The leading full-line supplier Voith has successfully completed the rebuild of the PM 11 at the heinzelpaper plant in Laakirchen, enabling the XcelLine paper machine to produce up to 470,000 tons of corrugated base paper per year. The conversion from graphic papers to corrugated base papers marks a significant milestone for the Austrian company, which looks back on a longstanding partnership with Voith.

• PM 11 produces up to 470,000 tons of corrugated base paper per year.
• Voith solutions enable the production of low basis weights at high speeds.
• As the leading full-line supplier, Voith delivered a tailor-made, end-to-end package for efficient and sustainable corrugated base paper production.

“This large and technologically demanding rebuild is proof of our vision and the strength of our partnership with Voith,” said Dr. Thomas Welt, CEO of heinzelpaper. “The fast and high-quality XcelLine PM 11 will set a new benchmark for efficient and sustainable paper production. With this rebuild, we have clearly demonstrated how sustainable solutions contribute to more efficient paper production. We are very satisfied with the project progress and the successful start-up. My thanks go to the entire Laakirchen and Voith team!” 

Voith supplied a complete tailor-made package of highly efficient components, including proven stabilization and drying concepts and a comprehensive engineering package. These solutions enable efficient and sustainable production of low basis weights at high speeds, thereby contributing significantly to increasing production capacity from 330,000 tons to 470,000 tons per year.

The entire paper machine fabrics, including installation, is also part of the scope of supply. Ideal conditioning of the forming wires is ensured by the Voith CleanLine Excell, which is supplied with the fabrics. With the help of the Forming OnQ-Sense, which was also supplied and installed, heinzelpaper Laakirchen can ensure a reduction in vacuum while maintaining the same dry content, thus saving energy in the long term. The installed ProTect crossbars enable press felt measurements to be carried out while the machine is running without personnel having to enter the press interior.

“The successful start-up of PM 11 at heinzelpaper Laakirchen demonstrates our high level of expertise in delivering customized solutions that meet the specific requirements of our customers,” said Martin Jauch, Senior Vice President Rebuilds at Voith Paper. “Our goal was to enable more resource-efficient operation after the rebuild while maximizing the machine's potential with solutions that will last for decades. We are proud to be working with heinzelpaper Laakirchen again and to be making a significant contribution to their sustainable growth.” 

During the rebuild, the paper machine and two VariTop reel stands were retrofitted, numerous components were relocated, and the web guide was adapted to the new requirements. Special attention was given to optimizing the Tandem NipcoFlex press to enable stable web running without breaks. In addition, the Voith experts installed a new SpeedSizer for applying surface strength and an energy-efficient post-dryer section. The necessary control and regulation changes were implemented by installing efficient automation systems from Voith.

With this successful start-up, Voith strengthens its position as a reliable partner to the paper industry and a leading full-line supplier for efficient and sustainable paper production.

About heinzelpaper
The heinzelpaper site combines the Laakirchen and Steyrermühl mills in Upper Austria, which are located just a few kilometers apart. As part of the Heinzel Group, heinzelpaper stands for a strong combination of tradition, innovation and sustainability in paper production.
 
The Laakirchen mill specializes in the production of environmentally friendly, lightweight corrugated base papers made from recycled paper for the European market. Production runs on the PM10 paper machine and, since April 2025, on the new PM11.
 
At the Steyrermühl mill, the PM6 paper machine, which belongs to the Group's sister company heinzelpöls, produces high-quality kraft papers that cover a wide range of packaging and specialty papers for a variety of customer requirements.
 
The long-established Laakirchen and Steyrermühl mills were founded in 1867 and 1868, respectively, and today employ around 700 people at the heinzelpaper site.

About Heinzel Group
Heinzel Group produces market pulp and packaging paper at three locations in Europe and trades in pulp, paper, waste paper and packaging solutions worldwide. With the production companies heinzelpöls, heinzelpaper and Estonian Cell, Heinzel Group is one of the most important pulp and paper producers in Central and Eastern Europe. The three trading companies of Heinzel Group – heinzelsales, Europapier and Bunzl & Biach – respond flexibly to the most diverse customer needs internationally. The growth success of the Heinzel Group is based on entrepreneurial spirit and a focus on long-term partnerships. Sustainability is the focus of all its activities.

