A greener lining

Carol Houghton reports on Mondi’s recent European release liner investments and global expansion plans

International paper and packaging group Mondi has installed a new coating machine at its German release liner plant in Jülich. Part of a strategic modernization process to strengthen its position in the European market, the BM 12 will produce release liners for the pressure sensitive label and tape industry.

The Jülich plant is designed for one straight flow of material to create an ‘ideal workflow’, according to managing director Patrick Lennertz. Installation of the new coating machine allows Mondi to offer its customers enhanced production speed and quality at a competitive cost. ‘As an important complement to our existing coating machine BM 10, the new BM 12 provides the quality and capacity to fully support our customers´ growth in a promising market,’ says Lennertz.

The base for the BM 12 was a former CM1 coater, with machine length reduced from 80m to 34m and speed upgrade from 550m/min to 800m/min. Mondi claims this makes it the fastest machine of its kind in Central Europe. A 31m floatation dryer was also installed, making the machine more compact. The BM 12 is equipped with a five- roll coating station for solvent free silicone systems for the production of one- sided siliconized release papers.

‘The new air floatation dryer supports the 2.3m wide siliconizing line by optimizing energy consumption and efficiently controlling production temperature,’ says Patrick Lennertz.

Global presence

The new Jülich coating line forms part of a major investment program designed to reinforce Mondi’s status as a global player. The 29,000 strong group recently acquired a new site at Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, now being developed into a state-of-the-art release liner plant to go live in August.

‘This is a further important strategic step into the US,’ says Carsten Lange, managing director Mondi Release Liner. ‘Our customers want global quality and local supply.’ Mondi has five release liner plants in Europe, four in the USA and four converting terminals across Asia-Pacific and the US.

A sustainable future

Mondi has made a strong public commitment to integrating sustainable development into its business model, an effort recognized in the FTSE4Good UK, Europe and Global indices in 2008, 2009 and 2010 and the JSE's Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) Index in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Sixteen of Mondi’s paper mills are certified to ISO 14001 and the company is committed to adopting production methods which reduce its carbon footprint. The group is fully integrated from the growing of wood and the manufacture of pulp and paper to conversion into a range of products including corrugated, industrial bags and liners, making it easier to control each step of the process.

Mondi’s latest project is to collect and recycle its customers’ release liner waste. This recycling service will include pick-up of liner waste from customers’ facilities and the separation of the silicone from the paper.

At the same time, Mondi has extended its Green Range, designed to promote environmentally preferable purchasing.

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This article was published In L&L issue 4, 2011