Heinzel Group has successfully commissioned its rebuilt Paper Machine 11 (PM11) in Laakirchen, Austria.
The €140 million investment marks a significant shift toward corrugated base paper production and further strengthens the site’s strategic focus on sustainable packaging solutions.
Following the successful conversion of PM10 in 2017, the Laakirchen mill is now positioned as a leading European producer of high-quality corrugated base paper made from 100% recycled fibers. This move completes the site's transition away from publication paper and reinforces Heinzel Group’s long-term competitiveness in Upper Austria.
PM11 has a capacity of up to 470,000 tonnes annually, operating at a width of 8.9 meters and a speed of 1,600 meters per minute. Recent investments to support this transformation include a new pulp processing plant for waste paper, an expanded storage hall, and a state-of-the-art anaerobic wastewater treatment facility that significantly boosts biogas production and overall sustainability.
“This investment’s completion, with PM11’s commissioning, is a major milestone,” stated Sebastian Heinzel, CEO of Heinzel Group. “My thanks go to all employees and external partners who ensured its successful and timely execution.”
Heinzelpaper Laakirchen’s Starboard range—including Starboard Liner and Starboard Wave—offers lightweight yet robust packaging solutions, with basis weights ranging from 70 to 160 grams per square meter. “PM11’s focus on lower grammages, alongside PM10, provides greater flexibility to meet our customers’ evolving needs,” explained Thomas Welt, CEO of Heinzelpaper Laakirchen. The mill’s papers are certified for food packaging applications under DIN EN 15593 and are widely used in shipping, food, furniture, and consumer goods sectors.
Distribution of the Starboard product line will continue through Heinzel Group’s established sales channels. While Austria and Germany remain core markets, the group is also expanding its presence in Italy, Poland, and other international markets.
This strategic shift underlines Heinzel Group’s commitment to sustainable packaging and strengthens its position in the corrugated base paper market.
About Heinzel Group:
Heinzel Group, headquartered in Austria, is a leading European producer of market pulp, packaging paper, and magazine paper. With integrated production sites across Europe, the group is dedicated to sustainable innovation and serves a global clientele across the pulp and paper value chain.
