Mondi Group likely to expand in central Europe

South Africa-based Mondi Group http://www.mondigroup.com/  says it is evaluating new paper and board production investments, including the possible expansion of its Ruzomberok mill in Slovakia.

In an early November news release Mondi says it considering expanding its packaging paper production capacity “through the installation of a 300,000 metric tons per year containerboard machine to produce a new product, kraft top white, as well as de-bottlenecking of the pulp mill.”

The project under consideration will not entail closing any of the mill’s existing paper machines, according to the company.

“Also under consideration is the expansion of the Steti mill, located in the Czech Republic, through de-bottlenecking and optimization of the existing operations, including a new recovery boiler to increase energy self-sufficiency,” the company also has announced.

The installation of a 90,000 metric tons-per-year kraft paper machine producing “machine glazed paper” also is under consideration, according to Mondi, “to be located at one of the Group’s central European operations offering integrated pulp capacity.”

None of the above projects has yet been approved, but final decisions are expected in 2016, according to the company

Mondi describes itself as an international packaging and paper group with operations in central Europe, Russia, North America and South Africa.  In 2014, Mondi had revenue of €6.4 billion ($6.9 billion) and a return on capital employed of 17.2 percent.