11 December 2015

HOLMEN RESTARTS MILL AFTER FIRE

Holmen Paper has restarted production on PM 12 at Hallsta Paper Mill. The paper machine has not been in operation since a fire on 20 November

The machine has an annual capacity of 230,000 tonnes, and manufactures book paper and magazine paper.

“We're naturally glad that we're once again able to produce paper and start delivering to our customers,” said Nils Ringborg, CEO of Holmen Paper.

The clean-up and repair work will continue in order to be able to fully restart the entire pulp mill and thus also paper machine PM 11, the company said in a written statement.

“Damage to the cabling and engines is more extensive in the section that provides PM 11 with paper pulp. Our current assessment is that PM 11 will be restarted in mid-January,” Ringborg explained.

“We're working intensively and in close dialogue with all our customers to meet their needs for paper,” he added.

The fire took place in the pulp mill in the north of the mill site. The two paper machines at the mill were not affected or damaged by the fire. An enquiry into the cause of the fire is in progress but has not yet been concluded.

As previously announced, the incident is expected to have a negative impact on results for the fourth quarter amounting to SEK 30 million.