Stora Enso aims to give a massive push to the sale of papers, labels and packaging by launching a global group.

The Speciality Papers Business Group has drawn together output from machines and mills in Germany, Finland and the US.

They will produce 330,000 tonnes of flexible packaging, technical and label papers and account for 10% of sales from the packaging boards division.

"There is growing uncertainty in the market and now is the best time to launch a group set up to make customer relationships, sales and marketing more effective," said a spokesman. "No general market conditions apply to this group because they produce very diversified grades. There is therefore no one outlook for this unit."

John Bergin, director of Stevens Point mill in the US, is senior vice president of the group.

Production from machines at the groups other US plant, Kimberly Mill, is being pooled with that from Uetersen in Germany and Finlands Imatra machine.

Bergin said: "We plan to establish a global speciality papers sales presence across the world."

Up to now the packaging division had five business groups: consumer boards, packaging, industrial and speciality papers and Corenso. Total output was almost 6m tonnes of board, paper, packaging and pulp.

* Stora Enso is to sell 40% of its shares in Billerud to AssiDomn. Stora will retain a 30% holding.

Story by Jez Abbott