Fine paper machine PM 2 at the UPM Nordland paper mill will be rebuild to produce 110,000 tpy of glassine release liner. Second supercalander on Changshu mill's PM 3 is set to further increase capacity in China.
UPM will invest €116m to rebuild the PM 2 at its Nordland mill in Dörpen, Germany and convert it from fine paper to glassine paper production. The machine will have capacity of 110,000 tpy and is expected to start producing glassine paper as of the fourth quarter next year. Production of woodfree papers on PM 2 in Nordland will continue until the third quarter of 2019 and the machine will be producing both glassine and woodfree paper during the ramp-up phase.
UPM will also further increase the release liner base paper capacity at UPM Changshu mill in China. A second supercalender will be installed on paper machine 3 to more than 40,000 tpy of glassine paper capacity as of the first quarter 2020. UPM puts the total investment in Changshu at EUR 33 million.
"As the world leader in label papers, UPM continues to grow in the attractive release liner segments to support its customers globally. Steady growth is expected to continue in all markets driven by favourable economic conditions and strong increase in specialty paper demand for labelling, packaging and e-commerce as well as in medical and hygiene applications," the company announced.
