Many parts of the OCC system and the paper machine are purchased from the catalog. However, the way they are connected in a paper mill is unique. You build a prototype that must prove that it can produce the required quality. We managed to do this with the launch of PM3 at Easter last year.

But as is often the case when the excitement of the new is over, the passion of the entire team is required to maintain the product and service quality achieved while at the same time continuously improving, implementation of changes and standardizing the processes is ongoing.

Suppliers and factory teams are required to simultaneously carry out the necessary changes and adjustments to every conceivable corner of the process systems in the shortest possible time intervals.

But not only technology but also the production planning and logistics are once again required adapt their processes to be able to achieve the service standards.

In an economic environment like the one we are currently experiencing, striving for maximum efficiency is the method of choice.

The publication paper segment trained our teams to working in constant improvement processes. This attitude, which has secured our market position in the past, is one of our strengths for the future in order to be available for the industry as an independent, reliable partner.

Political developments keep us on the edge of our seats too, think of the P&PW Regulation, as well as national regulations affecting our common business. Last but not least the developments in the market itself: it goes without saying that we were pleased with the much-needed price increase that we were able to achieve in most European markets per the first of March. 

Looking at Norske Skog we are ramping up at Bruck in Austria and we are grateful that customers throughout Europe support us in this phase. A big thank you to all of you! Of course, we too had to face the usual ramp-up challenges, but nothing we could not fix. In Golbey, France the work continues. Have a look at the latest video – it says it all, we’re almost there. It’s an exciting idea to be supplying containerboard from these two sites at the end of the year, because it’s a huge step in realizing our vision to become a leading, independent packaging paper producer!

Welcome to the first in a series of Newsletters, updating you on the conversions of two of Norske Skog’s PM (Paper Machine) in Bruck an der Mur, Austria and Épinal, France. So, you might wonder: what’s with the trees?!?!

This is the first in a series of Newsletters, updating you on the conversions of Norske Skog Bruck’s PM3 and Norske Skog Golbey’s PM1. Fascinating projects, with a high complexity and many different aspects.

Or course we realize that as a packaging professional you know about this; we are certainly not the first to convert a PM to produce recycled containerboard. However, as a possible future partner of Norske Skog, you may find it interesting to find out a bit more about us and our projects. To read about the progress at both mills, the challenges and successes, the people. And to find out more about Norske Skog – because we know we are the new kid in town!

Let’s start at the very beginning. Did you know that Norske Skog means Norwegian forest? Our paper history started in 1966, when we constructed and opened a paper mill in Skogn, Norway. A second paper machine was added in 1967. Half the capital for the project was issued by the Norwegian Forest Owners Association – and that explains the trees, the name and logo! In the years that followed we acquired Follum Fabrikker, Union in Skien as well as Saugbrugsforeningen in Halden. And by 1989 Norske Skog controlled all the pulp and paper mills in Norway. International expansion was the logical next step, but more about that next time!

Photo: Norske Skog Bruck

Buildings were demolished and areas levelled. On the way to be a containerboard manufacturer, the first of 3 sections will be completed with the commissioning of the new anaerobic water treatment plant at the end of April. 

As we racked our brains about what a paper mill in Bruck would look like in the future, we noticed that we now not only have more paper, but also a wide variety of products in our portfolio. Therefore we are developing an industrial site that provides packaging and publication papers, heat for our neighbours, energy to stabilize the European electricity grid and to enable alternative energy sources from residues and mineral products for road and dam construction.

In addition to the products, it is also the social goals that define what we do as a leading company in the region. Job security, strengthening the circular economy and environmental protection, our employees' health, development and satisfaction are our focus today and in the future.

In the first phase, the modernization of our bark combustion boiler and the construction of the new biomass boiler were the first big step for our CO2-reduced new energy management, which also ensured the steam supply for the container board paper machine.

And yet we are papermakers in our hearts of hearts and have started the conversion project of the PM3 from newspaper to containerboard with particular enthusiasm.

First major construction goal in the STRATO project is the commissioning of the anaerobic water treatment plant at the end of April. This plant is necessary in order to reduce the starch load in the waste water from the pulp plant. The pre-treated wastewater is then fed into the existing sewage treatment plant via specially designed feed systems and subjected to further cleaning steps.

A positive side effect is that a not inconsiderable amount of biogas is produced, which we burn directly in our new boiler to produce steam for paper production.

