Ahlstrom-Munksjö (Helsinki, Finland) announced this week (Sept. 3, 2018) the company plans to make an investment of EUR 21 million in its coated specialties business division with the intent to improve capability and flexibility in production at the Jacarei, Brazil Mill, a pulp & specialty paper and products related plant.

The project is expected to be completed sometime in the second half of the upcoming year (2019). The project is designed to expand the site’s capabilities of coating and calendering on the paper machine. It will allow Ahlstrom-Munksjö to offer more efficient, high-quality on-line coated products in the areas of self-adhesive and wet glue labeling, flexible packaging and sublimation printing. Demand growth for high value-added coated specialty papers has been robust in the region during past years.

The coated specialties business produces a wide range of products and materials often used in manufacturing and production processes, such as abrasive backings, electrotechnical insulation papers, coated label and flexible packaging papers, release liners and specialty pulp.

The upgrade of the production line will also improve the company’s flexibility to deliver a wider range of product trims. Additionally, it will open up further innovation opportunities in existing and new product areas. The benefit of the investment includes an improved product mix and increased production efficiency.