Guardabosone, Italy 24 January 2017 -- The Guardabosone mill in northern Italy is in the process of being acquired by a new operator. The future Cartiera Verde Ponte Strona will produce specialty papers based on virgin fibre.

The paper mill formerly called Cartiere delle Alpi in Guardabosone in northern Italy, which has stood idle for several years, is to be recommissioned. The prospective operator of the mill told EUWID that the site would produce specialty paper in future and trade under the name of Cartiera Verde Ponte Strona. The company remained silent on the possible date for the start-up. The new operator said that formalities are being cleared in order to obtain environmental permit. The mill would be reopened in the current year under all circumstances, he added.

What grades of specialty paper the reopened mill would produce, is not to be revealed at this time. The company only said it would be paper based mainly on virgin fibre, for which there is demand in Italy but little supply. The mill has one paper machine which is being rebuilt and upgraded since July 2016. Amongst others, work in process involves increasing machine speed, which allows capacity to be doubled, according to the new operator. Cartiera Verde Ponte Strona plans to employ 35 persons in future. The company will announce further details on the project in due time.

The paper mill is still not in possession of the prospective operator. According to the company, an agreement to acquire the site from collection company Gamma Recuperi was signed in last May. The transaction is still open and is expected to be concluded by the end of March at the latest.

At one time, Cartiera delle Alpi produced recycled paper for the popular puzzle weekly La Settimana Enigmistica. The mill has stood idle since 2013.