Delfortgroup Increases Capacity And Product Variety

Source from:  Tobacco Reporter 06/10/2010

On June 8, Delfortgroup released the following press statement: OP Papírna has further invested into its textile pulp operations and has increased the capacity significantly. OP Papírna has the ability to work with batch process and can individualize its making according to raw material and customer needs. OP Papírna by such became one of the most modern, flexible and powerful textile pulp mill globally. In 2002 Delfortgroup acquired Dunacell in order to secure the demand for the cigarette industry in specialty fibers for cigarette paper. Dunacell was designed to become the biggest specialty fiber pulp mill globally. Besides fulfilling the requirements of the cigarette industry Delfortgroup has been able to develop a significant share in the nutrition industry delivering European, GMO-free and fully audited wheat fiber for dietary sector. In the beginning of 2007 the cigarette industry decided to shift its cigarette papers from textile-pulp to wood-pulp. Dunacell was obliged to allocate almost all its capacity to the nutrition industry and could only manufacture shorter runs for the cigarette industry. The advantage of continuous production at Dunacell could not be utilized with these small runs any longer. Dunacell has been 100 percent committed to the nutrition industry and became the benchmark in quality and cost leadership within its industry, even outperforming the low cost pulp mills in Asia. Delfortgroup operates textile pulp mills to support the tobacco industry only. Therefore there was no reason to operate from two sites. Due to the investments OP Papírna can now offer added capacity and quality. Delfortgroup remains a leading supplier for specialty papers and fibers. In consequent to Delfortgroup-strategy it has been decided to sell Dunacell to the world market leader in fibers for the nutrition industry, who by acquiring Dunacell could close a strategic need and will develop Dunacell further. Delfortgroup remains a leading and growing producer of cigarette papers and has the capacity in OP Papírna to fulfil all existing customer requirements of textile fibers for the cigarette industry. Enditem