Suzano Papel e Celulose inaugurates new factory

Suzano Papel e Celulose launched the unit Maranhão, in the municipality of Empress, one of the most modern pulp mills in the world, with production capacity of 1.5 million tons/year and generation of energy surplus of 100 MW.
Announced in 2008, the new unit went into operation last December, on schedule and budget, and its inauguration marks the beginning of the celebrations of 90 years of the Suzano Group Suzano Papel e Celulose and the second-biggest global producer, eucalyptus pulp.
With total investment of $ 3 billion in the industrial area and the forest base formation, the factory will mainly European and North American markets. Reference in cutting-edge technology, the Empress has two dryers and two lime kilns, which allow for greater operational flexibility, greater stability in production and lower costs.
To put the unit into operation, Suzano had recognized suppliers of services and equipment, such as Metso, Siemens, Pöyry, among others. In all, about 700 suppliers were involved in the project, of which 40% are of Maranhão.
The "learning curve" of the project is guaranteed in contracts with suppliers of equipment for 18 months and the expectation is that the Empress Drive range production of 1.1 million tons at the end of the first year.
To drain the cellulose, a rail extension will be used own of 28 km and North-South railroads and Carajás, these two administered by Vale. The load will not be trans-shipment to the port of Itaqui, through which will be exported. "The Empress has significant competitive advantages guaranteed by their structural differentials and 100% flow logistics, train with export via port of Itaqui, is one of the most relevant, ensuring shortest distance to markets that will be served," says Walter Schalka, President of Suzano Papel e Celulose.
In February this year, was held the first shipment of pulp produced in the Empress, with destination to the United States. 11.9 thousand tons were sent to three different ports.
The factory in Empress occupies a total area of 1.5 million m2, being 96 thousand square meters of constructed area.