Displaying items by tag: sweden

Södra confirmed today its decision to invest in a new sawmill in Värö. This project will be expedited through the acquisition of machinery and equipment from the German sawmill company Klausner Group's plant in Adelebsen, Germany. The expansion means that production will almost triple from today's 275 000 m3 to 750 000 m3 per year.

Klausner's plant in Adelebsen has only been in operation for a year and is one of Europe's most modern sawmills. The entire facility will be moved to Värö.

Södra has good faith in its timber supply in Värö and at the same time sees a need and an opportunity to seriously compete with the larger and more productive production units in Central Europe, when compared to those currently existing in Sweden.

- With the investment in Värö, we get a cost effective and flexible mill. This strengthens our competitiveness which is very important both in the timber market and in the raw materials market, said Södra's CEO, Leif Brodén.

- Important reasons for Södra investing in Värö are its proximity to the pulp mill and to a seaport, and the combined advantage in the form of energy, logistics and chips. Besides that, we have common recourses in many areas, said Peter Nilsson, CEO at Södra Timber.

Klausner Group has its roots in Austria and was founded in the early 1900s. Today it is owned by Fritz Klausner. A recent reorganization headed up by Klausner has the business back on track after the global economic recession the business faced in 2008 and 2009. Current operating rates indicate annual production of more than 2 million m3 from the remaining Klausner plants in Germany.

Klausner will be responsible for the relocation and start-up of the plant in Värö.

- We are very pleased with the deal and the cooperation with Klausner will give us unique knowledge about production and logistics for the large mill we are going to build in Värö, said Nilsson.

Klausner and Södra Timber are also announcing their future marketing cooperation in various major markets.

- We are looking forward to the cooperation. Klausner and Södra Timber complement each other and a joint approach to sales and logistics in our main markets will provide value to all stakeholders, including our customers, commented Leopold Stephan, CEO at Klausner Group.

Construction will start in Värö during summer 2010 with production forecast to begin at the new mill during the spring of 2011. Production at the existing sawmill in Värö will not be interrupted during the construction period. By using an existing plant, both construction time and start-up time will be limited.

Södra Timber produces about 1.7 million m3 per year and is one of the leading manufacturers of construction wood in Europe. The company operates 10 sawmills in the south of Sweden and its products are sold primarily to Scandinavia, the Netherlands, U.K. and the U.S.


For further information, please contact:
Peter Nilsson, President Södra Timber,
+46 70 315 09 27

Leif Brodén, CEO Södra Group,
+46 70 558 94 26

Fritz Klausner, Klausner Group,
+43 535 260 21 10

Per Braconier, Director of Communications,
Södra, +46 70 534 51 66

Ahlstrom Corporation, a leading manufacturer of nonwovens and specialty papers, anticipated in its financial statements bulletin on February 3, 2010, that the Group net sales will increase compared to 2009, but remain lower than in 2008. EBIT excluding non-recurring items was estimated to increase from 2009.

The recovery of demand that started toward the end of 2009, continued in January-March 2010. Since sales prices in most business areas are being increased to cover the rising raw material costs and sales volumes seem to develop slightly more favorably than anticipated, the net sales estimate has been revised.

Demand and net sales in 2010 are expected to increase to approximately the same levels they were in 2008. The company will continue to increase sales prices to cover for the risen raw material costs. It will also be ready to increase sales prices further to cover for possible future raw material price increases.

The EBIT estimate given in the financial statements bulleting remains unchanged. EBIT excluding non-recurring items is expected to increase from 2009.

The company's first quarter financial results will be published on Thursday, April 29, 2010.

Ahlstrom Corporation
Jan Lång, President & CEO

Further information

Jan Lång, President & CEO, tel. +358 10 888 4700
Seppo Parvi, CFO, tel. +358 10 888 4768

Södra is hit by a strike that broke out this morning at 6.00 a.m. Because of the strike we had to stop the pulp mill Södra Cell Värö. The strike hits a number of different mills in Swedish forest industry sector and Södra Cell Värö is one of those.

We are going to have a dialogue with every singular customer on how to deal with this situation. For now it's impossible to know the direct effects caused by the strike.

For further information, please contact:
Ulf Edman, President of Södra Cell International, +46 70 677 8769
Per Braconier, Director of Corporate Communications, Södra, +46 70 534 5166

Billerud has changed reporting date for the Interim Report January-September, 2010. The new reporting date is 29 October, 2010.

