The work will include a rebuild of the press section, updating of the coaters and removal of some bottlenecks in the drying section of the mills PM1. Once completed, PM1 will be equivalent to a new production line, increasing capacity from 250,000 to 300,000 tonnes a year.
The rebuild will begin in February 2003 and start-up is scheduled for spring 2003.
Rauma PM1 produces UPM Ultra, a high-brightness lightweight coated magazine paper for rotogravure and offset printing.
Groundwood pulp capacity at the plant will rise by 100,000 tonnes a year and there is also a plan to use carbonate in the coating of paper to improve quality.
"The main aim of the project is increase the production of Ultra and improve the quality of the paper," said Rauma product manager Petri Salminen.
Chief executive Juha Niemel announced the project when he unveiled UPM-Kymmenes interim results (PrintWeek, 10 August 2001).
Story by Andy Scott
Have your say in the Printweek Poll
Related stories
Latest comments
"It's wrong to assume the Chinese are behind the curve on automation - it used to be the case that manual processes were kept becuase it was cheaper to use them than buy the automated equipment,..."
"Incredible, what a business!"
"Sad news. Their prices were unsustainable - it was a race to the bottom."
