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The company decided to swing as far as possible in the other
direction. Pulp production ceased, it became the first to introduce
a TCF paper and has become a show piece for good water
management. Not only is water use the lowest in the industry at 3-
4 litres/kg of paper produced (industry average is 11 litres/kg),
waste water passes through a series of ponds to clean it. The first
uses bacteria to remove harmful residues, an action which can
generate a steaming pool and has helped the area generate
something of a micro climate. The treated water passes next into a
second pool which is fish-filled and then to a third where visitors
are encouraged to taste the water. An environmental centre on the
site has become world-renowned for its water management
expertise.
“ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT DRIVES Arctic is concern
for the environment,” says Colyer, “and particularly water use.
Water is going to become the new carbon footprint.”
All the mills can point to ISO 14001, Emas and local
certifications. PEFC and FSC chain of custody, and others to qualify
that what is produced across the group is ideal for purpose.
The fourth mill in the group is the Mochenwangen mill in
Germany which produces Pamo, a mechanical paper aimed at
paperback book production, but which is finding its way into some
hardback books, despite the tendency to yellowness that
groundwood papers have.
Combined, annual production across the group stands at
810,000 tonnes.
This is not enough to challenge the mega groups in the paper
industry, hence the focus of the papers on book production where
Arctic is the second largest producer in the market. It also explains
the focus on branded papers that do not have the exclusivity (nor
the price) of some of the top of the market brands, but which are
equally of better quality and offer a distinctive impact over the
commodity grades.
“IT’S ABOUT DEVELOPING THE BRANDS,” Colyer continues.
“G-Print for example is different to the standard coated woodfrees.
All our papers sit above the high volume commodity grades,
aiming to offer users something that is different and offers a better
performance.
“The group continues to invest and grow both organically and
through acquisition.”
Not surprisingly given the importance of book publishing to the
paper group, there is intense investment in new papers that will
work with the latest generation of print engines. Much of the
product range is already suited to both offset and digital
Arctic Paper managing director Garry Colyer has turned around the business in
four years, from having little success in selling to the UK market to having
strong relationships with merchants, mainly in the Paperlink Group. Most of
Arctic’s papers are uncoated grades with book papers being expecially
important. Also important is the company’s environmental credentials, with
its Munkedal mill a beacon for how paper can be produced with minimum
impact on its surroundings
production, the work in collaboration with the press manufacturers
will ensure this continues into the inkjet age.
Kostrzyn was acquired in 1993 on privatisation. Investment has
led to a gas fired CHP. Total production has gone from something
like 60,000tpa to 275,000tpa, Emas and ISO 14001 attained and
water use and air emissions slashed.
In 2008 the Mochenwangen mill was acquired and has since
been integrated into the group and last year Grycksbo, once part of
Stora, was bought from a VC investor. Arctic has continued the
investment in biomass generation and has been able to direct
production away from sales to the far east to profit earning sales in
Europe thanks to its sales network through northern and eastern
Europe.
More importantly for Colyer, Arctic Paper UK and mill sales to
the UK are now profitable he says. “We have recreated the
relationships that we used to have with the merchants. It’s been a
tough time to do this, but it’s been successful.” n
www.printbusinessmagzine.co.uk May 2011 33