About the Voith Group
The Voith Group is a global technology company. With its broad portfolio of systems, products, services and digital applications, Voith sets standards in the markets of energy, paper, raw materials and transport. Founded in 1867, Voith today has around 22,000 employees, sales of € 5.2 billion and locations in over 60 countries worldwide and thus is one of the larger family-owned companies in Europe.

The Group Division Voith Paper is part of the Voith Group. As the full-line supplier to the paper industry, it provides the largest range of technologies, services and products on the market, and offers paper manufacturers integrated solutions from a single source. The company’s continuous stream of innovations facilitates resource-conserving production and supports customers in significantly reducing their carbon footprint. With its comprehensive automation products and leading digitalization solutions from the Papermaking 4.0 portfolio, Voith offers its customers state-of-the-art digital technologies to improve the availability and efficiency of their systems in all sections of the production process.

Stora Enso has been awarded with the Red Dot Design Award for the scalable and recyclable gift packaging portfolio for a range of Marimekko’s products. The first boxes were launched in May 2024.

The Red Dot Award was granted for outstanding design and creative performance in the category of Product Design 2025. The products selected by the Red Dot Jury are aesthetically appealing, functional, sustainable or innovative, but what they all have in common is their outstanding design. Red Dot Award is one of the biggest design competitions in the world. Since 1955, it has recognized products that stand out for their exceptionally high design quality.

The award-winning packaging portfolio is scalable and recyclable, made of renewable certified materials, featuring Marimekko artwork such as Unikko, Marimekko’s most iconic print, as well as logo patterns.

“The Marimekko gift packaging portfolio reduces resource consumption with its flexible packaging system while simultaneously creating an appropriate brand ambassador for its colourful range. The boxes, made of sustainable corrugated cardboard, can be folded in a variety of ways for the safe packaging of a wide range of products without the need for adhesive tape or padding materials. Some packaging products feature handles and can therefore be used in place of shopping bags. Locally sourced materials strengthen the packaging’s sustainability credentials. The Marimekko gift portfolio demonstrates to what extent smart packaging design can be made sustainable,” stated the Red Dot jury for the motivation for the award.

"We are extremely pleased to receive this recognition from Red Dot. The key to our development was creating premium protection with enhanced functionality and beauty. Our design team aimed to present a gift packaging portfolio with a clear purpose while expressing Marimekko’s strong brand identity. We believe this was one of the reasons for this fantastic acknowledgment. We are proud of our collaboration with Marimekko and delighted to see the gift packaging being used worldwide,” says Anna Kjellberg, Design Director, Packaging Solutions Division at Stora Enso.

"We are thrilled that the gift packaging portfolio created in collaboration with Stora Enso has been honored with the Red Dot Design Award 2025. From the start, our aim was to design packaging that is not only scalable and highly functional but also visually joyful, believing that it can find a second life and purpose after the gifts are unwrapped. Our in-house visual team played a key role in ensuring that the packages are a seamless extension of our brand's visuality, whether they are embellished with our season’s prints or logo pattern," says Eija Salmela, who led Marimekko’s team in the collaboration.

About the Red Dot Awards
The Red Dot Design Award is one of the biggest design competitions in the world. In three disciplines, participants submit products, communication projects and brands as well as prototypes and concepts. The distinction “Red Dot” is an internationally recognised seal of outstanding design quality. The award winners are presented in Red Dot’s yearbooks and museums as well as on the Red Dot website. Additional information can be found at www.red-dot.org.

The forest is at the heart of Stora Enso, and we believe that everything made from fossil-based materials today can be made from a tree tomorrow. We are the leading provider of renewable products in packaging, biomaterials, and wooden construction, and one of the largest private forest owners in the world. Stora Enso has approximately 19,000 employees and our sales in 2024 were EUR 9 billion. Stora Enso shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Oy (STEAV, STERV) and Nasdaq Stockholm AB (STE A, STE R). In addition, the shares are traded in the USA on OTC Markets (OTCQX) as ADRs and ordinary shares (SEOAY, SEOFF, SEOJF). storaenso.com/investors

Valmet is to supply a complete Valmet Advantage DCT 200 tissue line to the Turkish tissue manufacturer Lila Group’s new mill in Erzurum, in the eastern part of Turkey. The TM 5 line will be equipped with stock preparation, a rewinder, and an extensive automation package to achieve high efficiency and low energy consumption in production.

