News Packaging
Valmet to supply coated board machine to Graphic Packaging

Valmet will supply a coated board machine for Graphic Packaging International’s (GPI) mill in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in the United States.

With this investment in the latest coated board technology, GPI says it is committed to sustainable packaging with exceptional product quality and cost competitiveness for producing coated recycled board (CRB) grades.
The start-up of the machine is scheduled for the first half of 2022.

The board machine will produce coated recycled board (CRB) grades (white line chip board, WLC grades) with an annual capacity of approximately 500,000 short tons which corresponds to 454,000 metric tons.

“Valmet has offered us innovative yet proven technology to reach our high product quality targets,” says Rusty Miller, senior vice-president, engineering and technology, GPI. “We have had a long and good cooperation with Valmet. Our relationship is based on mutual trust, which is very important in large projects like this one.”

Dave King, area president for North America at Valmet, says, “Valmet has a very good relationship with Graphic Packaging International, and we have had successful projects with them. We are happy to be involved in this important project to provide a new coated board machine in the United States.”

The order is included in Valmet’s orders received of the third quarter 2019. The value of the order is not disclosed.

Valmet’s operations in North America support the pulp, paper and energy industries with 1,334 employees and a network of 18 service, production and sales units across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Graphic Packaging International provides of paper-based packaging solutions for a wide variety of products to food, beverage, food service, and other consumer products companies. It has over 70 facilities and over 17,000 employees worldwide.