Metsä Board, Finland, this week announced the startup of a new extrusion coating line at its Husum mill in Sweden. The new state-of the-art coating line has an annual capacity of about 100,000 metric tons and represented an investment of EUR 38 million. At the same site, Metsä Board operates a 270,000 metric tpy, efficient linerboard machine and Europe’s most modern folding boxboard machine, which started production at the beginning of 2016 with an annual capacity of 400,000 metric tons. 

The new extrusion coating line is now producing first orders and it will serve the global food service market and offer improved availability and competitive products. Metsä Board’s PE coated paperboards respond to the tight requirements of the food service market by providing product safety, purity, and protection. 

 

 

The paperboards are made of pure and renewable fresh fibers and are a preferred alternative to plastics for cups, plates, and other takeaway packaging, as well as for frozen food packaging. The paperboards also offer great value for other consumer goods and food service packaging. Currently PE is the most common barrier against moisture and water for food and food service packaging.

"In developing the new PE coated grades, we have utilized our longstanding board making expertise combined with the latest technology. We have an integrated facility at Husum, which is a clear advantage. We are sourcing wood close to the mill and producing pulp, board, and extrusion-coated board in the same facility, with an excellent location near the harbor. This enables us to minimize transport and improve the efficiency and sustainability of the supply chain, which is important to us and our customers," said CEO Mika Joukio.

Metsä Group’s sales totaled EUR 4.7 billion in 2016, and it employs approximately 9,300 people. The Group operates in some 30 countries. Metsäliitto Cooperative is the parent company of Metsä Group.