Category: News

Saica Group has reached an agreement with Schumacher Packaging to acquire their Polish subsidiary. That includes all activities in Poland: the whole management, all employees, two state-of-the-art corrugated board plants in Bydgoszcz and Wroclaw, two paper mills in Grudziadz and Myszków, one of which was completely modernised in 2023 and three service centres. Completion of this transaction is pending clearance by the Polish anti-trust authorities, as well as the fulfilment of certain conditions precedent.

With a capacity production of 440.000 tonnes of paper and 535 million square meters of corrugated board packaging, Schumacher Packaging employs 1,540 people in Poland. The turnover of the Polish sites was 327 million euros in 2023 (aggregated sales).

The integrated Schumacher Packaging Group is one of the largest family-owned producers of customised corrugated and solid board packaging in Europe, recognised as an industry leader in innovation and technology, it has also pioneered high performance digital printing for corrugated board. The Group has enjoyed a dynamic international growth over the years, with 26 sites in Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Great Britain, Italy and the Netherlands. In Poland, they have developed a solid portfolio of customers and they have a capacity production of 440.000 tonnes of paper and 535 million square meters of corrugated board. Schumacher Packaging is comprised of 1,540 employees in Poland and the turnover was 327 million euros in 2023 (aggregated sales).

Both companies are working passionately towards its vision of climate-neutral packaging made from renewable raw materials.

“We are very happy that we came to this agreement with Saica – for our employees and our customers. There is a cultural proximity between the two family-owned companies, which will allow for rapid integration. The two companies’ products and services are complementary in Poland. Saica fills a gap in its already extensive geographic coverage by expanding into Europe’s sixth largest economy. This is an important step for Schumacher Packaging, as well, to lead our successful and healthy mediumsized company into a long-term future. The spin-off of the Polish subsidiary will not cause any complications for the rest of the Schumacher Packaging Group. This is because the Polish organisation works almost independently of the other country organisations with its own management, “ said Björn Schumacher, CEO of Schumacher Packaging.

“This will be a very important milestone. Not only this is a step forward in Saica’s business growth strategy, but it also aims to further develop our infrastructure and services in Eastern Europe. We are eager to welcome the Schumacher people in Poland, and further develop our culture and values with them, caring for the future, valuing people and accepting the challenges we have ahead”, said Susana Alejandro, President of Saica Group.

This offer is part of the development plans of the company defined by Saica 2025, the strategic plan of the company.

Back in 2011, Saica Group entered the Polish market through a joint venture with Thimm Group, acquiring a corrugated cardboard packaging plant in Tychy, named TOP THIMM (with 51% of shares and Saica Group with 49% of shares). In 2022, Saica Group acquired 76% of shares of Fox Recykling, a waste management company in the city of Gdynia.

About Saica Group

Saica Group offers sustainable paper solutions for the manufacture of corrugated cardboard and packaging, promoting circularity in waste management. With over 10,300 employees and a presence in Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Turkey, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, and the United States, Saica Group has four business lines: the production of recycled paper for corrugated cardboard (Saica Paper), waste management and environmental services (Saica Natur), the production of corrugated cardboard packaging (Saica Pack), and flexible packaging (Saica Flex). The group’s revenue is € 3.620 million (consolidated sales as of 31 December 2023).

About Schumacher Packaging

The Schumacher Packaging Group, based in Ebersdorf near Coburg in Bavaria, is one of Europe’s largest manufacturers of customised corrugated and solid board packaging. As an integrated group of companies, Schumacher Packaging comprises three paper mills for recycled corrugated base paper, two board mills, 15 converting plants and various service centres. As a medium-sized company (“German Mittelstand”), it is very flexible in responding to market changes and customer needs. With many of its customers and suppliers, the company has enjoyed close and cooperative partnerships for decades.

The company is managed in the third generation by brothers Björn and Hendrik Schumacher and has 26 locations in Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, the UK, Italy and the Netherlands. In 2023, the family business celebrated its 75th anniversary, marking 75 years of tradition, dynamism and innovation.

For decades, the family-owned company has been one of the innovation and technology leaders in the packaging industry and is a pioneer in high-performance digital printing for corrugated packaging, the most environmentally friendly printing process in the industry. Schumacher Packaging develops, produces and prints packaging for all industries. Sustainability plays a key role here – the company aims to manufacture its products in a climate-neutral way by 2035. In the 2023 financial year, Schumacher Packaging generated an annual turnover of 940 million euros with around 4,000 employees.