For further information please contact:
Bertil Carlsén, CFO, +46 8 553 335 07, +46 73 021 10 92
Sophie Arnius, Investor Relations Manager, +46 8 553 335 24, +46 70 590 80 72

The information is such that Billerud is obligated to publish under the Swedish Securities Market Act. Submitted for publication at 10.30 a.m. on 14 April 2010.

Billerud's business concept is to offer demanding customers packaging materials and solutions that promote and protect their products - packaging that is attractive, strong and based on renewable materials. Billerud has a world-leading position within several product segments including paper for consumer packaging and industrial applications. Production takes place at three integrated pulp and paper mills in Sweden and at one paper mill in the UK.

If the members of the Swedish Paper Workers Union decide to carry out their notice of total stoppage of work at Billerud's paper mill in Skärblacka at 06.00 CET tomorrow, 16 April, production at Skärblacka will come to a complete standstill.

The loss of production is expected to affect Billerud's earnings by approximately SEK 3 million per day, and will lead to one-time costs of approximately SEK 2.5 million for firing up and closing down the soda recovery boiler. These costs are exclusive of any compensation that may be received from the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise's strike fund (Sw. konfliktfond).

"It is extremely unfortunate if the Paper Workers Union decides to close down this mill which is very important for Billerud and for our customers. This action will be detrimental for our key customers as well as for employmentopportunities at the mill," says Billerud's President and CEO, Per Lindberg.

For further information, please contact:
Per Lindberg, President and CEO, +46 8 553 335 01 or +46 702 48 15 17
Bertil Carlsén, CFO, +46 8 553 335 07, +46 73 021 10 92

The information is such that Billerud is obligated to publish under the Swedish Securities Market Act. Submitted for publication at 10.50 a.m. on 15 April 2010.

Billerud's business concept is to offer demanding customers packaging materials and solutions that promote and protect their products - packaging that is attractive, strong and based on renewable materials. Billerud has a world-leading position within several product segments including paper for consumer packaging and industrial applications. Production takes place at three integrated pulp and paper mills in Sweden and at one paper mill in the UK.

Metso will supply a complete tissue production line to AK GIDA SAN ve TİC A.Ş, Turkey. The tissue line will be installed in the company’s new mill in Pamukova, which is located in Sakarya province. Start-up is planned for the second quarter of 2011. The value of the order will not be disclosed. The market value of a tissue production line of this type ranges from EUR 15 million to 20 million, depending on the scope of delivery and production output. The most part of the order is included in Paper and Fiber Technology´s Q1 orders received and the automation package in Energy and Environmental Technology’s Q1 orders received.

Metso’s scope of delivery will comprise a complete tissue production line including a stock preparation system and a tissue machine. The tissue machine will be equipped with a headbox, a press, a Yankee cylinder, a hood adapted for co-generation, a dust management system and a reel. The stock preparation system will comprise pulpers, conical refiners and machine screens.

Furthermore, the delivery will include an extensive automation package with machine and process controls, and quality controls. Complete engineering, installation supervision, training, start-up and commissioning will also be included in the delivery.

The new line will produce 60,000 tons a year of high-quality facial, handkerchief, toilet and towel grades. The raw material for the new line will be virgin fiber. The production line will be optimized to save energy and enhance final product quality.

AK GIDA SAN ve TİC A.Ş aims to expand its operations into the field of tissue products by building a new tissue mill in Pamukova, Turkey. With 140,000 m2 of production area, AK GIDA SAN ve TİC A.Ş currently produces some 400 different dairy products at the Pamukova facilities.

Metso is a global supplier of sustainable technology and services for mining, construction, power generation, automation, recycling and the pulp and paper industries. We have about 27,000 employees in more than 50 countries. www.metso.com


Further information for the press, please contact:
Jan Erikson, Vice President, Sales, Tissue business line, Metso, tel. +46 70 517 14 90

Björn Magnus, Sales Manager, Tissue business line, Metso, tel. +46 703 17 79 83

Alfa Laval will release first-quarter earnings April 26 at 1:30 p.m. (CET). A telephone and web conference will start at 2:00 p.m.

Please call +44 (0)207 0389 550 or +46 (0)8 5052 0114 to join the conference with Lars Renström, Alfa Laval’s President and CEO, and Thomas Thuresson, CFO. The conference
call will end at approximately 2:45 p.m.

