Tissue World Magazine
Alexandra Stuthridge, Technical Business Manager, BioProducts Institute (BPI)

(News from RISI) – Russia’s Arkhbum Tissue Group, managed by Arkhangelsk pulp and paper mill (APPM), is forging ahead with its plans to install a new tissue mill in Vorsino, in the Kaluga region, some 90 km southwest of Moscow.

The firm has finalised the suppliers of all equipment and machinery for the plant. Arkhbum has signed up Andritz to deliver the 200tpd tissue machine, which will use 100% virgin pulp, as well as cogeneration equipment.

Arkhbum intends to start construction work at the end of July 2015. In Q1 2017, it plans to start-up the 2.8 m wide tissue machine as well as several converting lines for the production of toilet paper, kitchen towels, tissues and napkins.

The cost of this project is Euro 110m ($118m).

In 2019-2021, Arkhbum intends to further increase the plant’s converting capacity by installing additional lines.

The equipment will make tissue products for the consumer as well as the hotel and foodservice (horeca) market segments.

The firm also said that it had cancelled its initial plan to build a 100tpd tissue machine which was due to come online in 2015. APPM told RISI that this decision was taken amid the rising cost of bank loans and high competition on the Russian tissue market.

Arkhangelsk PPM is part of Austria’s Pulp Mill Holding (PMH). PMH also operates the Kiev paper and cardboard mill in Ukraine, which produces tissue, cartonboard and containerboard.