In the 1850s, Gävle bubbled with a spirit of enterprise and a belief in the future. The city’s leading businessmen wanted to move more goods through the port of Gävle. It was a good idea that only got better in the doing. They founded Korsnäs Sågverks Aktiebolag in Falun, built a 100 km long railway and began to produce milled timber, which was shipped by rail to the port of Gävle.
44 years went by. And then a decision was taken that resulted in Sweden’s biggest industrial move by far. The sawmill would move to Gävle. In 1899, 2,000 people set off with buildings and machines in tow, and didn’t stop till they reached Bomhus, on the coast just south of Gävle. Here a brand new town grew, a place of community, self-reliance and hard work.
The sawmill produced planks and boards, but interest was growing in what was left over, too. So in 1910, they built a sulphite plant, and in 1915, a sulphate mill to process the waste into paper pulp. In 1926, the company bought its first paper machine. It is still in use, in Lahore, Pakistan.
The next major transition in Korsnäs’ history began in the 1960s: from low-grade to high-grade processing. From products that were buffeted by business cycles to high-quality niche products. In 1965, 15% of the company’s production consisted of highly processed goods. By 1985, the figure had risen to 85%. Another phase of industrial evolution was accomplished, with yet more good ideas brought to fruition.
Milestones
Gävle
1855 Korsnäs Sågverks Aktiebolag founded
1899 Operations move to Gävle
1910/1915 Sulphite and sulphate mills built
1925 First paper machine
1976 PM5 brought on line. Board production begins
1987 TM6 brought on line
1985–89 Extensive renovations and expansion
2000 LNHC calendar brought on line
2002 The sawmill was sold
2004 Korsnäs owned forestlands sold to Bergvik Skog
2005 Coating facility for PM4 brought on line
Industrial activities gained momentum in the middle of the 16th century in Frövi. A waterfall served as the energy source - first for an ironworks, and then for a pulp and paper mill. The forest was a prerequisite for both iron and paper manufacturing.
From iron to hi-tech cartonboard - Frövi's history of technology from 1558 until today
Frövi's history of technology stretches far back into time. No one knows with complete certainty when activities began. However, we can conclude that pre-industrial activities for iron handling probably began as early as some point during the Middle Ages. The oldest known production document at Frövi is dated 1558. It was probably Sweden's king at that time, Gustav Vasa, who had a helve hammer built on the site where Korsnäs Frövi is currently located.
Industry in Frövi has had three prominent epochs during this long period of time. The first epoch is the period during which iron was manufactured. Sweden was one of the leading European producers of bar iron in the 17th and 18th centuries. Charcoal used in the production process was obtained from the forest. England was one of the most important markets. New iron production methods were developed at the beginning of the 19th century using coal instead of charcoal, which gradually leads to Sweden's importance as a producer of iron diminishing.
The second epoch including pulp and paper production began in 1889. The infrastructure was basically the same, but new machines and technology laid the foundation for the pulp and paper mill to enjoy a period of greatness.
A new epoch began in 1981. A SEK 900 million investment enables a new hi-tech cartonboard mill to be built at the same time that the old paper mill is shut down. Europe's largest and foremost cartonboard machine is inaugurated in May 1981.
Constant development and upgrades to the manufacturing process have enabled Frövi to become a leading global supplier of liquid board and cartonboard for advanced packaging.
Milestones
Frövi
1550 A helve hammer was built around 1550
1889 A factory for ground´wood pulp is built
1891 A paper mill is built and the last helve hammer is closed
1902 A sulphate factory is built
1981 The start-up of KM 5
1995-98 KM 5 is modernised and the sulphate factory and Tech Center are inaugurated
1997 Bleaching plant
2002 A new batch digester house is built
2006 A backside coater is installed on KM 5
2006 Korsnäs buys AssiDomän Cartonboard AB in Frövi