OAK RIDGE, Tenn. — In a major federal initiative aimed at bolstering domestic manufacturing and securing the economic future of rural communities, the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory is spearheading a new national effort to modernize the U.S. pulp, paper, and packaging industry. Partnering with the National Laboratory of the Rockies, ORNL is leading the newly established Center for Research and Advancement of Forest Product Technologies, widely known as CRAFT.
The ambitious venture brings together a powerful coalition of national laboratories, premier research universities, and key industry stakeholders. The overarching mission of CRAFT is to revitalize a foundational sector of the American economy by introducing cutting-edge science and technology innovations designed to modernize aging mill operations, reduce operational costs, improve overall productivity, and strengthen domestic manufacturing competitiveness across the entire forest products supply chain.
Funding for the initiative is provided by the Industrial Technologies Office, which operates under the Department of Energy’s Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation. In addition to the leadership of ORNL and the National Laboratory of the Rockies, CRAFT benefits from the direct participation of several other federal research institutions, including the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the Idaho National Laboratory. This collaborative network works in tandem with a broad coalition of commercial industry partners to ensure that the innovations developed in the laboratory setting can be effectively translated into real-world applications on the factory floor.
The core strategy of the center centers on accelerating the commercialization of advanced technologies. By successfully bridging the gap between fundamental scientific research and industrial deployment, CRAFT aims to help manufacturers increase their production yield, enhance operational efficiency, and significantly reduce manufacturing costs. To achieve these goals, the center will couple advanced materials research with smart manufacturing tools, driving the digital transformation of an industry that has historically relied on traditional, labor-intensive methods.
Daniel Coughlin, executive director of CRAFT and a senior research and development staff member at ORNL, emphasized the vital role that the paper and packaging sector plays in the fabric of American society, particularly in remote and rural regions. Drawing from his own personal background, Coughlin noted that the industry serves as the economic lifeblood for thousands of communities across the nation, yet much of its physical infrastructure remains decades old and vulnerable to shifting global markets.
Coughlin explained that the primary objective of CRAFT is to unify, align, and accelerate the nation’s leading centers of forest-products innovation. By establishing a formalized framework that bridges the gap between private industry and the federal research community, the center intends to provide the necessary support for U.S. manufacturers to grow, adapt, and thrive in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.
To ensure that the research agenda directly addresses the most pressing hurdles faced by manufacturers, the center is actively engaging with industrial leaders from the outset. Gregg Beckham, a senior research fellow and the National Laboratory of the Rockies lead for CRAFT, highlighted the importance of this collaborative approach. Beckham stated that the research team is eager to work directly with industry stakeholders to identify critical operational bottlenecks and uncover new opportunities for technological innovation.
According to Beckham, the initiative will leverage sophisticated scientific techniques, including molecular-to-process-scale modeling, artificial intelligence-enabled discovery, and integrated experimental validation. These advanced methods are designed to shorten the development timeline, ensuring that promising laboratory discoveries can be rapidly and effectively translated into impactful solutions for commercial mills.
The scope of research performed under the umbrella of CRAFT is broad, focusing specifically on solutions that lower operational costs, enhance facility productivity, and increase the sustainable abundance of U.S. forest products. Key technical focus areas include the development of next-generation pulping techniques, improved chemical recovery processes, more efficient dewatering and drying methods, and the comprehensive digital transformation of traditional manufacturing workflows.
Art Ragauskas, the University of Tennessee-ORNL Governor’s Chair in Biorefining and chief technology officer for CRAFT, described the center as a vital gateway to innovation for the domestic pulp and paper sector. Ragauskas emphasized that working alongside diverse partners will allow the center to effectively de-risk emerging technologies, smoothing the pathway to rapidly transition the most promising solutions from early-stage research into full-scale commercial impact.
During its initial operational phase, CRAFT will collaborate closely with industry partners to shape targeted pilot-scale investments. These investments are deemed essential for de-risking complex technological innovations before mills commit significant capital to full-scale implementations. Furthermore, to elevate the global competitiveness of existing manufacturing assets, the center will grant industrial partners access to the latest automation platforms, advanced modeling frameworks, and sophisticated data analysis tools. These resources are designed to help operators extract deeper process insights, optimize energy use, increase overall productivity, minimize costly downtime, and ultimately reduce expenses.
Robert Wagner, associate laboratory director for the Energy Science and Technology Directorate at ORNL, pointed out that the laboratory is uniquely positioned to lead such a complex national undertaking. Wagner cited ORNL’s deep, established expertise in advanced manufacturing, materials science, and data-driven process optimization as foundational strengths. He added that the extensive network of partnerships spanning the Department of Energy’s national laboratory system and major academic institutions gives American industry unprecedented access to world-class technical capabilities.
Beyond conducting advanced scientific research and developing technological hardware and software, CRAFT is designed to function as a central collaboration hub dedicated to technology commercialization and specialized workforce development. Leadership at the center stresses that ongoing industry engagement and continuous guidance from sector professionals will be absolute prerequisites for the long-term success of the initiative.
To maintain this vital alignment with real-world priorities, CRAFT has established an industry and research guidance team. This group works side-by-side with representatives from pulp, paper, and packaging manufacturing companies, downstream commercial customers, equipment manufacturers, and specialized solution providers. By maintaining an open and continuous dialogue with these stakeholders, the center ensures its research projects reflect practical commercial realities while establishing a clear, unobstructed pathway to widespread market adoption.
Reflecting on the broader implications of the federal investment, Daniel Coughlin noted that the Department of Energy’s backing of CRAFT underscores a fundamental truth about the nation’s economic stability. Coughlin reiterated that America’s economic security is inextricably linked to maintaining efficient, highly competitive manufacturing capabilities. He expressed confidence that the innovations forged through close collaboration between federal researchers and private industry will strengthen U.S. manufacturing, help companies successfully adapt to rapidly shifting market dynamics, and help secure high-value manufacturing jobs in communities throughout the country.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory is managed for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science by UT-Battelle. The Office of Science stands as the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences across the United States, dedicated to finding innovative solutions to some of the most complex and pressing scientific challenges facing society today.
