Australia paper is joining forces with global pulp and paper production infrastructure manufacturer, Metso, to help oversee the maintenance of its vast Maryvale operation in Victoria.
The company announced it had signed a partnership deal with the global industrial construction company earlier this month, with Metso set to provide ongoing maintenance services at the site, which is set to house the first de-inking recycled paper plant in Australia.
In a statement, Jim Henneberry (pictured), Australian Paper CEO, said:
“We are pleased to announce Metso will be our Alliance partner to work with Australian Paper to deliver world class maintenance. Metso is a world-class maintenance and OEM supplier to the pulp and paper industry globally. [It’s] significant worldwide expertise and professionalism will greatly benefit our operations at Maryvale.
“Metso will assist Australian Paper with greater development for our maintenance staff and employees as well as improved planning and productivity resulting from the alliance implementation,” he said.
The deal with Metso comes just over seven months after Australian Paper received the green light from its parent company, Japan-based Nippon Paper Group, to build the $90 million paper recycling plant at its site in the Latrobe Valley site – the home of Australia’s Reflex Office Paper.
The company hopes that the new plant – claimed to become the only de-inking recycled paper plant in Australia – will be up and running by the second quarter of 2014.
In February, Australian Paper arranged a ground-breaking ceremony at Maryvale. To symbolise the growing partnership between Australian Paper and parent company, Nippon Paper (NPI), an Australian Golden Wattle and a Japanese Cherry Blossom were planted side-by-side. NPI President, Yoshio Haga travelled from Japan especially to attend the event.
“I am proud to confirm that construction is well underway,” said Henneberry in a message to the local industry. “This is an enormous task…and there’s no turning back now – the first batch of concrete has successfully been poured and work continues around-the-clock.
“The plant will annually divert up to 80,000 tonnes of waste paper from landfill and provide consumers with a broader range of locally made premium recycled office, printing and packaging papers. It will more than triple Australian Paper’s current usage of recycled pulp.
“We hope that all Australians will get behind this initiative and help us expand the Australian recycled paper market,” he said.