Suzano, the world’s largest market pulp producer, announces the successful operational startup of its new mill, the largest single pulp production line in the world, in Ribas do Rio Pardo, Mato Grosso do Sul state. This marks the completion of one of Brazil’s largest ever private investment projects.

This state-of-the-art facility will have an annual production capacity of 2.55 million tonnes of eucalyptus pulp, increasing Suzano’s production capacity by more than 20% to 13.5 million tonnes a year. The project is the result of a total investment of R$ 22.2 billion (~US$4.3 billion), of which R$ 15.9 billion (~US$3.1 billion) was allocated for the construction of the plant and R$ 6.3 billion (~US$1.2 billion) was earmarked for initiatives such as the formation of the planting base and the pulp outbound logistics. Suzano also has the capacity to produce 1.5 million tonnes of paper per year, including sanitary paper, printing and writing and packaging lines, among other products that use pulp as raw material.

“The successful completion of the Cerrado Project reflects the dedication and execution capability of each person involved in this grand and transformative project. It also attests to the culture of excellence that permeates the entire organization, masterfully led by Walter Schalka during his 11-year tenure here”, says Beto Abreu, newly-named CEO of Suzano.

“His vision and ambition have proven key in delivering a world-class mill within the planned budget. Crucially, this is also a project which has, at every stage, adhered to Suzano’s core focus on supporting sustainability and having a positive impact on local communities”, he added.

In line with Suzano’s ESG Commitments to Renewing Life, the site has been purpose-built to meet global demand for sustainably produced eucalyptus-based products. The mill will use renewable biomass to produce, on average, 180 MW of surplus green power a month. This energy, which will be directed toward the mill’s local suppliers as well as the national grid, is enough to power a city of up to 2 million inhabitants. The proximity of the mill to Suzano’s eucalyptus farms means emissions and time from logging transportation will be significantly reduced. The structural distance from forest-to-mill is only 65 kilometres on average compared to Suzano’s structural average supply radius of 150 kilometres. The plant will also be self-sufficient in the production of sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide.

This is the largest investment in Suzano’s 100-year history and has a series of operational and socio-environmental advances. “The new plant will lay the foundations for future growth opportunities, such as the development of innovative new products from renewable raw material, and strengthen Suzano’s irreplicable business model”, says Walter Schalka, who recently stepped down as CEO of Suzano after an 11-year journey in charge of the company.

The completed project will also have a major impact on both the local community and wider regional economy. Having created as many as 10,000 jobs during the construction phase, the operational mill will now provide 3,000 full-time jobs at the mill and the surrounding forestry and logistic operations.

In tandem with this, Suzano is making significant investments into improving local infrastructure and broadening access to quality education and healthcare. The company delivered more than R$ 300 million in construction and equipment in the municipality, in building new housing units and a new medical center and in voluntary social initiatives focused on sustainable development, income generation and reduction of poverty indicators in the region. These investments were distributed in seven axes of action: education, income generation, rights protection, infrastructure, health, relationship with communities and work.

ABOUT SUZANO

Suzano is the world’s largest producer of market pulp. Our responsibly grown raw materials are used in products reaching over two billion people in more than 100 countries, including tissue and toilet paper, books, printing and writing paper, diapers and period products, packaging, textiles, and a range of innovative applications that can replace products made from fossil fuels. Our pulp is made using biomass produced from farmed eucalyptus trees, offering a biodegradable, renewable and recyclable raw material for consumer and industrial use. We plant 1.2 million trees a day and only harvest what we plant.We manage around 26,000 km² of land and around 40% of this is protected for permanent conservation, with a zero deforestation policy across all of our operations. Suzano’s history goes back over 100 years. We are listed on the B3 stock exchange in Brazil (SUZB3) and the NYSE (SUZ) in the United States.

^{Strategically located in Aschaffenburg, the facility has a surface area of more than 4,000 m² for facestock, adhesives and liners}

Barely months after opening, intensive work is underway at the new Adestor by Lecta converting plant in Germany to deliver orders for the full range of self-adhesive materials produced by the company with optimal efficiency.

Its location in Aschaffenburg, in the state of Bavaria, means that nearly all the major cities of Central Europe, including Berlin, Munich, Paris, Amsterdam and Prague, lie within a 500-kilometer radius. Its proximity to Frankfurt is another asset.

