Valmet will supply a coated board machine for Graphic Packaging International’s (GPI) mill in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in the United States. With this investment in the latest coated board technology, GPI is committing to sustainable packaging with exceptional product quality and cost competitiveness for producing coated recycled board (CRB) grades. The start-up of the machine is scheduled for the first half of 2022.
The order is included in Valmet's orders received of the third quarter 2019. The value of the order is not disclosed.
“Valmet has offered us innovative yet proven technology to reach our high product quality targets. We have had a long and good cooperation with Valmet. Our relationship is based on mutual trust, which is very important in large projects like this one,” says Rusty Miller, Senior Vice President, Engineering and Technology, GPI.
“Valmet has a very good relationship with Graphic Packaging International, and we have had successful projects with them. We are happy to be involved in this important project to provide a new coated board machine in the United States,” says Dave King, Area President, North America, Valmet.
Technical details about the delivery
The board machine will produce coated recycled board (CRB) grades (white line chip board, WLC grades) with an annual capacity of approximately 500,000 short tons which corresponds to 454,000 metric tons.
Valmet’s operations in North America
Valmet’s operations in North America support the pulp, paper and energy industries with 1,334 employees and a network of 18 service, production and sales units across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Valmet’s machines produce 86 million tons of paper, board, tissue and pulp per year. This represents 70 percent of the North American production.
Information about the customer Graphic Packaging
Graphic Packaging International, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is committed to providing consumer packaging that makes a world of difference. The company is a leading provider of paper-based packaging solutions for a wide variety of products to food, beverage, foodservice, and other consumer products companies. The company operates on a global basis, is one of the largest producers of folding cartons and paper-based foodservice products in the United States, and holds leading market positions in coated recycled paperboard, coated unbleached kraft paperboard and solid bleached sulfate paperboard. The company’s net sales in 2018 were approximately USD 6 billion. It has over 70 facilities and over 17,000 employees worldwide.
Valmet is the leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. We aim to become the global champion in serving our customers.
Valmet's strong technology offering includes pulp mills, tissue, board and paper production lines, as well as power plants for bioenergy production. Our advanced services and automation solutions improve the reliability and performance of our customers' processes and enhance the effective utilization of raw materials and energy.
Valmet's net sales in 2018 were approximately EUR 3.3 billion. Our more than 13,000 professionals around the world work close to our customers and are committed to moving our customers' performance forward – every day. Valmet's head office is in Espoo, Finland, and its shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki.
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