 
Photo: Norske Skog Bruck

Meanwhile the construction of the OCC pulp plant has started and in July 2022, after 69 years, we will produce the last rolls of newspaper in order to start the conversion of the PM3 of our "Emma", in good time.

Photo: Norske Skog Bruck

Reducing the use of fossil fuels such as natural gas is one of the central components of our sustainable climate policy. The first mayor step to prepare our mill in Austria for the future has been taken. The boiler hardware is in place and under commission.

An efficient and modern energy supply is key to prepare an industrial site for the future. In energy-intensive industrial processes in particular, environmentally friendly and economical alternatives to primary fuels are in demand.

A first step has been taken in Bruck.

The last months have shown how vulnerable economy is, if a few parameters are changing unexpectedly. Covid 19, natural gas prices and the availability of the paper for recycling provided us too with a challenging environment while running the construction project. The project team at the site in Bruck and the suppliers involved have had tough months. "On time - on budget" were the headlines of their project year 2021.

Now the concrete has been poured and the individual parts of the boiler have been put together. The construction project went into the next phase at the end of 2021. The boiler was fired the first time and   solid fuel was used in January 2022. Now the boiler is in an optimization phase, which will be completed with the takeover of the boiler in April.

With the boiler, we pursue the following goals:

• We reduce greenhouse gases by generating energy from residual materials
• We enable the further expansion of wind and solar energy through innovative energy management
• We deliver long-term and reliable district heating for our region
• We take responsibility for the circular economy to a new level in the paper industry

Norske Skog Bruck Managing Director Enzo Zadra says:” With the new boiler we make a big step towards our ambitious climate goals. Locally sourced fuels will improve the energy supply security in the nowadays volatile European energy market. It’s impressive how well the whole project team managed the energy project in these challenging months. This gives us an additional push for the Strato conversion project in the upcoming project period.”

 
Illustration: Norske Skog Bruck

Illustration: Lézards Création

At Norske Skog Golbey the PM1 conversion project is progressing according to plan and some important steps have been taken during the past weeks. Kick-off meetings with the suppliers were held, the financing process was finalized, and key permits obtained.

The Norske Skog Golbey PM1 conversion project is progressing according to plan and some important steps have been taken during the past weeks.

The execution phase has officially started with the kick-off meetings organized between September and November with the main suppliers. After the official go of the Board last June, the project team has finalized contracts with all main suppliers:

• VOITH, in charge of the rebuild of the paper machine and the supply of the OCC production line
• VALMET, in charge of building the new winder
• MSB, in charge of the system of conveyors from the winder to the new storage building
• DEMAG in charge of the automatic cranes handling the reels in the new storage building
• ECONVERT in charge of the capacity extension of the biogas production line in the effluent treatment plant

"With the kick-off meetings, the project is entering a new phase. These meetings are an important step because they build relationships between Norske Skog Golbey and the supplier teams and confirm that all the parties are aligned. It is a key success factor for the execution phase”, said Frederic Berlhe, Project manager.

At the same time, a long administrative process which started in July 2020 was completed. Given the size of the investment, Norske Skog Golbey had to prepare a large impact study and to organise a preliminary consultation, as required by French regulations. All stakeholders were thus given the opportunity to express their views on the project, ensuring that all technical, social, and environmental aspects of the project were taken into account and optimized.

Finally, in summer 2021, a public enquiry was organized. No significant comments were received, successfully ending this part of the French permitting process.

In November and December 2021, we officially received the Environmental and the Building permits signed by the competent authorities.

“I would like to highlight the amount of work done by the team and the great performance achieved. Despite the sanitary crisis, thanks to close collaboration with the local authorities, we managed to get through this process in a limited time! Having the key permits considering that our project has been approved almost unanimously by our stakeholders is a great achievement!” said Yves Bailly, Norske Skog Golbey Managing Director.

Finally, last but not least, financing of the project has been secured in last October by the Norske Skog Group (Read more). 

A large-scale strategy:
The Norske Skog Golbey vision does not only focus on the rebuilt of the machine #1. It is composed by different projects part of a more global approach to remain a sustainable company for the coming years:

• The construction of a new biomass boiler and the upgrade of the boiler #2, which will meet the steam needs for the paperboard production
• The conversion of all the production (including newsprint) to 100% recycled fibre
• The increase of capacity of the biogas production line

Next steps: We will turn the first sod and prepare the site for future work in H1 2022. Stay tuned to our next newsletter for more!

