Finnish company rebuilding second paper machine for Sappi

Courtesy / SAPPI North America Sappi North America Inc., headquartered in Boston, has four diversified businesses: high-quality graphic papers, dissolving pulp, packaging and specialty papers.

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By Alexis Wells

Sappi's Somerset paper manufacturing facility in Skowhegan is rebuilding its paper machine two (PM2), which will increase its capacity from 240,000 to 470,000 tons per year.

PM2 will be rebuilt by Valmet Oyj using advanced manufacturing technology, producing various packaging and coated paper products. The rebuilt machine is scheduled to start up in mid-2025.

The rebuild will also include modifications and new parts to meet the requirements of the new packaging. The paper mill will receive Valmet industrial internet and automation solutions, including a new quality measurement system, a process control system, web monitoring and web inspection systems.

"Valmet has proven to be a trusted supplier to Sappi over the years, and we're pleased to work with them again on our PM2 project," said Michael Haws, president and CEO of Sappi North America. "This investment is fully aligned with our Thrive25 strategic focus to reduce our exposure to graphic paper and transition our portfolio to packaging and specialty papers, pulp and biomaterials."

Sappi previously worked with Valmet to rebuild paper machine one, said Jukka Tiitinen, area president of Valmet North America, and "we look forward to continued collaboration with Sappi North America ... . We know the demand for packaging and specialty papers in North America is high, and we're confident that through our combined efforts we'll meet future market needs."

Valmet is a Finnish company and a developer and supplier of technologies, automation systems and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. Valmet has over 200 years of history as an industrial operator.