High performance fibre-based materials company Ahlstrom has completed a €7 million investment at its Stenay plant in France, successfully expanding its product portfolio of one-side coated papers for metallised labels and flexible packaging.
Now ranging from 50 to 160 g/m², the coated paper grades produced at Ahlstrom's paper machine 3 in Stenay can be used for metallised beer labels and flexible packaging applications such as biscuits, sweets, coffee bags, pharmaceuticals, pet food bag outer liners, tea bags, tobacco pouches, as well as bundle wraps for yoghurt pots.
“By lowering the weight of a paper used for metallised labels, flexible packaging and other graphics and industrial applications, Ahlstrom responds to the need for lighter papers to reduce the weight of packaging and labels and consequently lower their environmental footprint,” says Daniele Borlatto, Ahlstrom EVP label and processing.
Stenay’s main brands for flexible packaging papers include Gerbier HDS, Gerstar HDS, Gerstar 404, Gerstar 604, Gersan, Gervalux as well as Metalkote for metallised labels.
With the investment, Ahlstrom offers additional benefits to its customers, such as improved performance during the converting process. The Stenay plant is part of Ahlstrom’s Label and Processing Business Area, which operates a total of six production sites in France, Germany, Italy and Brazil.
