Stora Enso has reported major quality gains for Nova E, its specialty unbleached kraft pulp designed for demanding electrical insulation papers and boards.
The company said the grade now ranks in the top tier across key performance parameters required by insulation paper manufacturers.
Nova E is used in applications such as transformer boards and capacitor papers, where high purity, low electrical conductivity, and mechanical strength are critical to long-term reliability. Recent process improvements have strengthened these properties while enabling the pulp to be optimized for different end-use requirements.
The development builds on Nova E’s initial market introduction. Paper Advance previously reported on the launch of UKP Nova E for electrical applications, when Stora Enso positioned the pulp as a dedicated solution for high-performance insulation papers. Since then, further refinement of pulping and purification processes has elevated the grade to meet the most stringent customer specifications.
“We’ve reached the top category for essentially all the quality parameters we monitor,” said Eero Ollila, Product Director at Stora Enso. He noted that Nova E can now be tailored for specific needs, including ultra-low sodium levels for transformer insulation or very high overall purity for capacitor papers.
Benchmarking and customer feedback have confirmed improvements particularly in electrical conductivity, a critical factor for insulation performance. Excessive metal ions can weaken insulating properties and shorten component service life, making purity control a key differentiator in this segment.
Stora Enso said demand for electrical insulation papers is expected to continue growing alongside global electrification and grid expansion. Commercially, Nova E is scaling rapidly, with sales for 2026 projected to be three times higher than in 2025, reflecting both market growth and the impact of recent quality enhancements.
Stora Enso is a leading provider of renewable products in packaging, biomaterials, and wood construction. The company focuses on replacing fossil-based materials with wood-based alternatives and is one of the world’s largest private forest owners. In 2024, Stora Enso employed approximately 19,000 people and reported group sales of EUR 9 billion. Its shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki and Nasdaq Stockholm.
Source: Stora Enso