A PowerPoint presentation will be available on our Website before the conference starts. To follow the live presentation go to www.alfalaval.com/investors and click on the link.
To listen to the replay, please call +44 (0)207 0314 064 or +46 (0)8 505 203 33, access code 860336. You can also go to www.alfalaval.com/investors.

For more information please contact:
Peter Torstensson
Senior Vice President, Communications
Alfa Laval
Tel: + 46 46 36 72 31
Mobile: +46 709 33 72 31

The Swedish Paper Workers Union's overtime ban, ban on employing new staff, and ban on hiring temporary staff will come into force at 6 pm on 12 April 2010.  

The overtime ban may have major consequences for Billerud, chiefly in the form of disruptions to production and delayed deliveries to customers.  
Any financial consequences will be quantified and communicated on a continuous basis.

For further information please contact:
Bertil Carlsén, CFO, +46 8 553 335 07 or +46 73 021 10 92

At Milan Design Week 2010, April 14-19 at Superstudio Piú, Swedish lighting company Wästberg will launch a lighting fixture made in DuraPulp and developed in close collaboration with Swedish forestry industry company Södra and Swedish architects and designers Claesson Koivisto Rune.

Last year Claesson Koivisto Rune and Södra developed the Parupu children's chair out of DuraPulp, thus proving it possible to make a real chair of paper. Now Claesson Koivisto Rune and Södra team up with Wästberg to challenge themselves even further: merging electricity, paper and light, using paper, not only as a component or for casing, but really fully integrated.

"Combining old wisdom with ground-breaking technology is elementary to Wästbergs philosophy" says Magnus Wästberg, founder and CEO of Wästberg. "Paper has been used throughout history for making lamp shades. Now we are using paper for the actual structure of the fixture adding advanced LED technology."

"One principal mission for Södra, together with innovative partners, is to develop and supply tomorrow's raw materials based on renewable forest resources", says Karin Emilsson, director of technology at Södra and head of Södra Innovation. "The DuraPulp lamp by Wästberg meets high customer standards of functionality and design although it's made out of a new totally renewable material."

Notes to editors:

DuraPulp

DuraPulp is made from selected pulp from Södra combined with PLA (Polylactic acid, a renewable biopolymer produced from starch). The two components in combination provide special properties that can be reinforced through hot pressing. DuraPulp is a material with high wet strength, high water resistance, high dimensional stability as well as high tensile strength and bending stiffness. DuraPulp is made from 100 per cent renewable fibres and is fully biodegradable.

Claesson Koivisto Rune w101

Material: DuraPulp, cast iron (base)
Light source: 5 W LED
Colour temperature: 3.000 K
CRI > 90

Wästberg

Launched in 2008, Wästberg lamps are now sold globally and have been honoured with more than 20 awards for design excellence, including 6 Good Design Awards, 4 red dot awards, Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany and an Elle Interior Design Prize. Wästberg is based in Helsingborg, Skåne, the southernmost part of Sweden.

Södra

Södra is a Swedish group with broad forestry operations and is a leading producer of pulp, wood products and bioenergy. The company, which is owned by 52,000 forest owners in southern Sweden, has 4,000 employees and sales of SEK 17 billion.

Claesson Koivisto Rune

Internationally renowned architectural office founded in 1995 by Mårten Claesson, Eero Koivisto and Ola Rune. The office has also established itself as a successful design studio. Today, they work with more than 50 companies worldwide.

For further information, please contact:
Lotta Wästberg, Wästberg, +46 72 232 4010
Thérèse Thelin, Södra, + 46 730 345 125

The Annual Report for 2009, including the Sustainability Report for 2009, is now available at www.billerud.com/reports. The printed version of the Annual Report will be distributed to shareholders and other stakeholders that have requested this.

Stockholm 12 April 2010
Billerud AB (publ)

Per Lindberg
President and CEO

For further information please contact
Bertil Carlsén, CFO, +46 8 553 335 07 or +46 73 021 10 92

The information is such that Billerud is obligated to publish under the Swedish
Securities Market Act. Submitted for publication at 10.00 a.m. on 12 April 2010.

Billerud is a packaging paper company with a business concept to supply customers with innovative and high quality packaging paper. A consistent concentration on attractive market segments and a strong customer focus are cornerstones of Billerud's strategy. Billerud focuses on kraft paper and containerboard and has a world-leading position within several product segments. The company's production units are among the most cost-efficient in Europe for these products.