Papierfabrik Palm's King's Lynn, England, newsprint mill develops low-grade magazine paper production; CEO says grade is similar to those made by rivals but not in U.K., will help ensure mill runs at full capacity

Bdebbie Garcia

LOS ANGELES , November 14, 2011 (Industry Intelligence) – Palm Paper Ltd. in King’s Lynn, England, has developed a low-grade magazine paper that it hopes will keep the mill running full out, according to the company’s chief, reported the Eastern Daily Press on Nov. 9.

The paper, called Palm Top, is a high-quality newsprint suitable for magazines, said Dr. Wolfgang Palm, CEO of Germany-based Papierfabrik Palm GmbH, which is the parent of Palm Paper.

The new paper should keep the mill operating at full capacity by helping to offset the decline in newsprint consumption, which is expected to continue, he said, according to the article, which was posted on EDP24.co.uk.

Since Palm built the mill in King’s Lynn four years ago, newsprint consumption has decreased by 30%, falling to 1.5 million tonnes from 2.2 million tonnes.

While paper similar to Palm Top is available from Palm Papers’ competitors, the company will be the first to make it in the U.K., giving customers the option of delivery on short notice, said Palm.

During Palm’s visit to the King’s Lynn mill he also met with staff at the College of West Anglia, in Norfolk, England, where the company is working to launch a new apprenticeship program that is based on a tailor-made course, the Eastern Daily Press reported.

Palm said that the future of the industry relies on having “the best machinery and the best employees.”

Palm said that his company earned over €1 billion (US$1.36 billion) last year and is anticipating €1.7 billion in turnover for this year, reported the Eastern Daily Press.

The primary source of this article is Eastern Daily Press, Norwich, England, on Nov. 9, 2011.

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