Progroup’s PM2 achieves another world speed record in Eisenhüttenstadt, Germany

LANDAU, Germany, April 21, 2011 (Press Release) - On 14 April 2011, the team at Propapier PM2 in Eisenhüttenstadt set another world record for speed. For over 30 hours, the machine continuously produced corrugating medium with a grammage of 80 g at a speed of 1,650 m/min.

This is the second world record set by Progroup AG's new PM2 paper machine in quick succession. In November 2010, a production record of 1,624 m/min was set with a 90 g paper. The machine only went into operation in March 2010.

Götz Herold, plant manager at Propapier PM2, congratulated the team in Eisenhüttenstadt and pointed out the material that was produced when the world record was set: "What makes this new world record so special is the fact that we achieved it producing a lightweight corrugating medium weighing only 80 g/m²."

Designed by Progroup AG and Metso, the efficient, high-tech PM2 system is specially equipped to produce lightweight corrugated base papers with grammages of between 70 and 110 g/m². In contrast, Propapier PM1 in Burg produces mainly testliner varieties weighing between 110 and 230 g/m² as well as kraftliner replacement papers.

Progroup AG's current range of papers and corrugated sheetboards is geared above all to the increasing costs of raw materials and recycled paper. In addition to using highly efficient, specialised production facilities, the company also aims to save raw materials and fibres - mainly by reducing grammages and by substituting fresh fibres.

Although the products manufactured on Propapier's high-tech machines are lighter and less expensive, they are equally strong as earlier papers with higher grammages. Indeed, new, lighter corrugated board designs are on the verge of replacing previous corrugated board structures altogether. Jürgen Heindl, managing director of Progroup AG, explained: "If corrugated board as a product is going to remain competitive, it is essential that we save fibre material."