A new chapter begins for the Stenay paper mill. After 26 years in the hands of the Finnish Ahlstrom group, the paper mill in the Meuse region of France is now part of the German investment fund Accursia Capital.
Renamed Stenpa (Stenpa for Stenay Papers), the soon-to-be century-old company avoids closure and retains its 130 employees. The first reel of Stenpa single-sided coated paper for packaging officially left the site on Thursday, October 12.
Accursia Capital, which announced the purchase of the 55,000-ton plant at the end of July, says it intends to continue investing in and developing the site, which generates sales of 56 million euros "in the competitive paper-based packaging market" .
To this end, Matej Kurent has been appointed CEO of the mill. His responsibilities include positioning Stenpa as a service-oriented manufacturer of specialty papers, expanding the customer portfolio and developing new products.
"The employees, who have continued to produce since the announcement of the sale, are engaging in the battle for competitiveness." points out the CGT-FO trade union at the Stenay paper mill. "Heavily involved and in demand since March 13", day of the announcement by Ahlstrom of the sale of the plant or, in the absence of a buyer, its closure the company's social and economic committee will continue to be vigilant "in terms of sustainable employment, investment and local roots".
The employees invite the French Minister for Industry, Roland Lescure, to visit the site and discover the paper mill's know-how. "This visit would be an opportunity to retrace the history of this century-old plant and the employees' fight to keep the industrial tool in the Lorraine region" emphasizes the inter-union group.
