UPM-Kymmene converts PM 8 at Kymi Paper, Kuusankoski, Finland, from woodfree uncoated to coated paper production as part of its upgrading program. The investment of EUR 250 million will be started next year and completed during autumn 2001.
Kymi Paper's PM 8 at Kuusankoski started up in 1983 and is currently producing mainly office papers. A sizeable rebuild of the 8.5 metre wide machine will give it a production capacity of 400.000 tonnes of coated paper annually. In 1998 UPM-Kymmene closed the old off-machine coating line at Kuusankoski. The line, with an annual capacity of 100,000 tonnes, was no longer profitable. Kymi's total capacity is currently 750,000 tonnes of woodfree fine papers, including 130,000 tonnes of coated fine papers.
The conversion is a strategic step towards high quality gloss and matt finished woodfree coated products, which meet the growing demand for coated papers of both the merchant trade, magazine publishers and printers.
The previous investment of UPM-Kymmene in this area was the installation of a new coating line at Nordland Papier, Germany, in 1996.
UPM-Kymmene has recently concentrated on investments boosting production efficiency and raising the conversion level of products. In addition the company has upgraded its facilities for handling recycled fibre at the Chapelle Darblay and Shotton mills, and in the Fine Paper Division, UPM-Kymmene has invested in modernising Nordland-Papier's biggest paper machine PM 4 this year.
The investments this year have been roughly equal to depreciation, and this is expected to be the case next year too.
UPM-Kymmene is one of the world's biggest forest industry groups with annual net sales of EUR 8.4 billion. The company manufactures printing papers (magazine paper, newsprint and fine paper), converting materials and wood products. UPM-Kymmene Fine Paper has a total capacity of 2.1 million t/a offering a complete range of coated and uncoated fine papers for graphic applications and business communication.
For more information, please contact:
Mr Matti Lindahl, President, UPM-Kymmene Fine Paper, tel.+49 4963 401 411 or
Mr Pertti Asunmaa, Managing Director, Kymi Paper, tel. +358 204 15 3600.