The order was included in Valmet’s orders received of the first quarter 2025. The value of the order will not be disclosed. Start-up is planned for 2026.

Valmet has previously delivered four Advantage DCT 200 tissue lines to Lila Group’s mill in Corlu, Tekirdag, in Turkey.

“We have had a long-lasting partnership with Lila Group and are proud to have been part of their success in Turkey from the very beginning. It is an honor to be selected as a partner for the next phase of their expansion journey and to deliver to a brand-new site in Turkey,” says Björn Magnus, Sales Director, EMEA, Paper business line, Valmet.

Technical information about the delivery

The delivery will comprise a complete Valmet Advantage DCT 200 tissue production line with stock preparation equipment and a Focus Reelite 25 ENS Rewinder. The tissue machine is equipped with Valmet Advantage key technology, including a ViscoNip press, a Yankee Dryer, and a SoftReel reel.

The scope will include an extensive automation package with a Valmet DNA Distributed Control System (DCS) a Valmet IQ Quality Control System(QCS), and a Valmet IQ Softness Measurement. Start-up, commissioning, and training are also part of the delivery.

The new machine, TM 5, will have a width of 5.6 meters and a design speed of 2,200 meters per minute, adding a capacity of 70,000 tons of tissue products for the domestic and export markets.

About Lila Group

Lila Group is a leading Turkish industrial enterprise headquartered in Istanbul, Turkey. The group operates in four sectors: tissue paper, Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), energy, and textile. The factory in Corlu is set to become the biggest tissue manufacturing facility under a single roof in Turkey and the Middle East and North Africa. It employs nearly 1,000 people.

Valmet has a global customer base across various process industries. We are a leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation, and services for the pulp, paper, and energy industries. With our automation and flow control solutions, we serve an even broader base of process industries. Our more than 19,000 professionals worldwide work close to our customers and are committed to moving our customers’ performance forward – every day.

The company has over 225 years of industrial history and a strong track record in continuous improvement, sustainability, and renewal. Valmet’s net sales in 2024 were approximately EUR 5.4 billion.

Valmet’s shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki, and the head office is in Espoo, Finland.

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Valmet is to provide two complete tissue converting lines including packaging solutions to Metsä Tissue’s mill in Mariestad, Sweden. The delivery includes digital services, training and support after the start-up. The order follows the earlier announced delivery of a Valmet Advantage DCT 200 tissue making line to the same mill. Both deliveries are part of Metsä Tissue's expansion and modernization project “The Future Mill”, aiming at world-class environmental and operational performance.

The order of the two tissue converting lines was included in Valmet’s orders received of the first quarter 2024. The value of the order will not be disclosed.

“We have a long history with Valmet and with the addition of converting technologies in their portfolio we clearly see the synergies with Valmet’s end-to-end solution including tissue machine and converting lines. Their cutting-edge technologies and proven performance will ensure optimal production, a safer working environment and a more efficient tissue production,” says Esa Paavolainen, Vice President Projects, Metsä Tissue.

“This is one of Valmet's first projects implementing the complete value chain, combining a Valmet tissue making line and converting technologies. It’s a unique offering in the market. With it, we have developed a one-stop solution to actualize the integrated factory concept. We are proud to be part of Metsä Tissue’s expansion journey,” says Gianfranco Agnusdei, Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Services, Tissue Converting business unit, Paper business line, Valmet.

Delivery’s technical information

The delivery comprises of two Valmet Perini Constellation tissue converting lines and the packaging machinery needed for the production of rolled tissue. The machinery represents latest technology for efficiency, flexibility, and low energy consumption.