In 2021, Norske Skog Golbey received the Choose France Award in the Green Transition category. In addition to this, its CSR approach has been recognized at Platinum level by EcoVadis. These two recognitions underline both the company's environmental and social commitments.  Norske Skog Golbey is known for its strong CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) approach. It is an integral part of its DNA and fully integrated in the company’s vision, strategy, goals and projects.

Choose France Award, in the Green Transition category 
Last October, Norske Skog Golbey had the great pleasure of being awarded the Choose France prize in the Green Transition category. Under the aegis of the French Minister of Economy and Finance, the Choose France awards recognise international investors and their contribution to the France Recovery Plan in five different categories.

Norske Skog Golbey attracted the attention of the jury thanks to its diversification projects. The members of the jury particularly appreciated the development of the circular economy approach, the investments done to further improve the environmental performance of the mill and the use of renewable energies. All these topics are obviously linked to today’ major climate issues.

(Photo: Norske Skog Golbey)

The investments and projects in the coming years will allow Norske Skog Golbey to: 

• Become the largest final recycler of paper and cardboard in France
• Reduce its carbon footprint by 41% per tonne of paper produced, by reducing the use of the natural (fossil) gas, the construction of a second methanization line to produce biogas, the development of innovative logistics solutions (rail/road combination, optimization of the logistics loops, waterway transport, alternative fuels…) and the reduction of its electricity consumption by 32% 
• Optimise its water consumption by increasing the internal water recirculation capacity. 
• Maintain a high rate of 98% recovered waste, using mainly internal channels and external ones.

On 17 January, the Secretary of State in charge of the biodiversity at the Ministry of Ecological Transition, Bérangère Abba, has officially presented the award during a mill visit. She underlined "the great sense of our industrial strategy which allows finding the right balance between economy and environment". She also thanked the Norske Skog group, which, as “a Norwegian company, chose the French territory for a circular economy and energy transition project in total symbiosis with its environment!”

(Photo: Norske Skog Golbey)

EcoVadis Platinum Award 
Since 2015, Norske Skog Golbey has asked the independent assessment organisation EcoVadis to evaluate its CSR approach, including all economic, social and environmental aspects. In Q4 2021, the Norske Skog Golbey CSR approach has been evaluated at the highest level: Platinum. Norske Skog Golbey is thus part of the top 1% of the companies in its branch.

“EcoVadis is an internationally recognised organisation. Obtaining the Platinum level reflects the work various teams have been doing for years to build a sustainable company. That is a great source of pride for all our employees. We want to continue to make progress and this analysis is also a very useful tool for identifying areas for improvement”, said Martine Bortolotti, Norske Skog Golbey CSR manager.

Welcome to our second newsletter, updating you on the conversion projects in Austria and France. We all know that we are living in challenging times, and it will not come as a surprise that the present geopolitical circumstances have an impact on our conversions too. We are still on track though, due to the hard work of our project teams. They make it happen – read all about it!

In the first intro we told you all about our Norwegian roots. But did you know that in 1990 we started our global expansion with the building of a new mill initially called Papeterie de Golbey in France, whose shares were owned at 49% by Norske Skog? Five years later Norske Skog acquired the remaining shares, taking complete control of what is today Norske Skog Golbey. One year later, in 1996, Norske Skog Bruck was acquired, and we did not stop there. By 2003 we operated 23 paper mills throughout the world, producing almost 9 million tons of publication paper. At that time about 130 million tons of publication paper were consumed globally, today about 40% less! Of course, this did not happen overnight and over the years we developed our organization in line with this new reality.

Today, Norske Skog is no longer just a traditional publication producer, but an industrial player on a mission to create green value for all its stakeholders. Our conversions play a key role in that mission, just as our investments in energy, see our story on K9 in Bruck, and our partnerships with other industrial players for example, to develop technologies to capture CO². But we also use our knowledge of fibers to produce very exciting, innovative bio chemicals. More about those in Newsletter 3!

