The bespoke 50-metre-long state-of-the-art laminating line, which weighs 110 tonnes, was installed across a five-week period starting in the early summer and was up and running at nearly full capacity two weeks after startup.

Among the invitees that attended the inauguration of the new machine at Oppboga Bruk were company stakeholders, business representatives, and local politicians, as well as employees and their families.

In his speech, Henrik Arenvang, the municipal director of the town of Lindesberg, emphasised the importance of the €6m-plus (£5m) investment for the local community.

The KLM3 production line can laminate thinner papers than its predecessor and will therefore open up additional business opportunities for the company.

Andrew Robinson, managing director of Oppboga Bruk, said: “The investment will allow us to explore new wood fibre material constructs within the packaging segment, in particular by reducing plastics or replacing them with paper and board combinations.”

Thanks to automated processes, production capacity is expected to increase by 50%. Higher quality will also be achieved, as the moisture profile of the board is constantly monitored and, if necessary, can be adjusted automatically, resulting in consistent sheet flatness for the paperboard compound.

Family-run holding company Ecovest – fully owned by Alexander Meyer – holds all shares in sister firm Kapag, a Switzerland-based paper and board mill, and has a majority stake in Oppboga Bruk.

Meyer commented: “We are pleased that our investment will allow Oppboga Bruk to continue its growth path into new markets and materials.”

Oppboga Bruk has been producing high quality paperboards from its mill in Fellingsbro, Sweden for more than 120 years.

It serves higher-volume converters, brand owners and end-users globally, who use its products for signage and packaging of premium products.