Smurfit Kappa successfully completes two major rebuilds

Smurfit Kappa has announced that two of its European operations have restarted following extended shut downs during the first quarter of 2016.  

The company's PM4 machine, at its Sangüesa mill in Northern Spain, will now produce 30,000 tonnes per annum of high value Machine Glazed (MG) papers following its conversion from a 65,000 tonne per annum containerboard machine.  

Smurfit Kappa's PM1 machine, at its Roermond mill in the Netherlands, has been completely rebuilt to produce 260,000 tons per annum of recycled containerboard. This is an increase of 40,000 tons per year. This machine has the capability to produce lighter weight papers, serving current market trends at a reduced cost per tonne.  

Laurent Sellier, COO Paper & Board Smurfit Kappa Europe, commented, "The operational teams in both Sangüesa and Roermond did an outstanding job ensuring these machines restarted on time and within budget. Within Smurfit Kappa we continue to focus on cost reduction per tonne produced and specialisation of products produced in each of the machines within our system. These completed projects fit perfectly in this strategy."