The PM9 production line will produce lightweight coated paper for use in the production of catalogues, magazines and brochures.

A Burgo spokeswoman said the project had been undertaken to improve competitiveness and to meet the requirements of the growing publication papers market.

The company has also worked with the new Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) environmental directive in mind, although this does not become active in Italy until 2007.

The project includes a fully automated product warehouse able to store 32,000 tonnes, a plant for producing mechanical pulp, and a pulp warehouse to serve the existing plant production line, which has a capacity of 260,000 tonnes.

The investment is completed by a combined cycle cogeneration station to produce steam energy, a centralised plant for waste water treatment, a new rail depot, and a special department with state-of-the-art winders and roll-wrapping machine.

Story by Andy Scott