The double-digit million-euro investment was first revealed by the packaging and speciality paper manufacturer in 2022.
The company said the objective of its modernisation project was to facilitate future adaptations to meet digitalisation and industry 4.0. It will ensure the risk of machine failure is reduced to an absolute minimum, increasing the production sustainability of the Magno paper range.
Gratkorn Mill is the primary facility of Magno paper and its flagship location. Magno is a coated woodfree paper, used by customers worldwide for high-end publications such as art catalogues, books, magazines, annual reports, and calendars.
For this phase of the modernisation project, Sappi worked with suppliers such as Honeywell and Siemens to upgrade and increase process visibility and better operator efficiency, leading to more stability in system performance and availability for increased productivity.
The upgrade allows processes at Gratkorn to operate on a single automation platform, needing less hardware, cost savings on spares, and reduced maintenance services.
Rens Huijnen, product manager of Sappi Europe, said: “This investment demonstrates Sappi’s belief in the strength and power of printed media and paper-based solutions, driving its constant investment into its production location to secure the portfolio for the long term.”
Looking forward, the next phase of modernisation, scheduled for completion in 2025, addresses common challenges in the paper industry, such as sourcing obsolete replacement parts.
“By using state-of-the-art automation and electrical systems, we can not only ensure paper production for our customers at the accustomed high level, but also guarantees an easier support by our suppliers,” said Dominik Strommer, project manager of the modernisation project.
The Gratkorn Mill also produces various types of label papers, and after the ongoing long-term validation phase, this autumn Sappi Europe will officially launch Parade Label WS, a wet-strength and alkali-resistant wet-glue label paper for various applications, including returnable containers in the beverage and food industries.
Sappi Europe also said it continues to take strides towards meeting its sustainability and climate commitments, including enhancing its approach to water stewardship, increasing its share of renewable and clean energy by 11% and reducing total energy by 5%, reducing specific landfilled solid waste by 5%, and decreasing specific GHG emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 25% by 2025.
Furthermore, two investments into renewing the water turbines at Gratkorn Mill’s hydro-electric power plant in 2018-2020 increased its hydro-electric generation by almost 10%.
The complete modernisation to shift from a coal boiler to a multi-fuel boiler in 2022 enabled the mill to reduce CO2 emissions by more than 30%, as well as sharply reduce dust and nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions. Ongoing projects will further add to these decarbonisation milestones.
All effluent from Gratkorn Mill is oxygen-aerated and fully treated in the wastewater treatment plant before it returns to the pure-water river Mur.
Sappi Europe is a division of Sappi Ltd (JSE), headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa.