Information about Metsä Tissue

Metsä Group’s Tissue and Greaseproof Papers business, or Metsä Tissue, produces hygiene products for households and professionals, and greaseproof papers for food preparation and packaging. The 2023 sales were EUR 1.3 billion, and they have approximately 2,500 employees. Metsä Group’s parent company Metsäliitto Cooperative is owned by around 90,000 Finnish forest owners.

Valmet is a leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. With our automation systems and flow control solutions we serve an even wider base of process industries. Our more than 19,000 professionals around the world work close to our customers and are committed to moving our customers’ performance forward – every day.

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Solenis, a leading global producer of specialty chemicals for water-intensive industries, has signed an agreement with Beijing PhaBuilder Biotechnology Co., Ltd., (hereinafter referred to as PhaBuilder), an innovative synthetic biology enterprise, to collaborate on further developing key PHA-based (Polyhydroxyalkanoate) technology for the paper packaging market.

“The global agreement between Solenis and PhaBuilder will enable unique technology to the paper packaging market to meet the growing need for more sustainable solutions in the packaging industry,” said William (Bill) Kuecker, Senior Director, Global Strategic Marketing, at Solenis.

“This strategic cooperation will help enhance the application of PHA-based materials,” said Ms. Sherry Xu, President, PhaBuilder. “The newly developed technology will ultimately reduce the impact on the environment, bringing a greener and more sustainable future.”

The global agreement will enable unique technology to meet the growing need for more sustainable solutions in the paper packaging industry.

“I’m delighted to witness the strategic agreement signage between Solenis and PhaBuilder,” said Ed Connors, Chief Business Officer, Americas, and Global Business President, Consumer Solutions, at Solenis. “Solenis has been committed to improving our sustainability — and the sustainability of our customers. This agreement is a new milestone in our dedication to the sustainable strategic vision.”

About Solenis

Solenis is a leading global producer of specialty chemicals focused on delivering sustainable solutions for water-intensive industries, including consumer, industrial, institutional, food and beverage, and pool and spa water markets. Owned by Platinum Equity, the company’s product portfolio includes a broad array of water treatment chemistries, process aids, functional additives, and cleaners and disinfectants, as well as state-of-the-art monitoring and control systems. These technologies are used by customers to improve operational efficiencies, enhance product quality, protect plant assets, minimize environmental impact, and create cleaner and safer environments. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, the company has 69 manufacturing facilities strategically located around the globe and employs a team of over 16,100 professionals in 130 countries across six continents. Solenis is a 2024 Best Managed Company Gold Standard honoree, recognized four years in a row.

For additional information about Solenis, please visit www.solenis.com or follow us on social media.

About PhaBuilder

PhaBuilder is a company with leading synthetic biotechnology, focusing on the transformation and engineering of halophilic microorganisms. Established in February 2021 by Professor Guoqiang Chen, director of the Center for Synthesis and Systems Biology at Tsinghua University, PhaBuilder mainly uses the cutting-edge “Next Generation Industrial Biotechnology (NGIB)” to develop and produce a variety of high-value-added products such as PHA, a biodegradable material, ectoine, a pharmaceutical intermediate, and cadaverine, a Nylon 56 precursor.

In the future, PhaBuilder will constantly promote synthetic biotechnology to deeply integrate with people’s lives and upgrade the intelligent biological manufacturing industry, in order to achieve PhaBuilder’s core mission of “using microbes to change the world and build a green future.”

Metsä Group funds biodiversity management and restoration projects with a total of 600,000 euros in 2024. This year, 26 new projects were approved for the funding programme for nature projects. With this year's selections, the themes of the projects are increasingly diverse and their geographical coverage is expanding.

The themes of the funded projects include, for example, condition of water bodies, restoration of flowing waters, removal of invasive species and predators, pollinator services, management of traditional habitats and restoration of bird wetlands.

"In the funding programme for nature projects, expert networks focusing on different nature themes have started implementing projects that improve the state of nature regionally. Our goal is to mainstream the operating culture, where Finnish nature is the force that unites us. We invite all companies to participate, regardless of industry”, says Metsä Group's leading nature expert Timo Lehesvirta.

