Pulp Matters 1/2022

CUT T ING EDGE

THE GOLDEN COMBINATION

UPM Euca combines top-notch quality and stability for the benefit of customers around the world.

TEXT: SAMI ANTEROINEN PHOTO: UPM

Lorena Echevarria, Senior Manager, Operations Development and Support for UPM Pulp in Uruguay, explains that, at its core, the success of UPM Euca is rooted in the use of two different and well-combined wood species: Eucalyptus grandis and Eucalyptus dunnii. “These two species have adapted well to Uruguay’s soil and climate, and they have many complementary characteristics. Together, they form a very solid combination,” she says. For example, Eucalyptus grandis has a high growth rate and high fibre number, while Eucalyptus dunnii has solid frost resistance and high wood basic density. FIND THE RIGHT BALANCE Put together, grandis and dunnii constitute an extremely well-balanced pulp, which provides good strength properties, bulk and drainage development in refining.

The resulting UPM Euca pulp is used to produce clean, soft and smooth tissue products – and it can also provide high brightness, good refinability, surface and optical properties for specialties and printing and writing end uses. “UPM Euca is a product that clearly adds value to the customer’s business,” Echevarria says. DECADES IN THE MAKING It’s also a success story with some history. The development of the eucalyptus species in Uruguay, which started more than 30 years ago, is a continuous process to improve forest productivity, mill processability and papermaking properties. “The eucalyptus genetic material that grows and adapts best to our climate is thoroughly studied in our R&D laboratory, where we select those that are

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PUL P MAT TERS 01/2022