Headed by sales director Mark Aubrey, the Nottingham-based operation will be manned by a team of three who will focus on growing sales through new business and developing existing UK customer relationships.

Aubrey, who has previously worked with cartonboard specialists such as FC Cartons, HedsorBoard and Warren Board, said that the new operation would focus on developing "a closer relationship with the UK market".

He added: "We want to grow and to have more direct access to the carton conversion market in the UK on our coated folding box boards and also to look for new opportunities for our uncoated materials, particularly in the food market.

"Our speciality is that we go up to some very thick calipers - around 650microns - which most box board mills stop at."

Pankaboard manufactures more than 100,000 tonnes of cartonboard and speciality board per year from its Eastern Finland facility in Pankakoski. The €100m turnover, 160-staff firm already exports the majority of its products, which are PEFC and FSC certified, to Europe, North America and Asia.

Aubrey said he hoped the added focus through the new office would double the "moderate" tonnage currently exported to the UK.

"This will give us more control on our presence and more intensity in the UK market," he added.