The new slitting and distribution facility has a floor area of more than 4,000 m²,half of which are used for a metal rack storage system with a capacity for 400 jumbo reels, over six million square meters of self–adhesive paper.

Production is carried out with two winders and a finishing line that includes a roll handler and packer, amongst others. An automatic packing line and a slitter rewinder will soon be added to the production area to deliver even greater efficiency and reduce trim losses.

The two loading bays, ancillary services – including workshop, areas for compressed air, maintenance equipment, changing rooms and more than 300 m² of office space complete a facility that will operate independently and provide 24hr-48hr service to all of Northern Europe.

“We’re building a great team in Aschaffenburg. Our aim is very clear: to be closer to our customers in Central and Northern Europe so that Adestor by Lecta becomes a European global player, extending our strong tradition beyond our domestic? markets in Southern Europe,” said Luis Ibáñez, Lecta Self-Adhesive Aschaffenburg Site Leader.

As part of Lecta’s strategic plan, this is a key step for achieving the company’s growth targets in the self-adhesive market. The success of this project should benefit all Lecta’s mills, undoubtedly the largest and most important suplier of materials for the Adestor range.

PG Paper is excited to announce a new strategic partnership with Opal, focussing on their containerboard portfolio. This includes a unique, lighter shade of virgin Kraft Liner Board (KLB) with a bright, smooth surface ideal for high-quality, professional printing, along with 100% recycled Fluting and Testliner grades.

Opal is an innovative, solutions-led paper and packaging company and one of Australasia’s leading packaging and paper enterprises. Part of Opal’s Paper Division, the KLB is manufactured at the Maryvale Mill in Australia, while the recycled Testliner and Fluting are produced at the Botany Mill.

Kelly Drew, Opal’s International Sales Operations Manager, commented on the partnership:

“We’re delighted to appoint PG Paper as our UK distribution partner for our KLB, Testliner and Fluting grades. PG Paper’s UK presence and local service, combined with their impressive export knowledge, provide a fantastic opportunity for market growth.”

To lead this distribution partnership with Opal, PG Paper has appointed Martin Ferrari as their new Regional Sales Director.

Lyndsey James-Williams, PG Paper Commercial Director, commented:

“The UK containerboard market is being driven by e-commerce and the increasing demand for sustainable and new packaging solutions from both consumers and retailers.

At PG Paper, we are committed to offering our customers innovative deep-sea alternatives that enhance supply chain resilience. Opal’s advancements in quality, particularly in producing a unique KLB shade, allow us to provide packaging options that meet market demands and help our customers mitigate supply chain risks.

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Martin as the Regional Sales Director. His market expertise will be instrumental in leading this initiative.”

With over 20 years of experience in the UK containerboard industry, Martin expressed his enthusiasm:

“This partnership introduces a unique KLB solution to the market, offering UK customers exceptional print quality with Opal’s distinctive shade, perfect for high-quality, professional printing needs. I am delighted to join the PG Paper team and start my role by playing a pivotal part in this collaboration.”

PG Paper, a UK-based pulp, paper and board merchandising company, specialises in providing unique deep sea supply solutions to mitigate supply chain risks, delivered with local service through their dedicated support team across the country.

In partnership with ENGIE, the coal-fired boiler at Rouen mill is being replaced with a new biomass boiler, which will supply around 80% of the heat demand and is anticipated to be operational by 2025/26.

It is expected that the boiler will be fuelled by around 30% plant by-products (pulper waste) and 70% waste wood from sources such as furniture and demolition waste.

The project was granted approval by the Regional Biomass Scheme in 2022 and is supported by local authorities including a €15 million subsidy from the French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME). It is anticipated that by 2025/26, this will save around 99,000 tonnes CO2e per year.

Ecosure Pulpmolding Technologies Ltd, a pioneer and market leader in fiber pulp molded machine manufacturing, is thrilled to announce its strategic acquisition of Thermo9, including its assets and technologies. This acquisition has enabled Ecosure to launch the industry’s first next-generation fully automatic fiber pulp molding machine called “FiberFormer.” The FiberFormer machine boasts cutting-edge features such as full servo-driven operation, water jet cutting technology, trimming-free production, auto counting, and auto stacking.

