Consumables
LITE4U – A NEW EFFICIENT AND FIT-FOR-PURPOSE CARTONBOARD CONCEPT FROM M-REAL
Monday 09. June 2008 - In order to answer the increasing challenges in the market, M-real Consumer Packaging has introduced a new efficient and fit-for-purpose cartonboard concept at Drupa 2008.
Being a responsible player in the market, M-real created a new cartonboard concept to respond to the challenges of its customer as well as those of forest industry. Therefore M-real created LITE4U, which notably improves the efficiency in the whole value chain.
“Our customers, brand-owners, cartonmakers and merchants are streamlining their operations and optimizing their efficiency”, says Mika Joukio, EVP M-real Consumer Packaging. Brand owners want to reduce the amount of packaging material without compromising performance. They also have to respond the increasing consciousness and regulations regarding sustainability and safety.
But board suppliers are facing a lot of challenges also. “We strive for fast and secure availability as well as for high quality and consistency of our board not to forget sustainability issues”, Joukio continues. “And at the same time we are struggling with severe cost inflation caused by rising raw material and energy prices.” This combined with the decade long declining trend in market prices is making the situation even more challenging.
Considering these aspects, the LITE4U concept comprises “Lightweighting” for more economy, “Innovative” development, “Time” saving, “Environment” concerns, the “4 mills” at the client´s service and a “Unique” offer to their benefit.
Lightweighting of products has been one of the areas of main emphasis during the past years in M-real. Lighter weight boards offer the same properties as heavier conventional grades in lower substances. They offer cost savings and benefit the environment thanks to lighter transport weights and less waste at the end of their lifecycle. One cornerstone in lightweighting has been the use of BCTMP pulp (bleached chemi-thermo-mechanical pulp), the area where M-real has been a forerunner in the industry. M-real has also tightened its tolerances to be the tightest ones in the trade in order to ensure even better consistency in the product quality. Like lightweighting, consistency effects clear savings and improves sustainability.
Innovative development in M-real is continued with a clear portfolio of fit-for-purpose cartonboards which emphasises both visual appearance as well as performance of the boards. The new cartonboard range includes now five grades – Carta Integra, Carta Elega, Carta Solida, Avanta Prima and Simcote which are made to meet the needs of various end-use areas. To ensure efficiency the production of overlapping grades will be discontinued. M-real developed also a totally new grade, Carta Elega, which combines the best properties of previous Avanta Ultra and Simwhite. It is designed especially for high-quality packaging such as for beautycare products and other products demanding fine graphics.
Time is saved by the new cartonboard portfolio. Not only selecting the grade is easier, but also production cycles at mills are shorter thanks to smaller number of grades. This accelerates delivery, improves the availability, and makes stock management more efficient. On top of that Express Board service in Europe will be enhanced.
Environment concerns everybody in todays world. As a sustainable board producer M-real pays special attention to energy efficiency as well as to forest resources. The mills have implemented energy saving programmes, and the reduction of CO2 emission has a high priority. M-real uses wood only from sustainably managed forests in its production units.
4 modern mills: Simpele, Äänekoski, Kyro and Tako serve M-reals cartonboard customers. They are managed as one entity and they are self-sufficient in fibres. Since the beginning of 2007 M-reals Joutseno BCTMP (bleached chemi-thermo-mechanical pulp) mill has been dedicated to produce pulp which is tailored for M-reals cartonboard mills.
M-reals unique cartonboard offering makes it easy to choose the right board for each end-use using the clearly positioned fit-for-purpose products. The new offering improves availability, provides lighter weights and consistent quality. It increases efficiency throughout the value chain and supports sustainable development
NOTES TO EDITORS:
The full range of M-reals virgin-fibre based cartonboards, available globally through M-reals sales and logistics network, includes:
Carta Integra Fully coated bleached paperboard (BCTMP) with coated back. Recommended for graphics and high-quality packaging. Available in 170-330 gsm.
Carta Elega Fully coated folding boxboard (GC1). Recommended for beautycare and other high-quality packaging and graphics. Available in 200-380 gsm.
Carta Solida Fully coated bleached paperboard (BCTMP) with white back. Recommended for graphics and high-quality packaging. Available in 185-320 gsm.
Avanta Prima Fully coated folding boxboard (GC2). Recommended for healthcare, toiletries and consumer durables. Available in 200-360 gsm.
Simcote Fully coated folding boxboard (GC2). Recommended for foods, healthcare and consumer durables. A perfect house sheet. Available in 205-340 gsm.