Wider wraps meet demand for improved paper reel protection

Walki Wisa,the reel packaging producer within the UPM-Kymmene group, is taking a leap in protective reel wrap technology by building its widest-ever production line.

"This investment is intended to meet current and future demand for high quality wrapping of wide reels," says Mats Holti, production manager at the Walki Wisa plant at Pietarsaari in Finland. Planned for full operation by January 1999, the new production line, is believed to be the widest machine of its kind currently under construction in the world today.
"It will be capable of producing 4.2 m wide wrapping material for paper reels using the latest extrusion coating laminating technology," says Holti.
Producing this material involves sandwiching a layer of polymer, typically polyethylene, between two layers of kraft paper.

Protective coating
Extrusion coating is one of the most technically advanced ways of coating or laminating materials. A uniformly thin curtain of molten polymer has to be produced along the length of the paper. The polymer is then drawn down between the two paper layers to create a wrapping material that can protect paper reels against moisture, dirt and mechanical damage during transport and handling.
The 4.2m machine is part of an overall investment in technology and new equipment for the development of packaging materials for the paper industry. Over the past two years the investment at the company's Pietarsaari factory in Finland is estimated at FIM 30 million.
Henri Grönroos, marketing manager comments, "This means a high level of service and quality for the customer. In addition, this super-wide reel wrap technology will allow us to reach a global maket and meet the increasing trend towards ever wider paper reel production," explains Grönroos. "We have the capacity to meet forecast market growth in this sector."
A subsidiary of UPM-Kymmene, one of the world's largest forestry groups, Walki Wisa operates within the group's packaging materials division, UPM Pack. It employs 1000 people in its five European plants manufacturing reel and ream packaging products as well as a wide range of other types of barrier-coated and laminated products.

For more information contact:
Johan Wik
UPM Kymmene
Walki Wisa
PO Box 121
Fin-68601 Pietarsaari, Finland
Tel: +358 204 169389; Fax:+358 204 168845
E-mail: Internet:johan.wik@upm-kymmene.com