UPM has found a buyer for its Stracel mill in France, at which production of magazine paper stopped this month.

Assets and part of the mill site are to be sold to Blue Paper SAS, a joint venture between VPK Packaging Group and Klingele Papierwerke.


It will convert the mill to produce recycled fibre-based fluting and test-liner, with a start-up in September anticipated.

UPM says the 130 new jobs created will be offered to former Stracel employees. The mill was closed as part of UPM’s plan to adjust its magazine and newsprint paper capacity to match global needs.