UPM Raflatac Opens Labelstock Factory in China
TAMPERE, Finland—UPM Raflatac is today celebrating the completion of a new, state-of-the-art labelstock manufacturing centre in Changshu, China, at an opening ceremony for customers. The factory serves fast-growing demand for labels to meet packaging needs in China and the Asia Pacific region by supplying paper and film label materials for standard and special applications. The Changshu facility increases UPM Raflatac’s labelstock offering locally and creates new opportunities to serve markets across Asia.
“We aim to be the number one choice of label converters everywhere we operate. With our new Changshu factory we’ll be providing China our full product range and the superior quality service for which UPM Raflatac is known,” says Heikki Pikkarainen, president of UPM Raflatac.
“We’re seeking strong growth in the Asian market through product quality and customer service,” says Jussi Vanhanen, senior vice president, UPM Raflatac Asia Pacific. “Our fully comprehensive Asian network assures the capacity and agility that our customers throughout Asia and globally require from us.”
The Changshu factory is located next to the UPM paper mill by the Yangtze River, about 100 kilometres west of Shanghai. In keeping with UPM’s global emphasis on sustainability and energy independence, the nearly 200 hectare site hosts its own power plant, effluent treatment plant and a harbour. The $40 million capital commitment to build the Changshu factory is part of UPM Raflatac’s global growth and investment strategy, which includes expansion in North America with a new facility under construction in Dixon, Ill. in addition to the doubling of film production capacity in Europe carried out in 2006.
