UPM POINTS WAY FOR THE PRINTING PAPER BUSINESS

A follow-up to the restructuring in the forest industry eagerly awaited by the markets was obtained when UPM announced in December the acquisition of Myllykoski and Rhein Papier.

UPM believes in the paper business and the company has a genuine desire to develop paper in an important role in the company.

Myllykoski is seen as a suitable partner for UPM in every respect. The products are similar but with a slightly different focus, and so they complement UPM’s product palette perfectly. Excellent, too, is the fact that most of Myllykoski’s mills are located in central Europe and North America in the hub of the market, which strengthens UPM’s customer service and delivery reliability.

Combining forces with Myllykoski is a significant and major step in putting the Paper business area’s strategy into practice. The strategy also includes expansion in the emerging markets. Opportunities in Asia and especially China have been explored for some time now.

The pace of moving forward is determined by two things. UPM must be sure that market development and the company’s own projects are such that going forward is worth it. Another determining factor is the company’s resources − how strategic growth projects are prioritised.

This article is based on an interview with Jyrki Ovaska, President of UPM’s Paper Business Group.

Text: Tuovi Similä
Photos: Viljak, Jari Leino