!!!Papierindustrie

Paper Industry; Developed quite early in Austria due to rich resources 
of water and wood. In 1321 the first paper mill was established in 
Leesdorf bei Baden (Lower Austria) and by the 16%%sup th/% 
 century paper manufacturing works were to be found all over 
Austria. During the second half of the 20%%sup th/%  century the paper 
industry experienced an upturn. In the course of restructuring many 
small companies closed down and the remaining companies concentrated 
on producing specific types of paper. In the 1990s the process of 
internationalisation also affected Austrian companies, with foreign 
companies holding interests in Austrian companies and vice versa. The 
main motivation behind internationalisation is the wish to secure both 
resource supplies and markets. Between 1988-1997 ATS 48 billion 
were invested in the Austrian paper industry, between 1988-1997 the 
expenses for environmental protection amounted to ATS 20 billion. 
The paper industry is one of the major economic sectors in Austria, 
there are 30 businesses in this field employing about 9,800 people; 
the industry has an annual turnover of ATS 36 billion (as of 
1997).

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3.8 million tons of paper, cardboard and paste board are produced 
in Austria, which is 1.3 % of the world production. For 
ecological reasons only wood obtained by thinnings, waste wood and 
waste paper is used in the production of paper.

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Almost 80 % of the production is exported, with three quarters of 
exports going to EU member countries. On the international market 
Austria is number 7 in exporting paper, cardboard for folding boxes 
and paste board.

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Paper converting industry: paper, cardboard and paste board serve as 
raw materials for various products. 125 businesses with approx. 8,600 
employees yield a production value amounting to ATS 17 billion 
(as of 1998). 810,000 tons of paper and cardboard are processed 
to produce refined paper, packaging material, household articles, 
office supplies, envelopes, books, brochures etc. The industry is 
concentrated in Vienna, Lower Austria, Styria, Upper Austria and 
Vorarlberg, but there are also a few companies in Salzburg, Carinthia, 
Tirol and Burgenland. The export share (mainly to European countries 
and the Near East) amounts to approx. 80 % (including refined 
paper and books).

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From the 1970s structural improvements resulted in extensive 
rationalisation measures and in the course of these developments the 
industry was aligned with west European standards. The main sector in 
the Austrian paper industry is packaging (corrugated boards, folding 
boxes, soft packaging material for consumer goods etc.). The share of 
waste paper used in the production of packaging material made of 
paper, cardboard and paste board amounts to an average of 81 %. 
In Austria almost 84 % of these products are recycled (as of 
1998).

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Major companies in the Austrian paper production and converting 
industry are Bauernfeind GmbH Frantschach AG,  Mayr-Melnhof Karton AG, 
 Modo Paper Hallein Gmbh, M. Salzers Soehne Papierfabrik GmbH,  
Nettingsdorfer Papierfabrik AG,  Neusiedler AG,  Norske Skog Bruck 
GmbH,  Sappi Holding AG,  Steyerermuehl AG and W.  Hamburger AG.


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