The expansion of the funding base for nature projects was discussed at the beginning of June at an event organized by Metsä Group and the Association for the Management and Protection of Archipelago Nature. The experience and knowledge shared at the event create a basis for the development of a more diverse and stable funding base than before in projects that strengthen the state of nature.

"We are a small but active association that promotes and supports nationally set nature goals through voluntary activities. We welcome the fact that the private sector is getting involved in financing the well-being of Finnish nature", says Tommy Arfman from the Association for the Management and Protection of the Archipelago Nature.

"Metsä Group's funding channel is an example and a welcome opening for the environmental work of the private and public sector to play towards the same goal. The expansion of the funding base in the direction of companies is a welcome message. There is potential in the projects selected now. Personally I especially like the nature initiatives from schools", commented Pekka Pesonen, head of the office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and chairman of the expert council.

Metsä Group has set the goal of strengthening the state of nature in its operations by 2030. In order to achieve the goal, action programmes for regenerative forestry and land use are implemented, recognizing the nature effects of the company's own operations.

The funding programme for nature projects is the company's free additional contribution to support Finland's national nature goals. A total of 67 different projects have been financed within the framework of the program since 2022. An independent panel of experts from organizations in the natural resources sector participates in the evaluation of the projects.

Metsä Group
www.metsagroup.com

Metsä Group has its roots in the Finnish forests: our parent company Metsäliitto Cooperative is owned by over 90,000 forest owners. We use wood to make recyclable products for the day-to-day lives of millions of people globally. We focus on wood supply and forest services, wood products, pulp, paperboards, and tissue and greaseproof papers. We are committed to the principles of regenerative forestry to measurably strengthen the state of forest nature. We promote a culture of diversity, equality and inclusion. In 2023 our sales totaled EUR 6.1 billion, and we have around 9,500 employees.

Suction zones and seal strips are typically inaccessible within the suction roll. With TrackLight AR, Voith offers a virtual window into the roll, enabling real-time monitoring of both the suction box and the edge deckle position. This technology ensures consistent settings and minimizes downtime for suction roll maintenance.

Suction rolls play a crucial role in the papermaking process. Their primary function is to remove moisture from the paper web. “With the perfect setting, we maximize dewatering for a high dry content. When the suction rolls perform at optimal levels, tension is maintained, and the paper web is guided accurately through the machine. This ensures smooth and controlled runability and operation,” explains Halim Takhedmit, Digital Product Manager at Voith Paper.

The ability to having the roll perpetually correctly adjusted increases dewatering and resource savings. With positioning of the suction box of the forming roll, it is possible to influence the dry content of the paper web by 1 to 2 %.

Optimum adjustment is the biggest challenge and requires a high level of expertise, because the operator cannot look inside the suction roll. Suction zones are restricted through sealing strips and edge deckles. Neither are visible and can only be identified through markings on tender side. The suction roll shell covers the suction box, so sealing strips are also not visible.

“With TrackLight AR, we enable the operator to virtually look into the roll and adjust the settings more quickly and precisely. Therefore, we can reduce downtimes and increase stable operation. This tool allows very easy handling and a high level of user friendliness,” says Stephan Sicking, Vice President Sales EMEA at Voith Paper.

When setting up TrackLight AR, experts at Voith workshops conduct precise measurements of the roll and proceed to build and test the digital twin of the suction zone. Finally, the product is seamlessly set up at the site, ensuring a smooth integration into the papermaking process.

www.voith.com

Lack of fresh water supply is becoming a challenge for many pulp and paper producers across the globe, which emphasizes the need of water saving and water treatment equipment. Re-using and/or recycling process effluent is today a must for most companies. Valmet and Flootech have on May 23, 2024, signed a partnership agreement to further enhance collaboration in providing advanced water treatment solutions.

Through the partnership Flootech will provide profound technical and commercial expertise to Valmet’s customers. The offering will include water treatment and recycling solutions, process water treatment, effluent treatment and reuse as well as sludge dewatering.