The conversion project is still progressing according to plan at the Golbey mill. Our teams are working hard on the preparation phase, which has two main objectives: 

• To keep downtime of the machine as limited as possible in 2023. Already now certain equipment that will no longer be used, is being dismantled, while others are being moved to install new installations required to produce containerboard.
• To allow our suppliers and subcontractors to be received simultaneously in a safe environment. Thus, part of the base camp composed by changing rooms, offices and meeting rooms has been installed and the car parks have been extended to continue to accommodate our employees and visitors

Installation of new base camp

Internally, there is also movement. Organizational charts are being defined and a lot of work is being done to prepare the content of the containerboard trainings for our employees with the equipment suppliers and IBC Paper, a training specialist in the pulp and paper industry. The teaching materials and methods are being defined so that the training sessions can be implemented at the beginning of 2023. Alternative learning methods such as e-learning are being explored to increase the effectiveness of the trainings. At the same time, we have also hired 12 operators to free up time for our employees to be trained in the production of containerboard in a relaxed manner.

“The conversion of the PM1 and the entry into the packaging market is a big change for us and will require adaptation for our employees. Supporting, listening to and training our employees are key steps in making this conversion a success. More than ever, people are at the heart of the project”, said Séverine Buthier, Golbey HR Director.

Finally, the ordering process continues despite the difficulties caused by the current geopolitical context. The contract for the construction of the new storage building for the future containerboard reels, as well as those related to starch and chemicals are signed. Today, more than 60% of the budget for orders has been placed.

 
Future warehouse dedicated to the containerboard reels (source: Bouillon)

After a three-year lead time, we invested two years of construction and 72 million euros in the K9 power plant in Bruck. The energy plant will ensure up to 2 thirds of the site's heat requirements and cover a part of the electrical energy needed. At the same time, we are securing district heating in the greater Bruck area. The new power plant will also reduce fossil CO2 emissions by up to 150 000 tons per year.

Chair in Norske Skog John Chiang says:” Two years ago the gas crisis was not foreseeable, now we are an important part of this change”

All the speeches had in common great praise for the project team and the entire Norske Skog team.

The entrepreneurial courage was also mentioned - and that the need to get such a project on track was recognized in good time. Confidence in the entire site has been expressed on several occasions.

Present to celebrate the day with us were the Norwegian ambassador Kjersti E. Andersen, the Finnish ambassador Pirkko Hamalainen and the Federal Minister for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology Leonore Gewessler, in addition to several members of the local government and the industry association Styria.

30 years: that's something to celebrate! 

On 16 June 2022, around 250 people gathered to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Norske Skog Golbey adventure. After the official ceremony, which was attended by many representatives of the local authorities, the management and employees shared a barbecue in a convivial atmosphere. The employees who had to remain at the plant were not forgotten and were also able to celebrate the event with a dinner served in the control rooms. 

This was an opportunity to review the past and future development of the company, to promote the men and women who make it work, and also to highlight its particularly strong integration within its territory and the local economy. A success of which we are extremely proud! 

"As we celebrate our 30^th anniversary, we are starting a new major project and writing a new chapter in our story. We can be proud of how far our company has come and confident in the NSG's future." Yves Bailly, CEO of NSG

30 years ago, the NSG story began with an extraordinary human adventure 

Remember... in our last newsletter, we informed you that it was in 1990 that the Norske Skog group started its international expansion by participating in the construction of the Golbey factory in France. 

The work lasted almost 2 years and on 22 December 1991, after much hard work, the first reel of paper was finally produced. At the beginning of 1992, the PM1 was officially inaugurated and the company opened its doors to the families and neighbours who were curious to know more about it. The impressive proportions of the machine left them speechless.

Some key figures:

+1500 people
worked on site at the peak of activity during the construction of the building

2.8 billion francs
were invested (equivalent to approximately 600 million euros)

78 000 and 27 000 km
of electrical wire and pipe respectively were used in the construction of the PM1

1200 meters / minute
speed record reached in May 1992

14 million tonnes
of newsprint sold between January 1992 and January 2022

103 current employees
were involved in the construction of the PM1 in 1990, which is about 30% of our current workforce

On 10 July 2022 at 4:15 pm on time, the last reel of NOR News for an Austrian customer was produced on the PM3.

The PM3 was put into operation 69 years ago. The machine has been revised several times, was one of the first to produce recycled newspaper from 1976 and has so far supplied the raw material for a wide variety of newspapers.

This machine has supported many families and over the last century has enabled the Bruck paper mill to expand and establish itself as a valuable business for Bruck, Styria and Austria.

Now the last sheet of newspaper has been produced and many of us have sentimental memories of that time.

But after the game is before the game.

