The modernisation project is intended to transform the paper mill in Gratkorn and pave the way for future adaptations to align with digitalisation and industry 4.0 standards
Sappi Europe announces completion of phase 2 of its modernisation project at the Gratkorn Mill. (Credit: JJ Ying on Unsplash)
Coated fine paper producer Sappi Europe has completed the second phase of a three-stage modernisation project at its Gratkorn Mill in Austria.
The €30m modernisation project is intended to transform the paper mill in Gratkorn. It will also pave the way for future adaptations to align with digitalisation and industry 4.0 standards.
Sappi said that the upgrade would minimise the risk of machine failure and enhance the production sustainability of the Magno paper range.
Magno Paper is a coated woodfree paper used globally in premium publications such as art catalogues, books, magazines, annual reports, and calendars.
The Gratkorn Mill is the main facility for Magno Paper, serving as its flagship location. The facility produces 980,000 tons of multicoated paper annually for publications worldwide.
Sappi Europe product manager Rens Huijnen said: “This investment demonstrates Sappi’s belief in the strength and power of printed media and paper-based solutions, driving its constant investment into its production location to secure the portfolio for the long term.”
In the second phase of the project, Sappi collaborated with suppliers like Honeywell and Siemens to elevate process visibility and enhance operator efficiency.
The upgrade is aimed at increased stability in system performance and availability, thereby boosting productivity, the coated fine paper producer claimed.
By integrating processes onto a single automation platform, the Gratkorn facility now requires fewer hardware resources, resulting in cost savings on spares and reduced maintenance services.
The next phase of modernisation, expected to be completed in 2025, aims to tackle challenges such as sourcing obsolete replacement parts.
Sappi’s Gratkorn Mill has undergone substantial development and investment in recent years to expand beyond graphic papers. The mill also manufactures various types of label papers.
In 2021, Sappi added Parade Label Pro to its range of wet-glue labels for various applications.
Following this, in January 2022, Sappi introduced Parade Face SG, a high-performance, semi-gloss face stock paper tailored for self-adhesive labels in several sectors.
Later this year, the coated fine paper maker is planning to introduce a wet-strength and alkali-resistant wet-glue label paper called Parade Label WS for various applications.
Furthermore, Sappi Europe is working to meet its sustainability and climate goals. These include improving water management, increasing renewable energy use, reducing total energy consumption, cutting solid waste sent to landfills, and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.