22 Dec. 2023: The last reel of paper at the Lanaken mill was produced on 20 December 2023.
Sappi Europe has definitely ceased production at the Lanaken paper mill in Belgium. Both paper machines PM 7 and PM 8 were stopped on 20 December.
Sappi Lanaken is an integrated pulp and paper mill with a production capacity of 165,000 tpy of bleached chemi-thermomechanical pulp (BCTMP) and up to 530,000 tpy of woodfree coated paper. The mill has a staff of more than 600.
Sappi had started consultations with employee representatives on the potential closure of the Lanaken mill last October. According to media reports in Belgium, the majority of the mill's employees have voted in favour of the proposed social plan.