Ecosure Pulpmolding Technologies Ltd remains dedicated to providing environmentally friendly packaging solutions that reduce waste and carbon footprint. The acquisition of Thermo9, based in Indore, has significantly strengthened Ecosure’s position in the market. The integration of Thermo9’s assets and technologies has empowered Ecosure to develop and manufacture the FiberFormer, a revolutionary machine that sets new standards in the pulp molding industry. Ecosure has successfully supplied FiberFormer machines to renowned clients such as Satia Industries and Copar Pty Ltd in Australia. With this acquisition, Ecosure reinforces its commitment to innovation and expands its product offerings for the B2B market.

In line with Ecosure’s mission to create a plastic-free planet, the company is proud to introduce its own tableware product brand named T9 for B2B. Operating as a separate entity, T9 will be headed by Mr. Gunjan Saxena, Director & Head of Strategy and New Business Innovation at Ecosure. T9 will offer a wide range of innovative and eco-friendly tableware products, leveraging Ecosure’s continuous research on fiber blending. The soft launch of the T9 brand is scheduled for August 15th, 2024.

“Ecosure is committed to promoting green product manufacturing and sustainability through our ever-evolving technology in the domain of fiber pulp molding,” said Gunjan Saxena, Head Strategy & New Business Innovation of Ecosure Pulpmolding Technologies Ltd. “The acquisition of Thermo9 and the launch of our FiberFormer machine and T9 brand represent significant milestones in our journey towards a plastic-free planet. We are excited to offer our customers cutting-edge solutions that are both environmentally friendly and of the highest quality.”

Ecosure Pulpmolding Technologies Ltd has a proven track record of success, having installed over 350 machines across more than 36 turnkey projects in India. The company’s commitment to innovation and sustainability has positioned it as a leader in the industry.

About Ecosure Pulpmolding Technologies Ltd:

Ecosure Pulpmolding Technologies Ltd is a pioneer and market leader in fiber pulp molded machine manufacturing. With a strong commitment to promoting green product manufacturing and sustainability, Ecosure aims to revolutionize the packaging industry by offering eco-friendly alternatives to traditional packaging materials.

Toscotec has been certified to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 50001:2018 energy management system. The certification was issued by Certiquality, an independent third-party assurance body validated by Italy’s national accreditation body Accredia. 

With a view to upgrading its energy performance, Toscotec has adopted a systematic approach by developing and implementing a standardised, process-based energy management structure, which is based on a model of constant improvement that the company also uses for other standards such as ISO 14001:2015. This facilitates the integration of this newly-established energy management system into Toscotec’s efforts to improve its overall environmental management. In fact, the ISO 50001 certification has been harmonized with Toscotec’s long-standing ISO 14001 and EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) environmental certifications.

Andrea Marzaro, Operations Director (COO) at Toscotec, says, “Toscotec’s corporate sustainability strategy encompasses the achievement and long-term maintenance of key ISO certifications. Together with our Health, Safety, Environment (HSE) and Sustainability teams, we progressively increase our efforts towards more sustainable operations, as well as the continuous improvement of the company’s occupational health and safety system put in place with our ISO 45001 certification.”

Along with the development of more sustainable operations, Toscotec has also focused on leading the industry in the decarbonization of the paper industry by designing and manufacturing both carbon-free and energy-efficient technological solutions such as 100% hydrogen or electric hood air heating systems, and induction steel Yankee dryer.

About Toscotec

Founded in 1948, Toscotec specializes in the design and manufacture of turnkey projects, complete machines, rebuilds and stand-alone systems for the tissue and paper and board industries. Headquartered in Lucca, Italy, with subsidiaries and service centers in China and North America, Toscotec offers cutting-edge technology and customized solutions to paper producers around the world. Decarbonisation, energy efficiency, and quality are the basis for all its research and development, design, and manufacturing. From 30th April 2020, Toscotec is part of the Voith Group.

International technology Group ANDRITZ has received an order from C&S Paper to supply two PrimeLineCOMPACT tissue machines for its mill in Suqian City, Jiangsu Province, China.

The machines will produce tissue for household paper, napkins, handkerchiefs, facial tissues, and toilet paper at a maximum capacity of 94 t/d each. They have a design speed of 1,650 m/min and a width of 3.5m.

Mr. Lin Tiande, Vice President, C&S Paper, says: “Increasing consumer health awareness and improved living standards are driving the demand for superior tissue qualities. We have been looking for the best available technologies that enable high-quality and sustainable tissue production, and we are convinced that ANDRITZ is the right partner for us.”