The media industry has become faster and more digital. What was new and important recently is no longer of interest a short time later. As a result, the printed word came under pressure on the market. At the same time, new sales channels have opened. Starting with a digital bookseller, online shopping has developed into an economic factor.

The world has become smaller due to the internet and our view of it has also become much more critical. Regulations such as "single use of plastic" enable a naturally grown raw material that is used in a functioning circular economy to conquer new areas.

Starting today, we begin to create our future.

This is our third newsletter, updating you on the conversion projects in Austria and France.
This month Norske Skog Bruck has produced the last jumbo reel of newsprint on the PM3; the start-up with recycled containerboard in Austria is therefore in sight. Time for our sales force to become active! Did you know we have a highly experienced and dedicated commercial organization?

Sales is a team effort in Norske Skog. A small team at the HQ in Oslo works together with the commercial organizations at the mills and our sales hubs in France, Germany, and Italy to provide customers with the products they need and the best possible service. In countries where we do not have our own organization we work with exclusive partners. Local responsiveness, being close to our customers, is of the utmost importance to us: at Norske Skog we speak your language, in more ways than one!

The past months we have been preapring our commercial organization for the packaging market, by organizing trainings, talking to potential customers, doing research, etc. But also, by getting experienced people on board. We are for example very pleased to announce that as of July 1^st, Mr. Jörn Steinecke will join our sales team in Augsburg, Germany. Jörn has a vast experience in the packaging industry, and we look forward to working together with him on the introduction of Norske Skog in the packaging market, starting with Norske Skog Bruck in the first quarter of 2023! 

If you want to know who your daily Norske Skog contact will be when Bruck starts producing, click here. He or she will be in touch with you shortly to discuss the possibility to work together, probably at the end of the summer. But until then…we wish you a wonderful summer holiday!

Despite the heat waves, work continues at Golbey. During the summer, Norske Skog Golbey has begun its transformation. Four different parts of the mill are already impacted by the conversion.

Some of these works are not only part of the conversion but more broadly key drivers of the energy transition the mill started years ago.

• The construction of the second biogas production line: this new unit will allow Norske Skog Golbey to further reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. Thanks to these new facilities, the biogas production in the mill will more than double from 2023 on. This biogas produced from the effluents of the paper production will either be sold and injected into the gas network, or burnt on site to replace part of the fossil natural gas that is used as additional fuel on our boilers when needed.

• The construction of the new biomass boiler has also begun. Coupled with a steam turbine, it will enable the production of renewable energy thanks to the use of non-fossil fuels: end-of-life wood and waste from cardboard to be recycled. This project, which is part of the 5th call for tenders from the French Energy Regulation Commission, is being carried out by a project company (GVE) composed of Pearl Infrastructure Capital, Veolia Industries Global Solutions and Norske Skog Golbey. With this new boiler, added to the existing ones, Norske Skog Golbey will have the steam required by the mill after the conversion for both the newsprint and containerboard production. 

“Green Valley Energie is much more than a major industrial and economic project. It is a sustainable project, which will allow hundreds of tons of biomass waste to be converted into electrical and thermal energy with a minor impact on its environment. This is the essence of this amazing project which will have a positive impact on both Norske Skog Golbey and the whole region !", said Alexandre de Cuniac, CEO of GVE.

Decreasing dependence on fossil fuels and reduce our carbon footprint

Martine Bortolotti, Norske Skog Golbey Head of Sustainable Development and Transversal Projects

“The current projects go far beyond a simple machine conversion. They are fully in line with our CSR approach and contribute to achieving our environmental objectives. 

For years, we have been working to optimise our energy consumption and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. For example, between 2006 and 2022, we have reduced our natural gas consumption by 66%, largely by replacing this fuel with end-of-life wood. Our steam is now produced with more than 80% non-fossil fuels. The current crisis makes it even more important to act quickly. 

As part of the evolution of our activities, we are seizing new opportunities for improvement by further reducing our energy consumption (approximately -30% electricity and -50% fossil natural gas) and our dependence to fossil fuels thanks to the new boiler, the associated steam turbine and the second biogas line. By increasing the production of renewable energy, these new facilities will not only meet our growing needs generated by the increase in our paper production capacity, but will also contribute to improving our environmental footprint in order to reach our objective of reducing our C02 emissions by 55% between 2015 and 2030.

