The goal of the planned investment is to focus the production on growth articles such as SC offset and digital and to complement the successful “starkraft” packaging paper manufactured at the sister company in Pöls with machine-glazed (MG) and machine-finished (MF) products.
Alfred H. Heinzel said: “As a result of these investments, in future the mill in Laakirchen will not only manufacture magazine paper for rotogravure and offset printing, but also machine finished and liner packaging paper. Owing to current developments in the packaging market these products are in increasing demand and we wish to actively exploit this trend, especially in view of our good geographic position.”
In particular, sales of product and transport packaging, resource-saving packaging and flexible food packaging are constantly on the rise. The planned investments are to be concluded by mid-2017.
Alfred H. Heinzel added: “In view of the spending in Laakirchen, the acquisition of the Mondi mill in Raubling represents a sensible supplementation to the product range and in addition will contribute to the securing of raw material supplies.”
The purchased mill has a capacity of around 220,000 t/y and manufactures corrugated special grades on two paper machines. At the same location Chiemgau Recycling GmbH operates a sorting plant for waste paper and liquid board packaging.
Parallel to the investments in Laakirchen and this latest acquisition, the Heinzel Group is to raise the market pulp and MG kraft paper production capacity at its mill in Pöls from its 450,000 to 550,000 t/y.
At the same time, in the period up to 2018, the Estonian Cell group company will upgrade its BCTMP pulp output capability by 30,000 to 200,000 t/y.
