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

	1987 to present
	2013	January - Sappi Southern Africa mothballs paper machine 4 at Tugela Mill; a decision based on Sappi’s commitment to substantially improve profitability and returns to all its businesses.
	2012	In line with Sappi’s strategy of growing our high margin Specialised Cellulose business, Sappi started the conversion projects of its paper mill at Cloquet in North America and a portion of its Ngodwana Mill in South Africa to producing dissolving wood pulp. September - Sappi Fine Paper Europe begins the process of converting Alfeld Mill to focus exclusively on producing one-sided coated paper for packaging, labels and technical applications in response to strong growth and positive market forecasts for the packaging market. The conversion is scheduled to be completed at the end of fiscal 2013. August - Sappi sells its 34% shareholding in the Jiangxi Chenming Paper Company Limited and exits the Chinese Joint Venture as part of its strategic focus on high growth investments and debt reduction. The pulp mills at Enstra and Tugela Mills were closed; a decision based on Sappi’s commitment to substantially improve profitability and returns to all its businesses.
	2011	November - Sappi announces conversion to add 330,000 tons of dissolving wood pulp 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 dissolving wood pulp 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 Specialised 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 dissolving wood pulp 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 dissolving wood pulp 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 dissolving wood pulp.
	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.

Related downloads

	Every Minute of Every Day Someone in Sappi is Making a World of Difference 2.6 MB
	Saiccor - The First 50 Years 5.8 MB

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