Heinzel to convert former UPM line to make kraft papers

The idled PM3 paper machine at the Steyrermühl mill in Austria, which will be acquired by Heinzel at the beginning of 2024, is being converted by Andritz to produce kraft papers for flexible packaging.

The machine previously produced graphic paper for UPM. After being converted the paper machine, to be called PM6, will annually produce up to 150,000 tons of brown and white lowbasis-weight kraft paper that will be sold under the Heinzel Group’s StarKraft brand. The paper will be used for shopping bags, pouches, and other flexible packaging products.

Werner Hartmann, operations chief of Heinzel Pöls, says: “With this investment, StarKraft will become one of the world’s leading brands for bleached and unbleached kraft paper. Andritz PrimeLine technology is already successfully operating at our Pöls and Laakirchen mills. The current rebuild by Andritz will help us expand our product portfolio for sustainable packaging.”

The PM6 at Steyrermühl will use an innovative gap forming design to produce bleached and unbleached calendered kraft paper grades. It is based on a unique headbox and shoe-blade gap-former combination. Together with an Andritz PrimePress X shoe press and an upgrade of the existing steam and condensate system, Andritz says it will achieve significant energy savings while producing high-quality end products.