OREANDA-NEWS. On 25 June 2008 was announced, that in town of Kommunar (Leningrad region) a new corrugated packaging plant of Ilim Group was launched - the most advanced corrugated plant in the North-Western region of Russia.

The opening celebration was headed by Valery Serdiukov, Governor of Leningrad region, Zakhar Smushkin, chairman of the Board of directors of Ilim Group, and Ilim Group’s Chief Executive Officer Paul Herbert.

Integrated manufacturing of industrial packaging with high added value to be consumed by domestic market is one of the three strategic business lines of Ilim Group. The five-year development plan for this line involves construction of at least five corrugated box plants with a total capacity exceeding 700 mln. m2 per year, to be located in the European part of Russia. The company plans to become a leading corrugated packaging supplier and produce one of every four corrugated boxes in Russia.

The new plant is equipped with world class hi-tech equipment from leading international manufacturers: BHS, Martin and Bobst. The equipment enables to manufacture packaging of virtually every size and design. The capacity of the plant is 140 million m22 of corrugated packaging per year. Ilim Group’s corrugated box customers include major global and domestic manufacturers of food, household chemicals and appliances.

One of the key strategic advantages of Ilim Group corrugated products business is the availability of its own raw materials ensuring uninterrupted supply of containerboard for further processing, and providing an opportunity to optimize the quality and design of products at all production stages. Moreover, the experience in the domestic corrugated packaging market, human and financial resources of Ilim Group, combined with International Paper's global competencies, will create a solid base for dynamic growth of the company’s corrugated business.