(Press Release)
Kemira is increasing its production of calcium sulfate pigments in Siilinjärvi by 25,000 tons to 175,000 tons. The investment is worth of EUR 4.9 million. The project includes a new production line and a wet-refining unit in Siilinjärvi and pilot-scale research equipment at the Espoo research center in Finland.
Kemira’s paper pigments production plants are located in Finland, Siilinjärvi and in Spain, Besalu. The company’s new filler and coating pigment solutions have been developed for the manufacture of high-quality magazine papers. The new pigment technology enables paper industry customers to save in raw materials consumption and improve efficiency.
“The share of mineral pigments in paper production is due to increase as the degree of conversion rises. It has been estimated that the worldwide demand will increase at an annual rate of about 3% for the next ten years and that the consumption of calcium sulfate pigments will increase in both filler and paper coating applications,” says Juha Savolainen, head of the Paper Pigments BU.
The new calcium sulfate crystallization technology is opening up export markets from Finland to the paper industry in Continental Europe and in Scandinavia. At present, Kemira delivers the product in slurry form, but thanks to the new technology the product can be delivered in the future in dry format to the customers far away. Moreover, the use of new gypsum raw materials sources is enabling powerful expansion of the present production volume. The environmental friendliness of the product is underscored by the fact that pigment production does not involve traditional mining. Raw materials are created as by-products of other industries.
Kemira has developed and brought to production stage the new calcium sulfate technology together with the Finnish forest industry and various research bodies within the forest cluster. Calcium sulfate pigments are used as filler and coating pigments in the manufacture of paper and board. It gives paper excellent brightness, opacity and printability. Among the applications are LWC, MWC and MFC printing papers, and various coated fine paper and cardboard grades. As regards its technical properties, this product challenges traditional pigments such as kaolin and calcium carbonates.
Kemira Pulp&Paper is the leading supplier of pulp and paper chemicals. Its extensive solutions are spanning throughout the pulp and paper industry’s value chain from pulp to paper coating. In 2006, Kemira Pulp&Paper business area had revenue of EUR 993 million and a payroll of approximately 2,300 employees. It is present in 30 countries.
For further information, please contact:
Kemira Pulp&Paper
Juha Savolainen, Vice President, BU Paper Pigments, mobile +358 50 387 6216
Kari Savolainen, Vice President, Communications, mobile +358 500 701 729
Kemira is a chemicals group made up of four business areas: Kemira Pulp&Paper, Kemira Water, Kemira Specialty and Kemira Coatings. Kemira is a global group of leading chemical businesses with a unique competitive position and a high degree of mutual synergy.
In 2006, Kemira recorded revenue of around EUR 2.5 billion and had a payroll of 9,000 employees. Kemira operates in 40 countries.