A new machine in Turkey will add new capacities for containerboard and cartonboard to the market. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has forced Kipas to postpone the project several times.
Turkish packaging producer Kipas Kagit has again postponed the start-up of its PM for corrugated case material and cartonboard. The machine is now expected to be commissioned in mid-February, the vice president of the Turkish recycling association Tüdam informed, citing the company. The PM was originally supposed to start-up in June 2020 but the start-up has been postponed several times.
The postponements are due to the Covid-19 pandemic and its backlash, Tüdam explained. Recovered paper suppliers who export to Turkey, however, suspect that another reason might be an ordinance promulgated by the Turkish government stipulating that paper mills may import only a maximum of 50 percent of the recovered paper they need, while the remaining 50 percent have to be covered by domestic purchases. Tüdam’s vice president denied a connection.
Kipas’ new PM is installed at the Söke mill in Western Turkey and has a capacity of 700,000 tpy. According to earlier information, it will produce recycled as well as virgin-fiber corrugated case material. The machine’s portfolio will also include board in the 90-400 g/m² weight range.
Kipas contracted Voith in the autumn of 2017 to supply the PM. The company informed at the time that a second machine would be installed after completion of the first project, which according to Tüdam would add another 500,000 tpy of capacity for corrugated case material. The second machine is not expected to be commissioned before the end of 2022, the spokesperson said.
source:euwid
