Rengo : Completes Construction Work to Renew Containerboard Machine at Marusan Paper Mfg.

Rengo Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Kita-ku, Osaka; Chairman, President & CEO: Kiyoshi Otsubo) announces that construction work has completed, as previously planned, to renew a containerboard (linerboard) machine at its consolidated subsidiary Marusan Paper Mfg. Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Minamisoma-shi, Fukushima; President: Hakaru Mita) and a completion ceremony was held on March 3.

As the Rengo Group's production center for containerboard in the Tohoku region, Marusan Paper Mfg. used to produce approximately 20,000 tons of containerboard per month using two paper machines: PM6 for linerboard and PM7 for corrugating medium. More than 40 years has elapsed since the PM6 machine was first installed in 1973, and it deteriorated and was damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake, making replacement with new equipment an urgent matter. The recently completed PM8 for linerboard is compatible with lightweight containerboard-demand for which is increasing as a result of environmental considerations-and further increases in quality were achieved while saving energy and raw materials .

With the completion of the new machinery, the Rengo Group's containerboard supply system in eastern Japan has been enhanced and the integrated production system from containerboard to corrugated packaging has been strengthened. As a result of the machine renewal, Marusan Paper Mfg. will continue to play a part in the economy of the company's local region of Minamisoma-shi and Fukushima Prefecture and will contribute greatly to the region's reconstruction and revitalization through continuous industrial promotion and stable employment.