GAW visit at Sappi Gratkorn
GAW visit at Sappi Gratkorn:
Whether for the very first time or for the umpteenth time: seeing a large paper machine in production is simply impressive!
And experiencing GAW's own systems for the preparation of coating color, starch, and additives in action is something completely different than seeing them "only" in photos or as partial components in our halls, or in 3D in an engineering program on the computer.
Last week, a group of GAW technologies employees, along with guests from TU Graz (Graz University of Technology), were able to tour the paper production at the Sappi Gratkorn mill under the expert guidance of Gernot Beyrer, Senior Project Manager Plant Engineering. Of course, particular attention was paid to GAW technologies' systems. A truly practical training session for our new employees, who now have a much better understanding of the overall context of our contribution to state-of-the-art paper production. But even long-serving GAW employees who had already seen the systems before, learned something new.
The reliable partnership between the two leading Styrian (federal state of Austria) companies roots more than seven decades ago. GAW was not only able to process its very first order for the paper mill in Gratkorn in the year it was founded (1951), but also numerous subsequent projects followed. Including shortly before the turn of the millennium, when Sappi completely revolutionized the factory with the construction of one of the world's largest and most modern production plants for coated fine paper.
Today, the Gratkorn site is one of the largest and most modern paper mills in Europe. The latest major project was recently implemented: the conversion of PM9 from multi-coated fine papers for graphic applications to label papers, e.g., for bottles and food packaging. GAW supplied the correspondent chemical preparation systems including technology, assembly and commissioning of the highly complex plant (since these special papers require the processing of very demanding raw materials and chemicals in compliance with the highest safety standards).
We would like to express our sincere thanks to Sappi Gratkorn, and especially to Gernot Beyrer, for the highly interesting and expert tour. And for some GAW employees, a visit to Gratkorn almost feels like a professional "homecoming."
Thank you for the great collaboration over so many decades!
Picture Credits: Gernot Beyrer / Sappi
March 2025