Stockholm, Sweden 02 October 2012 -- Holmen Paper is starting work aiming to concentrate production at the mill in Hallstavik to two paper machines with strong positions in their respective product segments: MF Magazine and book paper. The result of this is that the mill’s oldest machine, PM 3, is being shut down. At the same time, there are plans to invest in energy efficiency measures that, together with the closure, will considerably reduce the mill’s future investment needs. These measures will strengthen the mills competitiveness.

“The restructuring programme will ensure that Hallsta Paper Mill continues to play an important role in the switch towards becoming a speciality paper company, a process that has been under way at Holmen Paper’s Swedish units for a long time. It will help improve our chances of growing in the areas of importance to us,” says Henrik Sjölund, head of Holmen Paper.

The aim is to close down PM 3 during the second half of 2013. The paper machine manufactures 140 000 tonnes of SC paper annually for a market with excessive overcapacity. Closure is assessed to lead to a reduction in the workforce of around 230.