Smurfit Kappa continues to invest in its Facture paper mill to meet the growing demand for kraftliner grades in Europe. An upgrade of the mill, which is in South West France, was successfully completed in March following a three-week shutdown and included the implementation of a new pulp washing line, and a complete overhaul of the black liquor recovery boiler.
SKG next plans a series of improvements to PM5 commencing in 2019 which, on completion, will increase its production capacity of white top kraftliner from 174,000 tonnes to 220,000 tonnes per annum and further enhance quality.
The Facture mill has been producing kraft paper since 1928. Speaking about the upgrade project, Laurent Sellier, Chief Operating Officer of Smurfit Kappa Paper & Board Europe, said, “The Facture site is going through a major upgrade programme which will significantly increase both the output and quality of the kraftliner we produce. This mill has an ideal location for meeting the demands of customers in Southern Europe so we are committed to implementing ongoing innovations and improvements.”
