Kraftliner expansion to meet the demand for renewable packaging and move towards fossil-free manufacturing

SCA invested 7.5 billion SEK in expanding the paper mill located in Obbola, northern Sweden. In Obbola SCA produce unbleached Kraftliner, a paper used for transport and consumer packaging, and has built the world’s largest and most efficient paper machine for Kraftliner production. The expansion will increase the annual production from 450,000 tonnes to 725,000 tonnes to meet the growing demand for renewable packaging.

As a part of the project SCA has replaced two oil-fired lime kilns, part of the chemical recovery process in pulp production, with one fired by biofuels. 8,000 m3 of oil consumption can be eliminated by replacing the oil with wood pellets – an environmentally friendly and renewable energy source from sawdust with a high energy value. This means that carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels will decline by more than 20,000 tonnes per year. Since this is the second of two paper mills with biofueled lime kilns SCA Containerboard carbon footprint becomes significant lower.

The expansion of the Obbola paper mill is of great value for many people. It means that the mill will be around for many generations to come. The expansion will increase the purchase of timber in the surrounding region. It will attract large companies and new establishments. Also, the closest port of Umeå, will be expanded to meet up larger capacity.

With parallel construction of the new paper machine SCA could ensure full production during the construction period. SCA will keep the same product range as before, but with improved characteristics.

Obbola is one of few Kraftliner mills with expansion possibilities in Europe because of the access to fresh fiber supply, knowledge from long experience, an already high technological mill with infrastructure already in place and being a leading supplier with the possibility to grow with the customers.

“We have invested for the future and will be at the forefront not only because we have built the world’s largest paper machine of its kind, but also the most modern and technologically advanced”, says Per Strand, Director for the Expansion project in Obbola.

“Investing in a new lime kiln was to get rid of fossil oil but also to meet the need of the increased capacity. Now we will eliminate 8,000 to 10,000 cubic metres of oil per year.

“By using wood pellets in the lime-kiln, a residual by-product of our forestry and industrial operations, we maximise the value of the forest and obtain a resource-efficient value chain”, he explains.

Main features:

20,000 tCO2 per year of emissions will be saved

Total investment of 7.5 billion SEK where 1 billion only in environmental improvements

Partnerships: Voith, PEAB, Valmet, Sweco, Afry, Eurocon, Andritz, Strängbetong, Kaj Johansson, Attacus, ABB, Siemens, Flootech