Valmet, an Espoo, Finland-based supplier of equipment and technology for the papermaking industry, has announced it is supplying a complete OptiConcept M containerboard production line for Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing Ltd. in China. The new production line is planned to produce high-quality containerboard grades out of 100-percent-recycled raw materials, Valmet says. Startup of the machine is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2016.
Valmet did not disclose the value of the order but reports that an order of this scope is typically valued around €40 million to €50 million ($45 million to $57 million)
“OptiConcept M has really made its breakthrough as an industry standard for paper and board manufacturing, which is proven by this repeat order from Lee & Man,” says Juha Kivimaa, director, sales technology in Valmet’s Paper business.
“This repeat order to Valmet strengthens our long partnership in this business area. With good combination of local and imported know how Valmet has shown its capability in earlier projects. Lightweighting is a trend in containerboard business, and Valmet's technology is very suitable for these grades,” says Edmond Lee, CEO of Lee & Man.
The line ordered by Lee & Man will be the 1oth OptiConcept M production line to be supplied by Valmet since the first delivery in 2012. In addition to Asia, Valmet has delivered OptiConcpet M lines also in North America and Europe.
Valmet says the OptiConcept M production line is designed to be compact and efficient and covers grades from recycled containerboards to cartonboards and fine paper.
Valmet’s delivery will comprise a complete board machine with related process automation solutions, air systems and winder. The annual production capacity of the new machine will be approximately 300,000 metric tons, the company says.
Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing Ltd. manufactures linerboard and corrugating medium grades for industrial packaging purposes, with a board production capacity in China of roughly 7 million metric tons.