The new equipment will include one winder, one in-line cutting machine, and two off-line core cutters, as well as core drying chambers. In addition, Sonoco will manage 28 employees responsible for core production on site.
Mario Freissl, head of supply chain and procurement and a member of the board, said that "with this agreement, Mondi will receive more stabilized and reliable core quality, and gain access to Sonoco Alcore's operational and technological leadership."
Adam Wood, VP, Industrial Converting Europe, added that the agreement "allows Sonoco to expand its manufacturing footprint in a high-growth market, with the potential to serve additional customers from this location. It also demonstrates our ability to convert self-manufacturers, and aligns with our growth strategy in the Russian core market."
The Mondi Syktyvkar mill currently operates one board machine and three paper machines, producing up to 1 million metric tpy. Paper production includes office paper, offset paper, newsprint, and linerboard for corrugated medium. The Syktyvkar operations have more than 3,000 employees at the mill and an additional 3,000-plus people in the local forests harvesting wood for pulp and paper production. Since the acquisition of the German company Nordenia in 2012, Mondi also operates a plant that produces packaging in a central part of Russia.
Sonoco Alcore supplies industry-specific cores to a variety of markets including the paper, textiles, plastic film, and construction industries. With 28 manufacturing locations and five paper mills in Europe, the company can supply facilities anywhere in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
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