Brussels 7 November 2013
Gratkorn to benefit from significant upgrade as part of Sappi Fine Paper Europe’s strategic cost reduction plan
The investment at Sappi’s Gratkorn Mill will focus on upgrading pulp production facilities as well as improving papermaking capabilities to secure a significantly lower cost base for the mill. The announcement supports Sappi Fine Paper Europe’s continued drive for cost leadership and improved profitability.
The new investment will facilitate the rebuilding and upgrading of critical parts of the liquor boiler and recovery plant, maintaining pulp production in the mill at current levels. The environmental impact will be positive with a decrease in noise pollution and in NOX/SO2 emissions to ensure long-term compliance with emission limits. The rebuild will be carried out following detailed engineering works scheduled for March 2015 with start-up approximately four months later.
The technology upgrade of Gratkorn’s PM11 production line is part of the mill’s 'Fit for the Future' planning. The grammage range for coated paper will also be increased from 115g/m² - 250g/m² to 115g/m² - 350g/m². It is estimated that the conversion will start end of business year 2014 and will take just over a year.
Paper has been produced at Gratkorn for more than four centuries. The mill was completely revolutionised with the building of the largest and most advanced coated fine paper production line in the world in 1996. It is a world class asset with an annual capacity of 950,000 tons of triple-coated fine paper and 250,000 tons of totally chlorine free (TCF) chemical pulp. The mill also has an annual sheet finishing capacity of over 860,000 tons.
Max Oberhumer, Mill Director of Sappi Gratkorn commented: “We welcome the confidence shown in Gratkorn and its people. We will continue to provide excellent products and services from a significantly reduced cost base.”
“Continuous improvement and significant cost reduction is always top of mind for us. We have a strong relationship with our customers and make a point of understanding their needs; these investments will ensure that we continue to meet them,” Siegfried Meissl, Project Manager at Gratkorn Mill.
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About Sappi Gratkorn Mill
Sappi Gratkorn Mill in Gratkorn, Austria is part of Sappi Fine Paper Europe. Annually it produces 950,000 tons of high quality double and triple coated papers which are used for premium quality publications all over the world. Gratkorn Mill also produces 250,000 tons of totally chlorine free (TCF) chemical pulp. The mill employs 1,300 paper industry professionals from production to R&D. About 95% of the mill’s production is exported.
The mill operates under management systems consisting of certified Environmental Management System (ISO 14001), Energy Management System (ISO 50001), Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSAS 18001), Quality Management System (ISO 9001) and Chain Of Custody Verification from the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC™) scheme and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®).
About Sappi
Sappi Fine Paper Europe (SFPE) is the leading European producer of coated fine paper used in premium magazines, catalogues, books and high-end print advertising. Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, Sappi Fine Paper Europe is recognised for innovation and quality. Its graphic paper brands include Magno™, Quatro™, Royal™, Galerie™, GalerieArt™ and Jaz™ ranges. Algro®, Fusion®, Leine® and Parade® are the brands for speciality labelling, topliner, packaging papers and boards. Sappi papers are produced in mills accredited with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification and EMAS registration for all our mills in the EU. SFPE’s mills hold chain-of-custody certification under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) and/or the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC™) schemes.
Sappi Fine Paper Europe is a division of Sappi Limited (JSE), a global company headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with over 14,000 employees and manufacturing operations on three continents in seven countries, sales offices in 50 countries, and customers in over 100 countries around the world. Learn more about Sappi at www.sappi.com.
