Mondi Slovakia paper machine ramps up

Global paper and board producer Mondi Group says its new recycled-content containerboard paper machine in Ružomberok, Slovakia, has begun to produce “Kraft Top White, an innovative and sustainable new containerboard grade.”

The firm says its newly installed PM19 line “delivers a win-win solution for environmentally-conscious customers” seeking “the strength, printability and on-shelf appeal of a white fresh fiber top layer and a recycled-fiber bottom layer.”

PM19 has an annual capacity of 300,000 metric tons and is part of Mondi’s 370 million euros ($450 million) investment to upgrade the mill and “further reduce its environmental footprint,” states Mondi. The new paper machine is expected to consume more than 200,000 metric tons of scrap paper from Slovakia each year.

“Mondi’s purpose is to contribute to a better world by making innovative, sustainable packaging and paper solutions,” says Markus Gärtner, CEO of corrugated packaging at Mondi. “Despite the challenges of operating during the pandemic, the local team executed this complex project safely and efficiently, and we are proud of the positive impact that 125 new permanent jobs will have on the local community.”

Earlier this year, Mondi added kraft paper making capacity in the Czech Republic and agreed to purchase containerboard mills in Turkey from United States-based International Paper.