Heinzel Group Commissions Paper Machine 11 at Laakirchen Mill in Austria

Heinzel Group announced the commissioning of paper machine 11 (PM11) at its pulp and paper mill in Laakirchen, Austria. PM11 has been converted from the production of publication paper to corrugated base paper.

According to Heinzel, several key investments have been made at the site in recent months to support the machine’s conversion, including: A new plant for pulp processing from waste paper, a new waste paper storage hall, as well as an additional anaerobic wastewater treatment plant, significantly increasing biogas production and enhancing sustainability.

“I am pleased that this significant investment has been successfully implemented and is now complete with the commissioning of PM11,” said Sebastian Heinzel, CEO of Heinzel Group. “My special thanks go to all employees and external partners whose commitment and efficiency enabled a smooth implementation in a short time.”

PM11, operating at a width of 8.9 metres and a speed of 1,600 metres per minute, has the capacity to produce up to 470,000 metric tons per year of corrugated base paper.

Thomas Welt, CEO of Heinzelpaper Laakirchen, noted “Corrugated base paper is the foundation for environmentally friendly packaging solutions. With our starboard products, we offer customers lightweight and stable solutions with a basis weight of 70 to 160 grams per square meter.”

The Laakirchen mill operates two paper machines — PM10 and PM11 — and has about 400 employees. In 2017, the mill converted PM10 from the production of publication paper to containerboard.