HELSINKI, Jan. 29, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Stora Enso has
completed the conversion of its Oulu paper mill for production of
packaging board. The pulp mill has been in production since
mid-January and the newly converted machine is in a start-up phase.
The project began in May 2019
following a decision to invest EUR 350
million, and it was completed within the budget frame. The
packaging machine will now be ramped up during the first quarter
and is expected to reach its designed production capacity by the
end of this year.
The new line producing kraftliner will serve global customers in
demanding packaging end-uses that require strength, purity and
strong visual appearance features. The product,
AvantForteTM by Stora Enso, has three fiber layers,
making it the strongest kraftliner in Stora Enso's portfolio.
Packaging applications include fresh, fatty or moist food, as well
as high-end e-commerce packaging.
"Completing the Oulu Mill conversion is an important step in our
transformation and responds to increasing global market demand for
circular and eco-friendly packaging materials," says President and
CEO Annica Bresky.
"Oulu Mill will utilise state-of-the-art technology to produce a
strong, material-efficient, high-quality kraftliner product. This
allows us to tap into premium packaging segments with strong growth
potential, such as food contact and e-commerce," says Hannu
Kasurinen, EVP, Packaging Materials division.
In the conversion project, one of the two former paper machines
was converted for packaging board production. The pulp mill and
drying machine were modified to produce unbleached brown pulp (530
000 tonnes annually), out of which about 150 000 tonnes are
sold externally. The capacity of the new world-class kraftliner
line is 450 000 tonnes per year. When fully ramped up within a
year, Oulu Mill will generate a EUR 300
million annual sales increase for the Packaging Materials
division.
The conversion of Oulu Mill also enables the strengthening of
Packaging Materials division's sheet service. Lumipaper sheeting
plant in Antwerp, which is being
converted from paper to primarily board sheeting, will utilise
cutters from Oulu and provide a fast sheet service in Continental
Europe.
After the ramp-up of the first converted production line, Oulu
Mill will have an additional growth option in the possible future
conversion of the second paper machine for packaging materials.
This would further improve Oulu Mill's competitiveness, with
integrated pulp availability and additional fixed and variable cost
savings, including higher utilisation of the in-house deep sea
harbour.
Approximately 400 people are employed on the mill site,
including facilities personnel and logistics staff. The mill's wood
consumption, mainly purchased from private forest owners in
Northern Finland, will increase by
0.5 million m3 to 2.4 million m3
annually.
For further information, please contact:
Ulrika Lilja
EVP, Communications and Marketing
tel. +46 72 221 9228
Investor enquiries:
Ulla Paajanen
SVP, Head of Investor Relations
tel. +358 40 763 8767
Part of the bioeconomy, Stora Enso is a leading global provider
of renewable solutions in packaging, biomaterials, wooden
construction and paper. We employ some 23 000 people and have sales
in more than 50 countries and our shares are listed on the
Helsinki (STEAV, STERV) and
Stockholm (STE A, STE R) stock
exchanges. storaenso.com
For further information, please contact:
Ulrika Lilja
EVP, Communications and Marketing
tel. +46 72 221 9228
Investor enquiries:
Ulla Paajanen
SVP, Head of Investor Relations
tel. +358 40 763 8767
This information was brought to you by Cision
http://news.cision.com
https://news.cision.com/stora-enso-oyj/r/production-started-at-stora-enso-s-oulu-mill,c3276411
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https://news.cision.com/stora-enso-oyj/i/oulu-mill-2021,c2872426
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Oulu Mill
2021
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https://news.cision.com/stora-enso-oyj/i/avantforte,c2872427
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AvantForte
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