Kingfield Poland Spring Plant Manager Cameron Lorrain receives a special Congressional sentiment from U.S. Sen. Susan Collins in recognition of the company’s success story; something that she said can be used to entice other companies to locate in rural Maine. (BJ Bangs photo) KINGFIELD — It’s great to be celebrating a success story and not visiting a plant that is closing or experiencing hard times, U.S. Sen. Susan Kingfield Poland Spring plant proudly displays being named Best Factory in North America by its parent company Nestlé Waters North America Inc. (BJ Bangs photo)Collins told those attending a special celebration luncheon at Kingfield’s Poland Spring plant last week.

The Kingfield plant was cited as the most productive plant of any Nestlé Water’s plant in North America. They transport 70,000 cases of water, 50 truckloads from the Kingfield plant five days a week, according to Plant Manager Cameron Lorrain. He credited the hard work and dedication of the 70 staff members for making that happen.

Sen. Collins joined Nestlé Waters North America Inc. leadership, plant staff and local community leaders to celebrate the Kingfield plant being recognized as “The Best Factory in North America.” Its parent company NWNA gave the Kingfield plant the manufacturing excellence award at the celebration last Wednesday, March 23.

Sen. Collins, VIPs and members of the press, were given a tour of the facility, followed by a press conference. Then, she joined the reception where about 50 community members were on hand to witness the presentation of the award. Brian Flaherty, vice president, government affairs for

NWNA presented the award.

Kingfield selectmen attend the luncheon awards ceremony where Poland Spring received a prestigious award naming it Nestlé Waters North America Inc.’s Best Factory in North America last week. Pictured here (left to right) are selectmen Merv Wilson, Neal McCurdy and Chair Heather Moody. (BJ Bangs photo)

Despite being NWNA’s smallest plant in the country, and the most rural, it scored highest for manufacturing excellence based on cost management, quality, efficiency and safety.

“My people make a difference…” Plant Manager Cameron Lorrain said. “They are the best people on the planet. They are the 70 best workers you could have.” Next month, Poland Spring will be gearing up for the summer, expanding from 18 hours a day, five days a week to 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In a press conference, Sen. Collins said Maine’s economy is heavily dependent upon natural resources. Poland Spring capitalizes on two great assets: a wonderfully hardworking work force and pure water. She pointed out the opportunity offered by the plant. “Cameron started out as a mechanic at the Poland plant. Here he is today, the plant manager.” That’s a real success story, and a real credit to the company for giving him that opportunity.

She continued saying how the plant had utilized Maine’s resources in construction, by hiring Cianbro Corp., 100 construction workers from local contractors, and 40 Maine companies were utilized during construction, many from Franklin County. There’s a tremendous use of supplies, and she applauded the plant for recycling 99 percent of all its materials –-from the water in the water towers, to the cardboard, to the plastic. “There’s no waste,” she said. Last year, the Kingfield plant earned LEED Gold certification from the US Green Building Council, making it the first and only manufacturing plant in Maine to achieve this distinction.

One of the challenges in rural Mains is that it is far from the direct market. Companies need to compensate and be smarter and better at what they produce to overcome those obstacles, she said.

For continued economic development in rural Maine, she said it was critical to maintain a partnership with all levels of government, from the local, state to federal level. They need to work together, and advocate for their welfare, whether it be for transportation issues or regulatory issues. “We need to meet their concerns determined from market and other obstacles.”

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins is pictured here with a number of Poland Spring water labels from past years. (BJ Bangs photo)

Lorrain added that transportation to market is the problem. “We knew from day one that we had to overcome that. We talk about that every month, at every meeting. We have the lowest cost getting to market, despite being the furthest away from it.”

Sen. Collins added, “It’s helpful to have success stories to get others to locate in rural Maine. It’s important to attract company executives here, because they well may think, “Why would I want to live there.”

Fresh clean water and their aquifers are very important to Maine. It’s as fresh, and pristine as possible. At first, there were questions on whether the state’s aquifers could sustain Poland Spring’s operation. The rain and snow seem to be replenishing the supplies, and it is not creating any problem.

Sen. Collins recognized Poland Spring for its investment in Maine with a Congressional sentiment. “In over two years and in challenging economic times, you have turned Poland Spring’s newest plant into the Best Factory of the Year and have grown from fewer than 40 employees to 70. This is an outstanding record of accomplishment and growth in such a short time, and I’m delighted to visit the Kingfield facility and meet the people and community responsible for its stunning success. It is especially encouraging to see a business grow and create new jobs while remaining committed to environment stewardship and community citizenship.”

Nestlé Waters North America invested over $60 million in the Kingfield plant, which opened in January 2009. Over 700 people applied for its first 36 jobs.

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Receiving an award for Best Factory in North America from parent plant Nestlé Waters of North America Inc., is Cameron Lorrain (center), plant manager of the Kingfield plant. Giving out the award was Brian Flaherty, vice president, government affairs NWNA (right). U.S. Sen. Susan Collins is pictured at left. (BJ Bangs photo)John Goldfrank of Longfellow’s Restaurant enjoys the festivities at Poland Spring’s award reception last week. The restaurant catered the luncheon reception. (BJ Bangs photo)Jonny Tellez, production supervisor at Kingfield’s Poland Spring plant, explains the process to U.S. Sen. Susan Collins. (BJ Bangs photo)

Fifty truckloads carry 700,000 cases of water from the Kingfield Poland Spring plant every day, five days a week. Next month, the plant will gear up for summer and be operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week. (BJ Bangs photo)Poland Spring held a reception for community leaders and plant staff when it received an award naming it Nestlé Waters North America Inc.’s Best Factory in North America last week. Here, Alison Hagerstrom, executive director of the Greater Franklin Development Corp. in Farmington, chats with Brian Flaherty, vice president of government affairs, Nestlé Waters North America Inc. (BJ Bangs photo)Kingfield Poland Spring Plant Manager Cameron Lorrain shows off the Nestlé Waters North America Inc.’s Best Factory in North America last week. U.S. Sen. Susan Collins came to the ceremony and had the opportunity to tour the plant, something she called a "real success story." (BJ Bangs photo)Kingfield Poland Spring Plant Manager Cameron Lorrain and U.S. Sen. Susan Collins hold a special presentation of various Poland Spring Water labels over the years. (BJ Bangs photo)

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins addresses the nearly 100 people attending the reception at Poland Spring Kingfield plant in honor of its special award. (BJ Bangs photo)U.S. Sen. Susan Collins chats with plant employees Amanda Keyes of Farmington (far right) and Linda Neal of Strong (center). Both have been at the Kingfield plant since the beginning. (Photo by BJ Bangs)U.S. Sen. Susan Collins took a tour of the Kingfield Poland Spring plant last week prior to the awards reception. Pictured with her are Jonny Tellez, production supervisor (white hat), and Dorothy Ferrari, production technician. (BJ Bangs photo)U.S. Sen. Susan Collins toured the Kingfield Poland Spring plant last week. Pictured with her is Steve Boyd, production technician. (BJ Bangs photo)U.S. Sen. Susan Collins picks up one of the rejected bottles as part of her tour of the Kingfield Poland Spring plant last week. Plant Manager Lorrain Cameron looks on. (BJ Bangs photo)