Statement re Facture Paper Mill

Statement re Facture Paper Mill

Smurfit Kappa Group PLC

PRESS RELEASE

18th April, 2018

Smurfit Kappa invests in Facture Paper Mill to meet growing demand for kraftliner

Smurfit Kappa continues to invest in its Facture Paper Mill to meet the growing demand for kraftliner grades in Europe.

An upgrade of the mill, which is in South West France, was successfully completed in March following a three-week shutdown and included the implementation of a new pulp washing line, and a complete overhaul of the black liquor recovery boiler.

SKG next plans a series of improvements to the paper machine No. 5 commencing in 2019 which, on completion, will increase its production capacity of white top kraftliner from 174,000 tonnes to 220,000 tonnes per annum, and further enhance the quality of this premium product.

Smurfit Kappa’s paper-based packaging is the packaging of choice for many brands which are seeking a more sustainable alternative to plastic and it is used widely in both the eCommerce and retail sectors.

Premium white top kraft paper, which is made from virgin fibres, is also a very suitable material for the high-specification digital print used to make brands come alive on the shelf.

The Smurfit Kappa Facture Paper Mill has been producing kraft paper since 1928. Speaking about the upgrade project, Laurent Sellier, Chief Operating Officer of Smurfit Kappa Paper & Board Europe, said: “The Facture site is going through a major upgrade programme which will significantly increase both the output and quality of the kraftliner we produce.

“This mill has an ideal location for meeting the demands of customers in Southern Europe so we are committed to implementing ongoing innovations and improvements.”

The Facture Paper Mill is part of Smurfit Kappa’s global network of paper mills that are all connected through a single, optimised supply chain system.

The upgrade of the Facture Paper Mill will reinforce the industry-leading position Smurfit Kappa holds for the production of kraftliner containerboard in Europe.

ENDS

Contact for media:

Sinead Gill
Smurfit Kappa
T: [phone]
E:[e-mail]

About Smurfit Kappa

Smurfit Kappa, a FTSE 100 company, is one of the leading providers of paper-based packaging solutions in the world, with around 46,000 employees in approximately 370 production sites across 35 countries and with revenue of €8.6 billion in 2017. We are located in 22 countries in Europe, and 13 in the Americas. We are the only large-scale pan-regional player in Latin America.

With our proactive team we relentlessly use our extensive experience and expertise, supported by our scale, to open up opportunities for our customers. We collaborate with forward-thinking customers by sharing superior product knowledge, market understanding and insights in packaging trends to ensure business success in their markets. We have an unrivalled portfolio of paper-packaging solutions, which is constantly updated with our market-leading innovations. This is enhanced through the benefits of our integration, with optimal paper design, logistics, timeliness of service, and our packaging plants sourcing most of their raw materials from our own paper mills.

Our products, which are 100% renewable and produced sustainably, improve the environmental footprint of our customers.

Follow us on Twitter at @smurfitkappa and on LinkedIn at ‘Smurfit Kappa’.

www.smurfitkappa.com

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