This machine was idled in 2009 by its then owner due to the declining demand of newsprint paper. After the conversion, PM2 will produce about 385,000 tons of packaging paper from mid-2016, intended for the production of corrugated board. With this investment, Parenco creates approximately 60 new jobs.
Geert Wassens, Managing Director at Parenco, explains: “Globally, the demand for graphic paper is declining in principle and there is sufficient capacity. Restarting PM2 with this type of product was therefore not an option. The market for packaging paper has been growing for years however and it is expected to continue doing so. Extensive research showed that investing in a conversion to the production of packaging paper was the right step to guarantee long term growth and continuity for our company.”
The PM2 proved to be a highly suitable candidate for the conversion to packaging paper: with a width of 8.4 meters, the machine is optimally able to provide modern corrugators with paper. In addition, the machine is designed to produce lower grammages and that also fits perfectly with the trends in the packaging industry.
Wassens stresses that the conversion does not mean that Parenco is turning its back on the graphic market.
The contract with machinery manufacturer Voith Paper GmbH & CO KG has been signed in the meantime. It is the intention to sign a contract with Valmet Technologies, Inc. for the construction of a new winder behind PM2. ABN AMRO signed for the financing by means of an asset based solution, while Nielen Schuman advised the company in the financing process.
The preparatory activities can start at the site in Renkum. Voith will work on the pulp line, the paper machine, and the starch preparation. They will also account for the integration of the installation in the existing factory. In August 2016 the first paper will roll of the PM2 and will find its way to cardboard manufacturers in Europe.