Sappi Europe has completed the second phase of a three-stage modernisation project at its plant in Gratkorn, Austria. The double-digit million euro investment is intended to facilitate the transition to Industry 4.0. The milestone now reached minimises the risk of machine downtime and ensures sustainable production of the Magno paper range.
The Gratkorn mill is the main production plant and flagship of the Magno range. Magno is a wood-free, coated paper that is used by customers worldwide for high-quality print products. In the second phase of the modernisation project, Sappi worked with suppliers such as Honeywell and Siemens to improve processes. This enabled a more efficient way of working for employees and a more consistent output, which in turn increased productivity. The Processes in Gratkorn now run on a single automation platform. This means that less hardware is required, costs for spare parts are saved and maintenance costs are reduced.
„This investment shows that Sappi believes in the performance and potential of print media and paper-based solutions. We are continuously investing in our production facilities to secure our portfolio for the long term.“
Rens Huijnen, Product Manager of Sappi Europe
The next modernisation phase, which should be completed by 2025, will focus on general challenges in the paper industry, such as the procurement of machine spare parts that are no longer produced. „By using the latest automation and electrical systems, we can not only ensure paper production for our customers at the usual high level, but also minimise the costs for our customers. guarantee easier support from our suppliers“, says Dominik Strommer, project manager of the modernisation project.
Thanks to substantial investments, the Gratkorn plant has developed considerably in recent years and now offers a wide range of products. In addition to graphic papers various types of labelling paper are also produced in Gratkorn. In 2021, Sappi expanded its portfolio of non-wet-strength wet-glue label papers with Parade Label Pro, which is suitable for many different applications, e.g. standard labels for bottles, cans and jars as well as for wrapper packaging applications for various products. This was followed in January 2022 by Parade Face SG, a high-quality, semi-gloss paper for self-adhesive labels for a wide range of applications such as food, non-food, beverages, health and care products.
Following the ongoing long-term validation phase, Sappi Europe will officially launch Parade Label WS in the autumn, a Durable, wet and alkali-resistant label paper. With Parade Label WS, excellent printing and finishing results can be achieved for various applications, including reusable packaging in the food and beverage industry.
Source: Sappi
