Major UK investment by Smurfit Kappa

Ireland/UK – Smurfit Kappa is planning a three-year investment at its Townsend Hook papermaking facility in south-east England worth Euro111 million (US$ 147 million). A custom-designed, five-metre, lightweight recycled containerboard machine is due to be completed and operational by the end of 2014 in a development that, says the company, ‘will secure the supply of paper for all of Smurfit Kappa’s packaging operations in the UK and Ireland’.

The machine, which will produce lightweight corrugated papers for use in Smurfit Kappa integrated plants, is being sourced from Cartiera di Cadidavid in Italy and will replace two existing containerboard machines. The overall impact will be to increase the Townsend Hook facility’s capacity to produce FSC-certified recycled paper by more than 8% from 240 000 to 260 000 tonnes per year.

Chris Allen, CEO of Smurfit Kappa Paper UK, comments: ‘The design of the new machine features state-of-the-art technology that will produce a superior lightweight paper. Smurfit Kappa’s two UK mills will now specialise in producing all the recycled brown corrugated case material for its UK and Irish corrugated business, whilst maintaining its presence in the market.’

Related news intimates that Smurfit Kappa Recycling has appointed Peter Seggie to the newly-created role of External Affairs Manager. He will work closely with the company’s external stakeholders and actively engage in the wide range of issues affecting the UK company’s business. As part of a wider role within the Smurfit Kappa Group, his remit also extends to external affairs management in Europe and will include working with the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI).

In his recent career, Mr Seggie has been General Secretary at The Recycling Association in the UK and also Recovered Paper Sector Manager at the UK’s Confederation of Paper Industries. Simon Weston, Managing Director of Smurfit Kappa Recycling, says of the appointment: ‘There are many issues bearing down on the recovered fibre market, and his knowledge and experience are critical to our intention to provide thought leadership to the industry.’