Södra to Convert Mörrum Mill to Dissolving Pulp Production

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Södra', Sweden, reports that its board of directors has approved an investment to produce dissolving pulp at its Södra Cell Mörrum pulp mill in Sweden. This will involve converting pulp line 1, which is currently used to produce paper pulp.

At full capacity, Södra Cell Mörrum will produce 170,000 metric tpy of dissolving pulp based on hardwood. The production of dissolving pulp will gradually increase to compensate for lost paper pulp volumes as a result of the development of digital media.

Södra syas it "strongly believes" in the potential of the dissolving pulp market, and especially in the textile fibers segment. "The demand for renewable, wood-based textile fiber will increase as it replaces cotton fiber and oil-based synthetic fiber," said Gunilla Saltin, CEO of Södra Cell. The investment at Mörrum will give Södra competitive dissolving pulp production based on hardwood. However, Södra will also continue to produce paper pulp based on birch at its mill in Mönsterås, Sweden.

Work on the conversion will begin immediately with production expected to start by the end of 2011. Existing production will not be affected during the construction period.