United Kingdom
Customer: Palm Group
Production: Corrugated Paper
Supplier: Voith
Description: Due to the structural decline of the newsprint market, Palm will convert paper machine PM 7 at its King’s Lynn (UK) site to produce corrugated case material (CCM) in the first quarter of 2027.
The paper mill in King’s Lynn was built on a greenfield site in 2009 and has been constantly developed since. With a width of 10.6 metres, PM 7 is the world’s widest paper machine for newsprint. As a result of continuous investments and the construction of its own power plant, the site represents one of the most modern paper mills in Europe. The demand for newsprint in Western Europe has declined by 60% over the last 10 years. This structural trend is set to continue in the future. As Europe’s largest supplier of newsprint, Palm also needs to adapt its production capacities to these changing market conditions.
Details: Following its conversion, PM 7 in King’s Lynn will produce lightweight CCM made from recycled paper, with basis weights starting at 60 g/m². The production capacity will increase to up to 700,000 tonnes of CCM per year. Thanks to its innovative technological set-up, PM 7 will produce excellent paper quality. With a width of 10.6 metres, it is also ideally positioned to produce all desired paper reel widths. From March 2027, Palm will be able to supply its customers in the UK and on the European mainland with CCM products with even greater flexibility and at shorter notice from four paper mills in Germany, France and the UK.
At the same time, Palm remains firmly committed to the newsprint market. With its two paper machines in Eltmann and an annual capacity of 550,000 tonnes, the company strives to remain a reliable and competent partner for its newsprint customers. The investments of €100 million recently made at the Eltmann paper mill further strengthen its already high level of competitiveness and its well-established position in the newsprint market in the long term.
Start-up: Palm expects to complete the conversion during the first quarter of 2027.