BillerudKorsnäs, Solna, Sweden, has invested SEK 260 million at its production unit in Skärblacka, Sweden, that will increase the volume and improve the quality of sack papers produced there. The investment in sack paper machine No. 9 at Skärblacka further boosts the quality of the company’s sack paper range and will also increase PM 9’s capacity by 20,000 metric tpy, up to 180,000 metric tpy. The investment is a part of the growth agenda Selective Growth for BillerudKorsnäs Business Area Packaging Paper.

 

PM 9 produces high quality brown sack papers that are used for the construction of sacks primarily for packaging of cement, other construction minerals, and chemicals. Most of these papers are sold in emerging markets outside of Europe.

 

"We see strong potential for our sack papers in South East Asia, where our sack paper brand QuickFill is a quality leader. In those regions, cement and other construction minerals are very often packed in plastic sacks. Sacks made out of our material offer the brand owner large benefits when it comes to production economy, but also when it comes to sustainability and health," said Johan Nellbeck, SVP Packaging Paper.

 

The investment includes rebuild of the headbox and wire section for the paper machine and will be carried out during 2015. It is a key step in the development of the Skärblacka production unit and follows a series of investments in energy and environment since 2012.