OREANDA-NEWS. Ilim Group has launched production of the country's first coated freesheet. After the ramp-up, Ilim Group will produce up to 90 thousand tons of high-quality matte and gloss double-coated paper, with basis weight ranging from 80 to 150 gsm, per annum. Coated paper will be available under 'Omela' brand in rolls and sheets in the sizes which are most popular in the domestic market. Paper samples were presented for the largest Russian paper products distributors, customers and large publishing houses at Polygraphinter-2013 exhibition held in Moscow this week.

Coated paper is produced at the new line built by Ilim Group at its mill in Koryazhma, Arkhangelsk Oblast, within the framework of its large-scale 'Big Koryazhma' investment project worth more than USD 270 million. Upon completion of this project, Ilim Group has installed Russia's most advanced state-of-the-art paper machine and an off-machine coater which will together produce more than 220 thousand tons of offset, cut-size and coated paper per annum.

Coated paper manufacturing is focused on the growing local market in line with Ilim's strategy to produce more value-added marketable products in Russia in order to substitute imports.