Holmen's Begins Restructuring Program at Hallsta Mill

Holmen Paper, Stockholm, Sweden, reports that it is starting work to concentrate production at its Hallstavik mill to two paper machines with strong positions in their respective product segments—MF magazine and book paper. As a result, the mill's oldest machine, PM 3, is being shut down. At the same time, the company plans to invest in energy efficiency measures that, together with the closure, will considerably reduce the mill's future investment needs. These measures will strengthen the mill's competitiveness, Holmen says.

"The restructuring program will ensure that Hallsta Paper Mill continues to play an important role in the switch towards becoming a specialty paper company, a process that has been under way at Holmen Paper's Swedish units for a long time. It will help improve our chances of growing in the areas of importance to us," said Henrik Sjölund, head of Holmen Paper.

The goal is to close down PM 3 during the second half of 2013. The paper machine produces 140,000 metric tpy of SC paper annually for a market with excessive overcapacity. The closure is expected to reduce the mill's workforce by about 230.

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