BRAZIL (News release) -- Ahlstrom, in its ongoing dedication to addressing the global need for clean air and water, has successfully completed a EUR 2 million investment for a new laminator at its Louveira plant in Brazil. This investment not only reinforces Ahlstrom's 50-year commitment to the global filtration industry but also marks a significant expansion of its product offerings in the South American market for industrial air, industrial liquid, and fuel filtration, including products currently produced in European and North American markets.

"The new laminator increases our manufacturing capabilities and brings needed flexibility to supply our local customers with the best-in-class filtration solutions," says Andre Pereira, Head of Sales, Filtration, Latin America. "Efficient supply chain management prevents interruptions to the supply stream, and shorter transport distances reduce carbon emissions and lower environmental impact," he continues.

Combining filtration materials by lamination offers several advantages: enhanced efficiency, extended service intervals, and reduced energy consumption of filtration units. Laminated fuel filtration materials adapted for EURO 5 and EURO 6 standards optimize fuel consumption and reduce the emissions of harmful pollutants. In industrial filtration applications, multilayer materials support the trend for higher filtration performances and the ability to purify air and liquids to protect people and the environment.

"The new lamination line supports our purpose to strengthen the global leadership in filtration, says Willy Bordignon, VP, Filtration Americas. "In the last few years, we have completed a new saturator and a glass fiber tissue line in Madisonville (Kentucky, US), a machine rebuilt in Binzhou (China), capacity expansions in Fabriano (Italy) and Malmedy (Belgium), and a new production line in Turin (Italy)," he continues.

Ahlstrom's Louveira plant is in São Paulo state, 70 km from the state capital. The plant manufactures filter media for transportation and industrial segments and is certified with IATF, ISO9001-2015, ISO45001, and ISO14001. Ahlstrom Louveira employs 120 people.

SPAIN (From news reports) -- Smurfit Kappa, Europe's largest paper packaging producer has invested over €30 million across two projects in Spain to further reduce CO2 emissions.

Over 12,000 solar panels were unveiled at the company's Sangüesa paper mill.

The company said these panels will work alongside its biomass and recovery boilers to generate more than 50% of its annual energy requirements - the equivalent to powering 3,600 homes.

"The photovoltaic system, which is the largest of its kind in the Navarra region, is set to reduce the mill's annual CO2 emissions by over 3,000 tonnes and represents an investment of €6 million," the company said.

Since 2005, Smurfit Kappa said the Sangüesa paper mill has reduced its CO2 emissions by more than 51%.

The second investment of €27 million in its Nervión paper mill will see the mill adopt a fully circular production process involving the biggest landfill reduction project Smurfit Kappa has undertaken to date.

The project is set to remove 75,000 tonnes of waste from landfill, and additionally, eliminate approximately 450,000km per year in road transport.

"The recent inauguration of both the Sangüesa and the Nervión investments are milestones for the Smurfit Kappa paper division and aligned with the EU Green Deal's transition to climate neutrality through increasing clean energy technologies," said Javier Rivas, COO of Smurfit Kappa Paper & Board Europe.