Recycled paper mill opens in NSW

Amcor has a long history of Australian paper making, dating back to 1868 when Samuel Ramsden founded the company’s first paper mill - The Melbourne Mill - on the banks of the Yarra River. The company spent most of its life as Australian Paper Manufacturers Pty Ltd (APM), owning and operating dozens of paper machines across the country. For the majority of this time, the company has been supported by a national recycling business, providing the majority of the waste paper input for the production of recycled paper.

The Botany Paper Mill, which is located near the shores of Botany Bay in Sydney, Australia, commenced operation in 1902 with two paper machines. Since this time, a further seven machines have been commissioned on site, the most recent of these being the B9 recycled paper machine which was opened by the New South Wales Premier, the Hon Barry O’Farrell, MP, on 1 February.

The Managing Director of Amcor Australasia and Packaging Distribution, Nigel Garrard, said that the investment of over $500 million has brought world-leading technology to the Australasian market.

“This is the most sophisticated recycled paper-making machine in Australasia. It produces high-quality 100% recycled brown paper that is stronger, more consistent and has an improved colour for our customers,” he said.

Construction of the new facility commenced in 2011, creating more than 800 jobs throughout the project and securing ongoing employment for more than 150 co-workers. Premier Barry O’Farrell, said: “The NSW Government understands that a modern manufacturing industry is crucial to a strong economy.

“I thank Amcor for making this significant investment in manufacturing in NSW - the largest single capital investment in the company’s 144-year history,” he said.

Packaging innovation is critical to many of Amcor’s customers as they search for new ways to differentiate their product.

“The ability to reduce the weight of the paper over time, while maintaining its strength, gives us opportunities to partner with our customers to create packaging innovations that are simply not possible today. We will be able to offer boxes, for instance, with the same quality and strength, but with less weight,” Garrard said.

The B9 paper machine, so named as it is the ninth paper machine to operate at the company’s Botany site, will produce more than 400,000 tonnes of paper annually when operating at full capacity and will deliver significant environmental benefits.

“This state-of-the-art recycled paper machine replaces three older machines aged between 43 and 52 years, reducing water consumption by 26%, energy usage by 34% and the amount of waste sent to landfill by 75%,” Garrard said.

At the official opening ceremony, Garrard thanked the Premier and the NSW Government, global pulp and paper engineering group Metso, and the company’s customers for their support.