1. Debarking
The paper making process starts with cutting trees, the bark from the trees must be removed before the wood can be used for papermaking. The logs are sent through a debarking drum (large, rotating cylinder). Inside the drum, the logs collide with one another and rub together removing the bark.

2. Chipper
The logs are then conveyed to a series of chippers equipped with whirling blades, which break them down into smaller pieces or chips.

3. Pulping
The tiny fragments are then pressure cooked with chemicals in a large vessel called a digester. Digesters are design to steam under pressure for 1 – 4 hours until the mixture is reduce to wet, oatmeal-like mass. The cooking frees the fiber so they can be suspended in water. The pulp is then blown from the digester under pressure to separate the fibers. It is then washed to remove the cooking chemicals and dissolved lignin.

4. Bleaching 
Bleaching is a very important step. Bleaching is used to purify and clean the pulp. Bleaching removes lignin, which affects the purity of the fiber.

5. Paper Machine 
The paper machine starts with a step called stock preparation. During stock preparation, wood fiber is mixed with water and other additives to give the finish paper the desired properties.

The next step is the press section. Here the paper is run onto the forming fabric or wire of the paper machine. The forming fabric is an endless mesh screen that circulates at the wet end of the paper machine. There the fibers become interlaced, forming a mat of paper, and much of the water is extracted.

The third step is the drying process. On this section, the paper is then squeezed through a series of steam-heated cylinders called dryers, where the last of the water in the sheet is removed. During this time, the paper passes through a size press that applies a coating of starch and minerals. This makes the paper even stronger and smoother. After the size press coating is put on, the paper is dried again by traveling through another series of steam-heated drums. Finally, the paper is spooled to a giant roll. 

6. Coater
For coated papers, a blade coater puts a thin coating onto the finished paper. The paper glides under a blade that deposits a coating onto the paper surface. The different coatings make the paper very good to use in printing.

7. Sheet Converting
Sheet converting is the last stage of papermaking. Some of the paper rolls are cut into sheets, while others are packaged for shipping to customers.