BillerudKorsnäs recently upgraded its BillerudKorsnäs Design, Decor and Supreme coated liner products, resulting in better fibre formation, smoother surfaces and a better printing result for the liner, as well as increased strength and stiffness.

Customers that have evaluated the new grades have all reported positive results. These include enhanced whiteness, improved print quality and the possibility to select a lower grammage due to the increased strength and stiffness.

Smurfit Kappa Flexoline in Nybro, southern Sweden, is one of the customers that has tested the new products.

"We've started to use the upgraded versions of BillerudKorsnäs Design and Decor, and we're delighted with the results. The printability has significantly improved", says Anders Hagblom, purchaser at Smurfit Kappa Flexoline.

"The upgrade of our coated liners means that we are able to offer a lower grammage compared to other liners on the market while maintaining the same strength, which benefits our customers and the environment", says Anders Karlsson, Technical Service Manager, BillerudKorsnäs.

The improvements to the liner products have been made possible by an upgrade of paper machine 4 in Gävle in 2014. The SEK220 million investment in the machine included the installation of a new head box, breast roll shaker, smoothing press and dewatering elements.

The coated liner products from BillerudKorsnäs are used as an outer layer in corrugated board packaging for the premium segment in which the selling function of the packaging is paramount.