M-REAL'S Kemiart Graph Finds Innovative Use in IKEA'S Billy Bookcase
Weight of both bookcase and transit packaging reduced significantly
The Ikea Billy Bookcase achieved iconic status last year when it celebrated 30 years in production, with its global success attributed to its simple and adaptable design. Annually, around five million flat-packed bookcase sets are sent from Sweden to Ikea stores all over the world. It can now be revealed that for the last three years the back wall of the Billy Bookcase has been made of a foldable solid fiberboard using M-real's Kemiart Graph, a coated white top kraftliner, as the surface material.
Through the use of Kemiart Graph, the back wall can be folded and packed into a smaller unit, one third of the size of previous packaging. Bookcases now weigh two kilos (approximately 4.4 pounds) less than they originally did, and the annual freight amount is reduced as a result by 10,000 metric tons (11,023 tons). In addition, Kemiart Graph provides the necessary strength and consistency to ensure excellent runnability in all the print and varnishing processes.
Kemiart Graph was chosen by Walki Group, the leading producer of protective packaging materials and technical laminates, together with its customer Smurfit Kappa Lagamill, who originally suggested that Ikea switch from a hard board to a solid fiberboard as a way of utilizing its resources soundly. Jointly, the two companies developed a backboard that had a strong surface material, but which could be folded in two places.
Tomas Nyström, Sales Manager for Walki, says: "It was a challenge. Walki mainly produces packaging materials that protect packed contents during transportation and warehousing. Now we had to develop a material that will endure for decades in people's homes."
The commission left space for innovation by the Walki team. "Our customer wanted to replace a formaldehyde containing hard board material with a paper-based, non-toxic solid board," says Jan-Anders Fagerhed, Technical Services Manager of Walki Consumer Board. "The basic reasons for choosing Kemiart Graph are its strength and runnability in our printing process, as well as in the solid board lamination process at Smurfit Kappa Lagamill. The properties of Kemiart Graph are optimal for this product."
Kemiart Graph is a coated white top kraftliner for flexo, offset, and screen printing, available in 115 - 250 gsm (24 - 51 lbs/1000ft²). Specially developed for flexo preprint, high-quality flexo postprint, and offset, Kemiart Graph enables printing of half-tone pictures and colors with excellent gloss and color density.
M-real Corporation Telephone Business ID
Address +358 1046 11 0635366-7
P.O.Box 20, FI-02020 METSÄ, Finland Fax Internet
Revontulentie 6, 02100 Espoo, Finland +358 1046 55232 www.m-real.com
Link to the photo: http://databank.metsaliitto.com/metsaliitto/mreal.jsp?x=6066973&i=168205155255170762182117323697127149130126161
For further information please contact M-real Consumer Packaging:
Ritva Mönkäre, Marketing Manager
Mobile +358 (0)50 598 7012
E-mail: ritva.monkare(at)m-real.com
M-real in brief: M-real is Europe's leading primary fiber paperboard producer and a major paper supplier. The company's customers include brand owners, carton printers, converters, publishers, printing houses, merchants and office suppliers. M-real supports its customers' businesses by providing high-performance paperboards and quality papers for consumer packaging, communications and advertising end-uses. Together with its customers and partners, M-real develops products and services for demanding end-uses. The company's paperboard is mainly used for the packaging of beautycare and healthcare products, foods, cigarettes, and consumer durable,s as well as graphics. Paper is mainly used for office papers as well as wallcoverings and other speciality end-uses. M-real's business areas are Consumer Packaging, Office Papers, Speciality Papers, and Market Pulp and Energy. M-real is headquartered in Finland. In 2009, the company's sales totaled EUR 2.4 billion (3.05 billion USD), and it has approximately 4,900 employees. M-real, part of Metsäliitto Group, is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Ltd. www.m-real.com