Both machines will be equipped with suction pressure rolls with innovative roll covers and PrimeDry Steel Yankees for energy-efficient, high-quality production. The scope of supply also includes under-machine pulpers and flow and consistency transmitters for both lines, as well as PrimeControl automation systems for efficient control and monitoring of the entire production process.

Mr. Shi Wei, Vice President Paper & Textile APAC at ANDRITZ adds: “Innovative and sustainable solutions have become the driving force in the tissue industry. With our PrimeLine technologies, we are able to help our customers achieve their goals of efficient, sustainable, and high-quality tissue production. We are proud that Asia’s leading paper producers like C&S trust in us.”

C&S Paper Co., Ltd., is one of China’s largest household paper producers, with C&S and Sun as its two main brands.

This order once again confirms ANDRITZ’s strong market position as one of the leading suppliers of machines and systems for the Chinese tissue industry, and ANDRITZ’s expertise specifically in high-quality and resource-saving components.

• ABB secures major contract to modernize one of Smurfit Kappa’s largest board machines in Mexico
• Modernization at Cerro Gordo Mill to the north of Mexico City ushers in a new era of enhanced performance and efficiency
• ABB selected to provide control system technology, drives and motors in tandem with ongoing expert service

ABB has secured a landmark contract to modernize Smurfit Kappa’s Paper Machine 5 (PM5) at its Cerro Gordo corrugated cardboard mill near Mexico City. ABB will provide Smurfit Kappa with its ABB Ability™ System 800xA® distributed control system (DCS), accompanied by a comprehensive paper machine drives system, encompassing some of the market’s most advanced drives and motors meticulously designed to optimize PM5’s performance.

Smurfit Kappa is one of the leading providers of paper-based packaging globally, with operations spanning across 35 countries. It has operated in Mexico since 1957 and has been increasing production capacity in the country recently, investing over USD350 million since 2018.

The project marks the first collaboration between the two parties in this region and signals a new era of operational efficiency for one of the packaging producer’s busiest machines in Mexico. The modernization is expected to transform PM5 into a highly efficient and productive machine, capable of meeting the demands placed on it. Upon completion of the project, Smurfit Kappa is expected to realize a significant increase in production efficiency and output.

Smurfit Kappa sought a partner with unparalleled expertise to spearhead this critical modernization project. Smurfit Kappa required speed and tension controls to operate at optimum levels, while keeping downtime to a minimum. ABB, with its proven track record in the Latin American pulp and paper industry and deep understanding of paper machine processes, emerged as the ideal choice.

The ABB technology embedded in the drives, complemented by the control system, will help secure optimum speed and torque control of the paper machine’s sectional drives for years to come. This is achieved through a combination of factors such as a Direct Torque Control algorithm, which ensures precise control and allows for consistent quality and minimized waste over a long period of time. ABB guarantees a system uptime of 98.5 percent during a three-month period following the machine’s startup in 2025. This translates to a maximum downtime of only 33 hours within that timeframe.

“We are impressed by ABB’s deep understanding of the industry and their commitment to exceeding expectations,” said Mario Olvera, Engineering and Project Director, Smurfit Kappa Mexico. “We are confident that their expertise will be instrumental in maximizing the performance and efficiency of PM5. This project represents a significant step forward for Smurfit Kappa in Mexico, and we look forward to a successful collaboration with ABB.”

“Partnering with Smurfit Kappa on this momentous project will help ensure optimal equipment design, control performance, and seamless commissioning,” said Diego Navas, Regional Sales Manager, ABB Pulp and Paper, North America. “A dedicated team of ABB specialists will work alongside our customer on the machine to deliver significant benefits, including increased production, improved efficiency, and reduced operational costs.”

The project’s scope extends beyond simply supplying equipment. ABB will leverage its extensive experience to provide comprehensive engineering and commissioning services, ensuring a smooth transition to the upgraded PM5. Backed by its ABB Ability™ System 800xA® and Remote Access Platform, ABB can provide customer support from anywhere in the world at any time. The safety functions and process panels installed alongside the machine will allow collaborative, easy and safe operation of the machine.

ABB’s Process Automation business automates, electrifies and digitalizes industrial operations that address a wide range of essential needs – from supplying energy, water and materials, to producing goods and transporting them to market. With its ~20,000 employees, leading technology and service expertise, ABB Process Automation helps customers in process, hybrid and maritime industries improve performance and safety of operations, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future.