Vienna, January 1st 2024 — HEINZEL GROUP is pleased to announce the successful completion of its acquisition of the Steyrermühl paper mill in Upper Austria from UPM. This strategic move reinforces Heinzel's commitment to sustainability and growth in the paper and packaging industry. The acquisition agreement for the mill including its roughly 400 employees was signed in June 2022 for a takeover in 2024.
 
Already in March 2023 the ownership of an idled graphic paper machine in Steyrermühl was transferred to HEINZEL GROUP and a conversion project there is well on track. Once converted by the second quarter of 2024, the machine will produce up to 150,000 tons of brown and white low-grammage kraft papers per year to be marketed under HEINZEL GROUP’S well-established STARKRAFT brand.
 
With the closing of the transaction HEINZEL GROUP has now also taken over the Steyrermühl sawmill, a local power plant run with biomass and residues, and other facilities. HEINZEL GROUP plans to develop Steyrermühl into a supply center for heat and renewable energy for both the neighboring Laakirchen paper mill and the wider Laakirchen community. Projects include the construction of a second power plant, a large steam pipeline, and the expansion of district heating. “Our planned investments will not only secure a sustainable future for Steyrermühl and its employees, but they will also help the whole HEINZEL GROUP reduce the use of fossil fuels and reach our ambitious climate targets”, says Sebastian Heinzel, CEO of HEINZEL GROUP.

About HEINZEL GROUP

At five sites in Europe, HEINZEL GROUP produces market pulp, packaging paper and magazine paper and trades in in cellulose, paper, recycled fiber, and packaging solutions. With its production companies Zellstoff Pöls, Laakirchen Papier, Raubling Papier and Estonian Cell, HEINZEL GROUP is one of the most important pulp and paper producers in Central and Eastern Europe. The three trading companies of HEINZEL GROUP – heinzelsales, Europapier and Bunzl&Biach – respond flexibly to diverse international customer requirements. The group’s success is based on its entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to long-standing partnerships. Sustainability is a focal point of all activities at HEINZEL GROUP.
 
Contact:
Susanne Johannessen
Email: susanne.johannessen@heinzelsales.com
Tel: +43 664 627 7121
 
Heinzel Holding GmbH
Wagramer Straße 28–30
1220 Vienna
Austria