Paper and packaging firm Smurfit Kappa has broken ground on the rebuild of a new recovery boiler at its Nettingsdorf paper mill in Austria.

Nettingsdorf

Image: Smurfit Kappa to construct recovery boiler at Nettingsdorf paper mill. Photo: courtesy of Philipp Greindl.

Part of a €134m investment plan in Nettingsdorf, the new recovery boiler is being developed to increase the paper mill’s profitability and sustainability.

Established in 1851, the Nettingsdorf paper mill produces kraftliner in Europe. With more than 360 employees, the mill manufactures around 450,000 tons of paper per annum.

Smurfit Kappa Nettingsdorf CEO Günter Hochrathner said: “With the ground-breaking ceremony for the rebuild of the recovery boiler, we have taken a step into the future for Smurfit Kappa Nettingsdorf.”

The new recovery boiler will allow the plant to further advance energy optimization at the mill, which achieved a 34% increase in productivity after joining Smurfit Kappa in 1995.

The new boiler will help to curb CO2 emissions by 40,000 tons  by recovering energy from the biomass contained in black liquor from pulp production.

According to the company, the rebuild of boiler is the latest milestone in the firm’s Future Energy Plant project.

The Future Energy Plant project will also engage in the development of a new steam turbine, as well as various extensions and adjustments to upstream and downstream plants in the next two years.

Smurfit Kappa Europe paper COO Laurent Sellier said: “At Smurfit Kappa, we strive for sustainable business. The Future Energy Plant project is part of a larger investment programme by the Smurfit Kappa Group to further improve sustainability.

“This investment will enable us to ensure a long-term supply of high-quality, sustainable containerboard – something our customers have come to expect from us.”

In September this year, Smurfit Kappa has taken decision to deconsolidate its Venezuelan operations in the third quarter of 2018, after losing control of the unit to the local government.

The decision of deconsolidating the company’s Venezuelan operations, Smurfit Kappa Carton de Venezuela (SKCV), will result in a write down of net assets of around €60m for the company.