Stora Enso Expands De Lier Site with New Corrugated Packaging Production Facility
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Stora Enso has opened a new corrugated packaging production factory at De Lier, the Netherlands. The site is part of the recently acquired De Jong Packaging Group, now Business Unit Western Europe in the Packaging Solutions division. The major expansion has been designed with a strong focus on sustainable operations.
According to Stora Enso, the expansion adds a new, second factory to the De Lier site and equipping the facility with two new corrugators to augment the existing two. As a result of the expansion, the site is now the largest and most modern corrugated packaging facility in Europe. The De Lier site's products currently include boxes and trays for fresh produce, horticultural and industrial applications, e-commerce and transport.
"This expansion allows us to grow our market share in renewable and circular packaging solutions while serving our customers from a highly favourable location in Western Europe," said David Ekberg, Executive Vice President, Packaging Solutions division, Stora Enso. "We are thrilled to reinforce our position as a strong regional player in Europe's corrugated packaging market."
The newly opened factory at De Lier utilizes a variety of sustainable solutions, such as 3.8 MWp of solar panels installed on the roof, which will provide electricity to an equivalent of 1,000 households. The residual heat generated by the corrugators will be used to heat the site's office buildings, further reducing their carbon footprint.
The state-of-the-art factory also boasts a fully automated paper reel warehouse, two corrugators and conversion machines utilising a multi-level conveyor, along with an advanced waste management system. Moreover, it features an improved internal transport system that facilitates safer movement through the production process while reducing the need for forklift trucks.
Ad Smit, Senior Vice President, BU Western Europe, Packaging Solutions division, explained, "Expanding the facility with a new factory significantly optimizes the flexibility and efficiency of our processes, making it possible for us to better support our customers in achieving their sustainability targets. By reducing our carbon footprint and incorporating renewable energy, we are taking major steps towards more sustainable operations, while also improving our manufacturing processes and workplace safety."
The De Lier site develops and sells premium fiber-based packaging products and services and employs approximately 500 people. The new factory is now in the commissioning phase, with the first orders already delivered.
