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For more than 70 years, Sappi has been steadily growing.

 

​1987 to present ​
2011​
  • November - Sappi announces conversion to add 330,000 tons of chemical cellulose production at its Cloquet Mill in Minnesota, United States of America.
  • August - Production ceases at Adamas Mill, South Africa, in line with Sappi's strategy to shut high-cost capacity.
  • August - Production ceases at Biberist Mill, Switzerland, in line with Sappi's strategy to shut high-cost capacity.​
  • May - Sappi announces conversion to add 210,000 tons of chemical cellulose production at its Ngodwana Mill in Mpumalanga, South Africa.
2010​
  • July - Sappi Fine Paper South Africa and Sappi Kraft merge to form a new division known as Sappi Paper and Paper Packaging South Africa (SA).
  • July - Sappi Saiccor renamed to Sappi Chemical Cellulose division.
  • January - Usutu Pulp Company continues to operate focused on rehabilitating 20,500 hectares of burnt timber in Swaziland to allow for future beneficiation opportunities.
  • January - Closure of Usutu Pulp Mill effectively exiting Sappi from the unbleached softwood flash-dried pulp market.
  • January - Closure of Kangas Mill in Finland; a decision based on the fact that the impact of the global recession has caused a structural drop in demand for mechanical coated paper.​
2009​
  • November - Sappi delists from the London Stock Exchange (LSE).
  • August - Sappi closes Muskegon Mill in Michigan, United States of America; a decision based on Sappi’s commitment to substantially improve profitability and returns to all its businesses.​
2008-2009
  • Acquisition of the coated graphic paper business of M-real.​
2008​
  • November - Production ceases at Blackburn Mill, United Kingdom, in line with Sappi's strategy to shut high-cost capacity.​
2006-2008​
  • ZAR3.4billion invested at Saiccor Mill to increase production of chemical cellulose to 800,000 tons per annum.​
2005​
  • PM4 closed and pulp mill mothballed at Muskegon Mill, Michigan (United States of America) in line with Sappi's strategy to shut high-cost capacity.​
2004​
  • October - Sappi takes a 34% equity stake in the Jiangxi Chenming joint venture (China). Jiangxi Chenming is building a 350,000 tons per annum lightweight coated paper machine, a mechanical (BTMP) pulp mill and a de-inked pulp plant (construction to be completed in mid-2005).​
2003​
  • Boskor Sawmill sold - part of Sappi's program to dispose of its non-core assets.​
2002​
  • May - Sappi acquires Potlatch Corporation's coated fine paper business and its Cloquet pulp and paper mill in Minnesota (United States of America) - an excellent fit with existing operations in North America and Europe.
  • March - Sappi closes Transcript Mill in Scotland as part of Sappi's strategy to dispose of non-core operations.​
2001​
  • Sappi Fine Paper North America exits the US uncoated paper business and closes its Mobile Mill in Alabama (United States of America) - in line with Sappi’s focus on coated fine paper.
  • Sappi Mining Timber, the mining timber division of Sappi Forest Products; sold as part of Sappi’s strategy to dispose of non-core operations.​
2000​
  • Sappi Novobord, the particleboard and medium density fibreboard manufacturing division of Sappi Forest Products, is sold.​
1998​
  • October - Sappi group lists on the New York Stock Exchange.
  • April - All companies in the Sappi group assume the name 'Sappi' worldwide - one name presented to customers, suppliers and the public.
  • The LignoTech lignosulphonate recovery plant at Saiccor Mill (a 50/50 joint venture between Borregaard of Norway and Sappi) commissioned to extract lignin from the mill's effluent.​
1997​
  • December - Europe's largest producer of coated fine paper, KNP Leykam, acquired.
    - The Sappi group re-structured into two focused operating divisions: Sappi Fine Paper, domiciled in London, managing the coated and uncoated fine paper businesses, and
    - Sappi Forest Products, domiciled in Johannesburg, managing the group's diverse forestry, pulp and commodity paper businesses.
  • Sappi Fine Paper now the world's largest producer of coated fine paper and market leader in Europe, North America and Africa. Also the largest exporter of coated papers to Asia.​
1996​
  • Modernisation and upgrading projects on all of Sappi's older mills in Southern Africa completed.
  • Sappi acquires the 22% minority shareholding of DLJ. S D Warren now 99% owned by Sappi Limited.​
1995​
  • Major expansion at Sappi Saiccor - the world’s leading producer of chemical cellulose commissioned.
  • One of the world's first ozone bleaching plants commissioned at Ngodwana Mill, eliminating the use of elemental chlorine and significantly reducing chloride levels in pulp mill effluent.​
1994​
  • A 75% stake in S D Warren is acquired - the largest manufacturer of coated fine paper in the United States of America. Sappi Limited firmly established as the world's leading producer of coated fine paper.​
1993​
  • Sappi Europe SA launched as the pan-European sales organisation for Sappi products.​
1992​
  • Acquisition of 99% of Hannover Papier - Germany's leading producer of coated fine paper. Sappi now one of the top three European producers in this sector.
  • Sappi shares listed on London and Frankfurt stock exchanges and the Paris Bourse.​
1991​
  • Speciality Pulp Services of Hong Kong acquired and Sappi Trading, the group's international trading company, established.​
1990​
  • Sappi Limited acquires five fine paper mills in the UK. Establishment of Sappi Europe with head office in London.​
1989​
  • Saiccor acquired - the world's single largest producer of chemical cellulose.​
1988​
  • Acquisition of Usutu Pulp Company (Swaziland) - a world leader in unbleached softwood kraft market pulp.​
1987​
  • Particleboard expansion commissioned at Sappi Novobord, White River (South Africa).​