More than ever, Norske Skog Golbey wants to be a sustainable supplier of paper in the years to come”

After the machine was shut down punctually in mid-July, the conversion of the machine began. Renovation work on the building began at the same time as the dismantling of machine parts that would no longer be needed. Within a few days, the paper machine was unrecognizable.

One feels that there is nothing left of the old parts. This is because parts of the machine are restored and renewed externally before they are reassembled in the machine. In the meantime, the construction of the machine has already started again.

At the same time, the new anaerobic water treatment will be put into operation at the beginning of October, so that it will be ready for the start of the OCC system at the end of January.

The construction of the pulp plant is also at an advanced stage and on schedule. The interior fittings and wiring are in full swing. The agitator will arrive this week to be available for assembly.

The new logistics hall is ready and work on the track has started to ensure timely delivery of the Strato products.

All in all we are quite pleased with the progress made in Bruck an der Mur, and we cannot wait to send you the first samples of Strato Testliner3 and Strato Fluting in the first quarter of 2023!

Here we are again with an update on our conversions in Austria and France. A conversion is certainly not about the paper machine alone – we prefer to call it sustainable site development. And in today’s environment it’s not surprising that specifically the energy concept of a site is at the center of attention. So, in this 4^th newsletter more about Golbey’s energy set-up in addition to the progress made in Bruck. Oh, and did you know we will be exhibiting at Fachpack this year?

It’s actually been a while since Norske Skog has presented itself at a tradeshow, with a booth that is. The last two decades shows in the field of publication paper have become smaller in number and size. We are therefore all looking forward to Fachpack, a tradeshow that has proven its relevance in it’s 40 (!!) years of existence. For us an excellent way of presenting Norske Skog ‘live’ to the packaging industry, gain insights, and hopefully have interesting discussions with visitors at our booth. You can find us in Hall 9, booth 129 – do drop by, get to know us in person, have a nice warm or cold drink and put your feet up for a moment. We look forward to seeing you!

Photo: Mari Mogen, Head of Sustainability, Norske Skog ASA

While we are converting our PM in Bruck and Golbey, other important activities supporting Norske Skog’ vision to create green value continue. We are therefore proud to announce that we have received a favorable rating of A- on CDP Climate Change. The A- rating ranks Norske Skog as one of the top 20 companies in Norway on climate change action, acknowledging the company’s effort to cut emissions and manage the environmental impact throughout its value chain.

CDP is recognized as the global gold standard for environmental reporting. Data is used by capital markets and purchasing organizations to guide investment and sourcing decisions.

“Being recognized as a global leader in transparency and action on climate change is a great achievement that underlines our mission statement of creating green value,” says Mari Brekke Mogen, Head of Sustainability at Norske Skog, adding that “We are more committed than ever to work with business partners across our value chain and deliver continued climate integrity.”

CDP is a non-profit charity that holds the largest environmental database in the world. The charity supports companies, cities, states, and regions to measure and manage their risks and opportunities on climate change, water security, and deforestation. In 2022 more than 15,000 companies reported on CDP’s global environmental disclosure system.

We are looking forward to the start of the paper machine in March, marking the end of the conversion project in Bruck.

But even before the first fiber touches the screen, containerboard production has started – in our lab! The first OCC bales were analyzed, and small quantities were dissolved in laboratory pulpers to produce the first containerboard sheets. These were subject to several measurements, evaluating their SCT and CMT, for example.

The various installations in the newly built OCC plant continue to be tested, checked, and taken over by the operating crews in cooperation with the companies involved in the project to prepare for the first production.

Meanwhile operators throughout the mill are instructed to work with new installations. Some installations are still in the final construction phase, the last cables are being pulled as we speak, the last safety-related changes are being made. Operating systems have been adapted to the new product requirements and the various interfaces with the new units are in the test phase. The first labels were printed and the transport routes to the warehouse were tested. 

In week 4 we hosted a kickoff event for the sales organization, showing them the changes on site - including some fun elevator rides - and preparing for the first real deliveries together.

All in all, a hectic period in the conversion project, creating lots of positive energy on site though, with the start of the PM just around the corner!

The production of packaging paper started a few years ago in the heads of just a few. But now, after everything that’s been achieved, everyone in Norske Skog is looking forward to starting the actual production.

The preparation is coming to an end – we are ready to launch into a new sphere!

A page of our history has been turned with the shutdown of machine 1, which has produced its last reel of newsprint. After 30 years of good service, it is now time to convert to packaging.

