Paper machine upgrade and modernisation at Sappi’s Gratkorn mill

Sappi Europe has started upgrading and modernising the paper making lines at its Gratkorn mill in Austria. The mill is claimed to be Europe’s leading producer of coated woodfree paper on two machines, supporting Sappi Europe’s core commercial print business. The mill has benefited from a regular investment programme, including in recent years the upgrade of PM9 in 2019.

The current upgrade and modernisation project will focus on PM11, which will undergo extensive modernisation of automation and electrical equipment including drives, control systems, quality control and inspection systems as well as upgrades to the coating profile and other areas.

Key components for the broke handling system on PM9 will be supplied by Andritz, high-consistency (HC) pulping, high-density (HD) cleaning and deflaking for processing the special type of broke.

Flavio Froehli, vice president of marketing & sales at Sappi Europe, says: “We are very pleased that we will also be able to produce wet-strength label paper at our Gratkorn mill in the future. This investment underscores our strategy to establish Sappi as the leader within the label sector, adding to the supply of value adding products across our entire business.”

During the preparatory phase in December 2022 and the main period of work in January, production on PM11 was interrupted for a number of weeks. Some interruption will also occur on PM9 due to the need for a reorganisation of internal logistics. The Gratkorn mill yearly produces 950,000 tons of highquality, double- and triple-coated papers, used for premium quality publications worldwide, as well as one-side coated label papers. The mill also produces 250,000 tons per year of chlorine-free (TCF) bleached chemical pulp for its own consumption and it has an annual sheet finishing capacity of 875,000 tons.