Heinzel Group to build new paper machine in Pöls

“With the construction of the new paper machine, we are primarily reacting to the increasing quality demands of the market while strengthening the Pöls site at the same time”, said Alfred Heinzel, CEO of the Heinzel Group. Zellstoff Pöls AG, a subsidiary of the Heinzel Group, is the largest producer of premium grade bleached long-fibre sulphate pulp in Central and South-Eastern Europe. In addition to pulp, its main product, Pöls also produces premium grade bleached kraft paper under the STARKRAFT name. With the new paper machine, the site will increase its capacities to 80,000 tons per year.

The market for premium grade bleached kraft paper is growing continuously. By expanding paper production in Pöls, the Heinzel Group is reacting to this development and strengthening its claim to the position of leading paper manufacturer in the kraft paper market segment in Europe. Kurt Maier, CEO Zellstoff Pöls AG: “With this investment of EUR 115 million in our new paper machine, we will be able to significantly increase our market share in Europe. The expansion of our market pulp capacity towards the 500,000 ton benchmark – also referred to as »Pöls 500+« – will remain unaffected.”

Kraft paper is the most hard-wearing paper type and is mostly used to produce carrier bags and pouches (for instance used in bakeries), premium grade medical packaging and food packaging. Werner Hartmann, Sales Director of Pöls paper: “The kraft paper market segment is a highly specialised market with extremely high quality requirements that keep getting more stringent. Our goal is to strengthen our leadership position where quality is concerned – and the new paper machine will help us achieve this in a sustainable manner.” The construction of the new paper machine with its 5.4m width will take approximately 18 months. Construction will commence towards the middle of this year; the machine will most likely be commissioned towards the end of 2013.

The Heinzel Group is part of the Heinzel Holding family and, with its subsidiaries Zellstoff Pöls AG, AS Estonian Cell and its share in Biocel Paskov a.s, is among the largest manufacturers of market pulp in Central and Eastern Europe. Its sales activities are handled by Wilfried Heinzel AG, a globally present sales firm for pulp and paper that took over Europapier AG in 2010, the leading wholesale paper business in Central and Eastern Europe. With more than 1,200 employees, the Heinzel Group achieved a turnover of EUR 1.016 billion in 2011.
 
Zellstoff Pöls AG employs 350 people and currently achieves a turnover of EUR 200 million. It is the largest manufacturer of premium grade, elemental chlorine-free bleached long-fibre sulphate pulp in Central and Eastern Europe. ORION pulp from Pöls is mostly used to manufacture premium grade printing and writing papers, newsprint, hygiene papers, labels and copy papers.
 
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Mag. Susanne Herzog
Werbeagentur Rubikon
Tel.: 0676/33 14 410
Email: herzog@rubikon.at

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