“Water scarcity and efforts to reduce environmental footprint are driving the need for more advanced solutions to reduce, re-use and recycle effluents from the pulp and paper industry. The partnership with Flootech enables us to deliver cost competitive and efficient water treatment solutions to our board, paper, and tissue customers. It is a good strategic fit with Valmet’s climate program, and we are happy extend the collaboration to a partnership with the leading provider of water expertise and technologies across the globe,” says Petri Rasinmäki, Business Line President, Paper, Valmet.

“There is a growing requirement for more advanced solutions to enhance clean water quality, process water recycling and fiber recovery, to treat and extract energy from wastewater, as well as to champion the reuse of water. Costs associated with the environmental impact and regulation, sourcing fresh water, and the growing price of energy have all increased the importance of optimizing pulp and paper mills’ water cycle and water footprint. We are pleased to strengthen our long and successful cooperation with Valmet by forming a partnership agreement that enables us to provide complete water treatment solutions to close water loops together,” says Mikko Siivonen, CEO, Flootech.

About Flootech

Flootech is a subsidiary to Nijhuis Saur Industries and offers a wide range of water treatment technologies, process solutions and services for industrial and municipal sectors with over 50 years’ experience. With more than 1,000 installations worldwide and a high level of competence in the industry, Flootech adds value to clients’ processes by producing high quality water, minimizing and decreasing water consumption, energy usage and ensuring that environmental regulatory requirements are fulfilled.

Valmet is a leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. With our automation systems and flow control solutions we serve an even wider base of process industries. Our more than 19,000 professionals around the world work close to our customers and are committed to moving our customers’ performance forward – every day.

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Metsä Group and the technology company ANDRITZ will investigate the possibility of building a carbon capture facility in connection with the bioproduct mill. The work focuses on the capture of four million tonnes of carbon dioxide from a mill the size of the Kemi bioproduct mill. The Kemi mill is the largest wood-processing mill in the northern hemisphere.

The study will determine the optimal size of a recovery system that would be the most energy efficient combined with the bioproduct mill, as well as the cooling and logistical requirements of the system. The goal is to use the electricity, heat and steam generated in the bioproduct mill as efficiently as possible so that no waste heat is generated. 

This work follows on from the carbon capture study launched in 2023. Carbon dioxide capture using an amine solution is an existing proven technology that has been used for decades around the world. However, combining this technology with a pulp or bioproduct mill is progressive. 

After the investigation with ANDRITZ, the project will proceed to the pilot phase in Metsä Group’s mill area in Rauma in 2025.

Wood-based carbon dioxide to replace fossil raw materials

If carbon dioxide capture proves viable, a new high-volume wood-based raw material will emerge for the forest industry.

"Our goal at Metsä Group is to process northern wood into increasingly valuable products. If implemented, carbon dioxide capture would open up opportunities for a significant new chemical industry in Finland and boost the Finnish hydrogen economy,” says Sari Pajari-Sederholm, Metsä Group’s EVP, Strategy.

Metsä Group generates about 12 million tonnes of wood-based carbon dioxide annually, which could be used as a raw material for fossil material substitutes as the related technology and markets develop. For example, renewable hydrogen and wood-based carbon dioxide could be used to produce synthetic methane and methanol to be used as raw material in the chemical industry. 

"The investigation by ANDRITZ and Metsä Group is pioneering work in carbon dioxide capture and the first step towards the production of renewable fuels from wood-based carbon dioxide. Efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions are increasing the demand for renewable fuels, which can be met by the side streams from bioproduct mills," says Klaus Bärnthaler, Vice President, Sales and Business Development, Carbon Capture, from ANDRITZ.

Metsä Group
www.metsagroup.com

Metsä Group has its roots in the Finnish forests: our parent company Metsäliitto Cooperative is owned by over 90,000 forest owners. We use wood to make recyclable products for the day-to-day lives of millions of people globally. We focus on wood supply and forest services, wood products, pulp, paperboards, and tissue and greaseproof papers. We are committed to the principles of regenerative forestry to measurably strengthen the state of forest nature. We promote a culture of diversity, equality and inclusion. In 2023 our sales totaled EUR 6.1 billion, and we have around 9,500 employees.

