Södra has begun collaborating with Swt Paper to install a pilot machine for the production of wet-formed Durapulp. The aim is to customise the material and showcase Durapulp's potential. The pilot machine will make Durapulp for packaging and board products that are directly adapted to customer requirements.
"This is an important step in completing the value chain and clears the way for future business.
The pilot machine will involve the use of established production technology adapted to the properties of Durapulp, which will in turn impart unique qualities to the product," commented Anna Altner, Project Manager for Durapulp.
Swt Paper is a small company based in Varberg, Sweden, with recognised experience of developing new businesses with a focus on the needs of customers. By combining Södra's know-how and expertise in DuraPulp with Swt Paper's entrepreneurial drive, Södra hopes to progress Durapulp to the market more rapidly.
"We are combining the best of both worlds and, we are geographically close to each other which will make coordinating the project even easier," added Altner.
The project is partly funded by Vinnova, the Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems.
Durapulp is a bio-composite material comprising specially selected pulp from Södra Cell and a renewable biopolymer. Upon further processing, these two components take on special properties such as moisture resistance, strength and hardness. Durapulp was exhibited for the first time at the Milan Furniture Fair in 2009 in the form of the Parupu children's chair developed by design company Claesson Koivisto Rune.
