Brussels, Belgium, 31 March 2010 -- Paper machine 2 (PM2), which was damaged by a fire on 20 December 2009 at Sappi's Stockstadt mill in Germany, has started to produce coated fine paper again.

Following months of hard work to clean and to repair the assets, the start up of the paper machine and coating unit went very well, and within the first few days prime quality product levels were achieved.

The mill is now testing the production of different new paper qualities and first paper shipments to customers will take place early April.

Stockstadt mill produces 200.000 tons of uncoated fine paper annually and 230.000 tons of coated fine paper. The mill also has an integrated 160,000 ton pulp facility.