The Voith Group performed well in the first six months of the current fiscal year 2023/24 (October 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024) despite major uncertainties in the markets. The company's focus was on further improving profitability: Voith was able to increase both the operating result and the net income in the reporting period. Net liquidity and orders received also improved.

• Significant increase in orders received; orders on hand at record level
• Cash flow significantly increased to €159 million
• Group sales down slightly as expected due to decline in sales in the Group Division Paper
• Hydrogen activities strengthened with new “Voith HySTech” unit

As forecast, Group sales amounted to €2.64 billion, which was slightly lower than in the previous year (€2.75 billion). At €3.62 billion, orders received were significantly higher than in the previous year (€2.95 billion) – in particular due to a major order won by the Group Division Voith Hydro. Accordingly, the orders on hand reached a record level of €8.13 billion as of March 31, 2024 (previous year: €7.02 billion). The operating result (EBIT) improved again in the first half of the year to €129 million (previous year: €123 million) – as did the net income at €38 million (previous year: €29 million). The cash flow from operating activities (ONCF) showed a clearly positive development and amounted to €159 million, compared to €35 million in the same period of the previous year.

“Voith performed well in the first half of the year despite continued major uncertainties in the markets. In particular, we were able to significantly improve cash flow and profitability. This means that Voith remains in a resilient position both operationally and financially and has the necessary resources to invest in its future,” explains Dr. Toralf Haag, CEO of the Voith Group.

Investments in innovative, future technologies
Voith continues to invest in climate-friendly technologies. In the area of mobility, alternative drive solutions are being moved forward, particularly in the field of hydrogen. In April of this year, “Voith HySTech GmbH” was founded. As an expert in carbon composite materials combined with many years of experience in industry and the automotive sector, Voith has a high level of knowledge in the field of hydrogen tank systems. On this basis, a ready-to-install Plug & Drive hydrogen storage system for heavy-duty vehicles was developed. The integrated 700-bar hydrogen tanks have had the road approval required for marketing in Europe since the end of 2023.

To advance the decarbonization of the paper industry, Voith is working with Essity, a leading global hygiene and healthcare company, on an innovative concept that enables CO2-neutral paper production. To further research this new approach, a pilot plant has been installed at Voith's headquarters in Heidenheim, Germany. This project is being funded with around €14.5 million as part of the “Decarbonization in Industry” program of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK) and the EU fund “NextGenerationEU.”

A major focus continues to be on the automation of rail freight transport. Voith has developed the CargoFlex digital automatic coupler for this purpose. It forms the basis for shifting freight transport to rail and makes a significant contribution to reducing rising CO2 emissions and achieving the goals of the European Green Deal.

Sustainability as a business model
In January 2024, Voith realigned its climate protection strategy and committed to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The goal is to make further progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Voith is also committed to the ten globally applicable principles of the Global Compact, which includes the areas of human and labor rights, diversity, and anti-corruption.

“Voith’s Corporate Board of Management is committed to continuing to make sustainability the basis for strategic decisions and to consistently drive forward our sustainability activities worldwide,” says Dr. Toralf Haag.

Good developments in the three Group Divisions of the Voith Group
In the first six months, the Group Division Hydro recorded an increase in sales of 4 percent compared to the previous year at €587 million. Orders received rose to €1.51 billion resulting from a major order in West Africa. At €6 million, the operating result was stable, but not yet satisfactory.

With sales of €1.04 billion, the Group Division Paper recorded a year-on-year decline (previous year: €1.18 billion). Orders received fell to €1.04 billion in the same period (previous year: €1.26 billion). The operating result remained stable and amounted to €76 million (previous year: €77 million).

The Group Division Turbo increased its operating result to €48 million (previous year: €33 million). Sales amounted to €977 million (up 2 percent), while orders received fell slightly to €1.03 billion (previous year: €1.05 billion).

Outlook: Voith expects an increase in orders received and profitability for the remaining fiscal year
In the second half of the current fiscal year 2023/24, Voith expects volatile markets and a global economy that will continue to be characterized by high interest rates and low economic growth. Nevertheless, Voith expects to achieve its targets for the fiscal year and is sticking to its targets for orders received, sales and earnings.

www.voith.com