Blue Paper plans to convert the plant to produce packaging made of recycled waste paper and plans to commence production in September. In order to realise these ambitious targets, initial measures are already in place.
With a trimmed width of 8.5 metres, UPM Stracel's paper machine previously produced LWC paper at a speed of 1,600 m/min. From September, the paper machine will initially have an annual capacity of some 277,000 tons of fluting paper and testliner ranging from 70 to 130 g/m2 . Production capacity is set to increase to over 400,000 tons per year in due course.
The investment to bring the Strasbourg paper plant into line with the latest technical, economic and environmental standards will amount to more than Euro 100 million. With Metso and Kadant acting as main suppliers for the paper machine and stock preparation respectively, the new owners have secured the services of experienced partners to guarantee that their ambitious project is completed on schedule.
The conversion work covers a range of measures that includes a new stock preparation based on waste paper, a new headbox, adaptation of the gap former, conversion of the press and pre-dryer section, a new film press, a new after drying section, improvements to the winders, a new anaerobic waste water treatment and the introduction of combined heat and power generation. Further significant investments will be made in the areas of automation, process system, paper reel handling, technical and commercial computer systems, starch preparation as well as extensive civil works.
The project will create 130 jobs, which Blue Paper plans to offer to the very experienced and highly qualified former UPM Stracel employees.
Klingele, a German family-owned company since 1920, is one of the leading independent producers of containerboard and packaging made of corrugated board.
VPK Packaging Group NV is an integrated European packaging group with 33 facilities spread across 12 European countries.
