Blue Paper to Convert LWC Machine to Packaging Grades
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Blue Paper has ordered from Metso, Finland, a grade conversion rebuild of the paper machine at its mill in Strasbourg, France. The goal of the rebuild is to produce packaging materials on a paper machine that previously produced lightweight coated (LWC) paper, "a grade that is suffering from a drastic decline in demand," the company notes. Startup of the rebuilt machine is scheduled for the last quarter of this year.
"This delivery is an example of the much called-for innovative approach to the structural change the paper industry is facing. By retrofitting the existing printing paper machine with a few new key components, Metso is able to provide the customer and the Strasbourg papermaking community with a solution that enables continuation of industrial operations on-site," says Markus Laitila, VP of Paper Mills business unit, Metso.
Metso's delivery will include headbox and forming area modernizations and modernization of the press, dryer, and sizing sections and reel. Metso will also modify the air systems and automation systems.
The original paper machine has a trimmed width of 8.5 meters and produced LWC paper at a speed of 1,500 meters/min. After the grade conversion rebuild, the paper machine will have a high annual capacity with fluting and testliner grades in the basis weight range of 70-130 gsm.
Blue Paper SAS is a joint venture established by the Belgian VPK Packaging Group NV and the German Klingele Papierwerke. VPK Packaging Group NV is an integrated packaging group with 33 companies across 12 European countries. Klingele, a German family-owned company, is one of the leading independent producers of containerboard and packaging made of corrugated board. The company consists of one paper mill, six integrated corrugated plants, and seven converting plants in Europe and Africa. Klingele and VPK have a combined corrugated packaging production of more than 1 million metric tpy and a paper production of 600,000 metric tpy.
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