 

​ ​ ​ ​ The first fifty years
1986​
  • Sappi International created to handle export marketing of all Sappi products.​
1985​
  • The Ngodwana Mill expansion completed - production now includes newsprint, linerboard, unbleached pulp and first saleable tonnages of bleached pulp.​
1983​
  • Timberboard acquired and linked with Sappi Novobord.​
1982​
  • Sappi Limited acquires Novobord - a particleboard manufacturing operation.​
1981​
  • Sappi Timber Products takes over Elandshoek sawmill (South Africa).
  • A new waste-based mill in Cape Town (South Africa) commissioned. Cape Kraft Mill produces its first linerboard made entirely from waste paper.
  • Sappi Limited begins planning for expansion of Ngodwana Mill - the company's biggest investment to date.​
1980​
  • A new division is formed - Sappi Timber Products, specialising in sawmilling.
1979​
  • Sappi Limited acquires Stanger Pulp and Paper.
1977​
  • Three operating subsidiaries formed - Sappi Fine Papers, Sappi Kraft and Sappi Forests, each with its own board of directors.​
1973​
  • Company re-registered as 'Sappi Limited'.​
1970​
  • Trials begin on the world's first commercial Sapoxyl bleaching reactor at Enstra Mill.​
1969​
  • South African Pulp and Paper Industries Limited produces third millionth ton of paper.​
1968​
  • Applies for international patents covering Sapoxyl bleaching process using oxygen rather than chlorine.
  • June - Establishes a new timber division in the company.​
1966​
  • Ngodwana Mill construction completed and the mill produces first unbleached kraft pulp.
  • South African Pulp and Paper Industries Limited produces second millionth ton of paper.​
1963​
  • No 2 machine at Tugela Mill commissioned to specialise in kraft linerboard.
  • Acquisition of farmland in the Elands River Valley (South Africa) for plantations and a proposed new mill, to be called ‘Ngodwana’.​
1962​
  • 25 years after the listing of the company, South African Pulp and Paper Industries Limited produces first millionth ton of paper.​
1960​
  • A majority share acquired in Cellulose Products, a manufacturer of tissue wadding.​
1959​
  • Company takes a majority shareholding in Union Corrugated Cases.​
1954​
  • Tugela Mill produces its first reel of paper for kraft packaging, while Enstra Mill concentrates on fine paper.​
1950​
  • A farm bought in KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) with the aim of establishing a pioneer plantation.
  • Decision made to proceed with the development of a second mill, to be called 'Tugela'.​
1947​
  • Two farms purchased north of the Tugela river in Zululand (South Africa) with the aim of establishing a second paper mill.​
1937​
  • Construction of a pulp and paper mill begins on land near Springs (South Africa). The mill is named 'Enstra'; short for 'Enterprise Straw', after its chief raw material.​
1936​
  • December - South African Pulp and Paper Industries Limited (Sappi) registered as a company.​
 
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