The supervisory boards of Laakirchen Papier AG and Heinzel Holding GmbH have decided to make extensive investments in the sustainable development of the Austrian paper mill Laakirchen for an environmentally friendly future. As part of an investment program of well over €100m, PM11, which today produces supercalendered paper for magazines, catalogues and advertising, will be converted into a high performance machine for lightweight containerboard made from recycled paper.
“Recycled packaging papers are the product of the future for the circular bioeconomy,” says Kurt Maier, CEO, Heinzel Group. “With a total of more than a million tons of production on two paper machines, Laakirchen will become one of the largest production facilities for these products in Europe.”
Preparations for the conversion and for obtaining the necessary permits have already started. Containerboard products from the PM11 will be available on the market in mid 2023. “This also means that we will withdraw entirely from the publication paper market in 2023,” says Franz Baldauf, CFO, Laakirchen Papier AG. “Until then, we want to reliably supply those customers who purchase SC paper from us today. This is important, given the current paper shortage on the market.”
With a width of 8.9m, PM11 will produce lightweight recycled containerboard with a basis weight from 70gsm upwards. Testliner and fluting products from Laakirchen will be marketed under the product name ‘starboard’ and are particularly suitable for e-commerce packaging, but are also used for industrial packaging and packaging for agricultural products or consumer products. At full capacity the PM11 will produce more than 550,000 tons of paper per year.
“With this investment, Heinzel Group is further expanding its position as a leading producer of recycled packaging paper,” says Sebastian Heinzel, shareholder. “The Laakirchen paper mill has great advantages; its location in the heart of Europe and its efficient and modern machines.”
