Executive Director, West Monroe Chamber of Commerce)
On Sept. 10, 2025, Voith broke ground on a multi-million-dollar project that will expand and modernize its roll service center in West Monroe, Louisiana – adding more than 20 new jobs and supporting the local economy.
“Today we broke ground on a project that demonstrates our commitment to listening and responding to our customers’ needs for mechanical roll service and the roll cover business,” said David Buchanan, President FRS North America, Voith Paper. “This expansion means that our growing team in West Monroe, Louisiana will have the operational capacity to better serve paper producers throughout North America.”
In addition to expanding capacity, the investment into the facility will enhance logistical processes, supporting a faster and more seamless service experience for Voith customers. The size of the roll service center will increase by almost 50% – adding workspace as well as a dedicated training center to support the critical hands-on training of skilled trade experts in the industry.
The Voith facility offers a wide variety of roll services for customers who are in the papermaking industry. Services offered include operations and optimization of products; mechanical roll services such as rebuilds, grinding, balance and vibration analysis; roll coverings; roll and part replacements, as well as spreader roll rebuilds and repairs.
“This expansion is allowing us to increase our workforce by adding more than 20 jobs right here in West Monroe,” said Jeff Berg, Chief Operation Officer FRS, Voith Paper. “We have already started hiring, and we are actively filling key positions such as machinists, a drill operator, mechanics/millwrights, engineers, and a production scheduler. Voith is growing in West Monroe, Louisiana.”
The groundbreaking marks Voith Paper’s largest, most recent investment in North America. The project is expected to continue through the middle of 2026, and the Voith roll service center will remain fully operational throughout construction.