"2023 will be an extraordinary year for Norske Skog Golbey. We are writing the history of our next 30 years. In 2023, we will start up our machine, ramp it up and, together with the Bruck mill, become one of the top 12 containerboard producers in Europe. We can be proud of our company, of how far we have come and of our employees, who have shown their fighting spirit, their ability to adapt and their resilience, when necessary," said Yves Bailly, Norske Skog Golbey Managing Director.

The project is progressing according to plan and our mill has begun its metamorphosis. New buildings are being constructed, workshops are being dismantled to make room for new equipment and our teams are being trained for the containerboard production.

»Development of the mill until October 2022 in video 

Today, many projects are being carried out in parallel, including the new boiler and its connection to the mill. The mill is becoming an anthill where our employees (new and old), our suppliers and the project teams are enthusiastically mingling, while we continue to produce newsprint on the PM2. There is lots of activity and the changes are becoming more visible day by day.

That on June 1, Tore Hansesætre assumed the role of new CEO of Norske Skog? Having worked at Norske Skog since 2009, our new CEO knows the group well: he has held several positions within strategy and operations. For the past years, he has been in charge of strategic projects, including the two conversion projects in Austria and France. 

‘I will hit the ground running. I know Norske Skog from the inside, and I have been involved in setting the strategy we have followed over the last years. I look forward to continuing to work closely with so many competent employees throughout the organization.  Our employees are definitely an asset as we expand our operations to new markets,” says Tore Hansesætre

In these newsletters we normally focus on our conversion projects – but sometimes things happen in the organization are worthwhile mentioning. Tore Hansesætre’ appointment coincided with a dramatic landslide severely damaging the PM6 Norske Skog Saugbrugs mill in Halden, Norway. PM6 produces super calendared paper for folders and magazines. An estimated 35.000 tons of rocks (!) hit the wall of the building housing the PM6 – we are grateful nobody got injured, which is nothing short of a miracle! When the PM6 can re-start is still unknown, but it will take time.

To be continued.

PM 3 ‘Emma’ produced her first reel of recycled containerboard end of May, following a conversion that not only transformed the paper machine, but the entire site of Norske Skog Bruck. We built a new multifuel boiler, a new OCC plant, expanded the wastewater treatment plant. 

And now we are producing Strato Testliner and Fluting! We are partly in the process of ramping up deliveries, partly we’re still testing our paper with dedicated customers throughout Europe. We are delighted to receive quite some positive feedback, particularly on the strengths of our products!

The next weeks will be about continuing to familiarize ourselves with the new installations and improve our processes. Till now we have predominantly focused on the heavier basis weights, as of 100 gsm. As of next week, we will start working on the lighter basis weights.

In other words, so far so good. A warm thank you to all our new customers, who have tested our products and are now starting to order more regular volumes – we’ll do our utmost to become one of your preferred suppliers in the near future!

From 25 to 27 October, you will find us at the exhibition that will be held during the Technical Seminar organized by FEFCO in Lyon.

We will have a small booth where we look forward to meeting you and catch up on what’s happening in the packaging industry. We can tell you all about the papers we are producing in Norske Skog Bruck, Austria, and bring you up to speed on the conversion of PM1 at Norske Skog Golbey in France.

Will we see you there?

At the end of March, when we held the first containerboard samples in our hands, we had reached another crucial milestone at Norske Skog Bruck. The first one had been the start-up of multifuel boiler K9, producing Strato Liner and Strato Fluting was the next one. Both key in becoming an independent, sustainable containerboard producer.

The first months of producing containerboard we focussed on achieving the planned basis weights, 90 gsm to 170 gsm, and the required strengths for Testliner 3 and Fluting. We were pleasantly surprised at how quickly the machine reached and exceeded the target values planned in the project. We have our qualified and highly motivated teams on the paper machine, in the technology department and the project team, together with our suppliers to thank for this. Currently all our efforts are aimed at quality, speed, and flexibility. The aim is to minimize process deviations and at the same time increase efficiency and yield.

In addition to this the focus was on customer service; key in a commodity market, where quality is a given, even more so under the current market conditions. We thank all our customers for their support and valuable feedback during these first months!

While starting up PM3, we also worked on optimizing our new multifuel boiler (K9) and achieved 100% of the planned performance values. This has resulted in the availability of energy for our production and a significant reduction in our carbon footprint. Properties that enable us as an independent paper manufacturer to produce containerboard for our customers today and in the future!