Pulp Paper & Logistics


INDUSTRY NEWS 3


Sofidel starts work on its integrated mill in Ohio


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onstruction work has started on Sofidel’s new integrated paper mill in the US.


A groundbreaking ceremony was held in July on the site at Circleville, Ohio, which was attended by a number of local officials including Ohio Lt Governor Mary Taylor, Congressman Steve Stivers, State Senator Bob Peterson, and State Representative Gary Scherer. Sofidel’s chief executive Luigi


Lazzareschi commented: “Today, we celebrate the commencement of construction of the first Sofidel integrated paper mill to be built from the ground up in the United States. It’s going to be a very big project for us. “This is a very good location


for us: 280 acres of relatively flat land,” Lazzareschi added. “A good rail system connected to water and gas, a good airport, good logistically, lots of customer distribution centres, and a


potential workforce of hard- working people. “For our 50th anniversary, we summarize our attention to The Future in a sentence: Sofidel, 50 years of growth into the future. If Ohio is the State where the future is happening, then evidently, we share the same interest – the future.”


The mill is expected to be


operational in 2018. State Senator Bob Peterson


added: “Today’s groundbreaking was an opportunity to welcome Sofidel to Pickaway County and thank their CEO for making an important investment in our community and in our workforce.” Based at Lucca in Italy, Sofidel is


best known for its Regina range of tissues. With operations in 13 countries in Europe and the US, it has 5,500 employees with sales last year of €1.8 billion.


Stora Enso plans consolidation of corrugated packaging production


Stora Enso is considering plans to consolidate manufacturing of its corrugated packaging in Finland into its Lahti mill. The objective is to improve profitability and competitiveness by creating a centre of excellence for corrugated packaging at the mill. As part of the possible


consolidation, Stora Enso would invest about €19 million in new machinery and supporting


infrastructure in Lahti, where the most important individual investment item is a new corrugator. The proposed project is planned to start in November 2016 and is expected to be finalised by the end of the first quarter of 2018. According to the plan, the Heinola Corrugated plant would be closed permanently and packaging manufacturing transferred to the Lahti plant. Co-determination


negotiations will start within Lahti and Heinola corrugated plants. “The plan to potentially consolidate


our corrugated operations in Finland is largely driven by the need to improve profitability and strengthen our competitive edge. In addition to the planned investment, our strong infrastructure in Lahti would provide us with a world-class asset base to better serve our customers,” said Peter Torstensson, Head


of Corrugated Nordics, Division Packaging Solutions. Some 60 jobs could be lost. Decisions regarding the planned consolidation, closure and employee reduction will be taken after the co-determination negotiations have been concluded. The corrugated packaging production at the Kristiinankaupunki plant will be continued. The Heinola Fluting mill for containerboard will not be affected. • Stora Enso has successfully


completed the modernisation of its sawmill at Murów in Poland, where it invested €28 million to increase the mill’s capacity.


September/October 2016 News in Brief


n UK paper maker James Cropper has launched a new, renewable and recyclable moulded packaging product which it says is a “sustainable alternative to plastic”. The group’s new business – James Cropper 3D Products – has developed a bespoke, design-engineered, moulded paper packaging product which challenges plastics in terms of colour, quality and performance and will add value for brand owners, designers and other customers – going above and beyond the capabilities of any other moulded fibre packaging. It is made from entirely


renewable materials and can be recycled with household paper.


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