OUR EXPORT STRENGTH LIES IN KEEPING PROMISES
Räpina Paberivabrik AS sells 90% of its production outside Estonia, with goods moving regularly to Scandinavia, Western Europe and the United Kingdom. A broad geographical reach requires a reliable production flow and well-planned logistics.
Quality Starts with the Inquiry
Export quality begins long before goods leave the factory gates. It starts the moment a customer submits an inquiry. Offers are usually provided within two hours, along with an overview of possible delivery times and production capacity. Fast and clear communication lays a solid foundation for the entire process. Orders are generally confirmed within 24 hours, with customers kept informed about production and delivery schedules whenever desired. Accurate planning and a consistently maintained delivery window are crucial, as all products are manufactured to order. This approach ensures flexibility and reliability, even during peak season.
Main export destinations include Scandinavia, Western Europe and the United Kingdom — regions where quality and delivery-precision requirements are among the highest in Europe. A regular delivery cycle to these markets demonstrates the reliability of systems and consistent ability to meet promised delivery times. Selected customer segments are also supplied in the United States.
A Strong Transport Network
Export performance depends on an efficient supply chain. Production and logistics processes are designed to support precise deliveries, even when order volumes exceed the usual level. Extensive planning experience allows anticipation of seasonal fluctuations in demand, with workflows adjusted quickly when needed. A flexible, skilled team keeps production continuous and ensures prompt responses.
Export capability is further strengthened by a strong partner network. Long-standing transport and logistics partners are familiar with products and their specific characteristics, ensuring stable deliveries even when international supply chains face disruptions. Built on trust and transparency, the collaboration allows shipments to be tracked in real time, providing confidence to both the company and its customers.
Customer-Focused Production and Delivery
International customers value our speed and reliability. Orders are usually responded to within one working day, with deliveries to the EU, Scandinavia and the UK typically taking two to three weeks from confirmation. Special requests are handled in close collaboration with the customer, testing and adapting products and packaging to meet expectations precisely.
Product and delivery quality form a unified whole. Continuous investment in machinery, high-quality materials and consistent quality control ensure products meet the highest standards. The value of a product is only fully realised when it reaches the customer in perfect condition, so careful attention is given to packaging and loading. Forklift operators, with precision and technical skill, ensure every shipment is loaded safely and correctly. Our forklift operators rank among the very best in Estonia and globally, and have proven themselves in competitions both nationally and internationally.
An Environmentally Responsible Value Chain
Sustainability is integrated into every stage of the supply chain — from production to logistics decisions. Products are made from recycled waste paper, and manufacturing relies primarily on green and renewable energy. Logistics planning focuses on route optimisation to minimise environmental impact. This approach ensures that the export model is both responsible and coherent, aligning closely with the expectations of environmentally conscious markets in Northern and Western Europe.
The entire export cycle operates as a single entity — from the initial offer to the point at which goods reach the customer. Export capability is not merely about geographical reach; above all, it is the ability to keep every promise regarding quality, deadlines and collaboration.
NEW CATALOGUE
We are proud to present our brand-new product catalogue for edge protectors, unveiled at the Fachpack packaging trade fair in Germany, taking place on September 23–25, 2025.
This catalogue showcases our product portfolio with striking 3D lifelike visuals that provide a far clearer and more realistic impression of our profiles than traditional 2D graphics. The new layout highlights a broader range of applications and offers inspiring packaging solutions beyond the obvious. The new catalogue is a bound booklet, making it easier to browse, handle and keep.
"Best Range of Packaging Profiles" reflects not only the variety we offer but also our commitment to sustainable production: powered by 100% green energy from a combination of solar and hydropower. We are confident that our edge protectors are among the lowest-footprint solutions on the market.
RAPPIN edge protectors are designed to shield goods from damage during storage and transport, helping to prevent unnecessary costs caused by cargo being harmed. Produced at Räpina paper factory, they are made to order in the exact width, length and thickness our customers need.
With our flexibility in cuts, softening, tapes, coatings and printed cover papers, you can create packaging solutions tailored to your products and your brand. Our in-house printing facility enables shorter lead times and faster production. We deliver across Europe and the Americas, always with reliable due date shipments.
Ask for your copy of the new catalogue at Fachpack. We will be there next week from Tuesday to Thursday!
FACHPACK 2025: AUTUMN SEASON OPENING FAIR
Räpina paper factory will participate in the FACHPACK packaging fair in Nuremberg, Germany, from 23 to 25 September.
Our edge protection solutions offer an eco-friendly alternative, as they are made from recycled cardboard, strong, reliable, and environmentally responsible.
We invite fair visitors to meet us in Hall 3, Booth 536.
Come and see how our solutions protect products and support sustainability.
FORKLIFT OPERATORS AMONG ESTONIA'S BEST
On June 12–13, the 2025 Estonian Forklift Operator Championships took place, with 44 competitors from across the country. Among them were three forklift operators from Räpina paper factory, who once again demonstrated why they belong among Estonia's elite.
The competition featured three challenges: pallet box handling, cable reel maneuvering, and rack transfer. Each task required either a counterbalance forklift or a reach truck, depending on the specific discipline.
The box-handling event, which involved a counterbalance forklift, clearly played to our team's strengths by showcasing both precision and speed. Taavo Salf claimed first place in the final, followed by Kristjan Kangro in fourth and Ingar Käär in seventh place. In addition, Taavo proved his versatility by securing fourth place in the rack transfer task as well.
This wasn't just about moving boxes. The challenge required both accuracy and pace. The task began with retrieving boxes from different pallets and stacking them into a stable tower. The operator then had to navigate the loaded forklift across a tilting ramp where every movement affected the tower's balance. Once the ramp was crossed, the boxes had to be redistributed onto the pallets, maintaining speed and control throughout the entire process.
This autumn, Taavo will have the chance to compete in Germany against Europe's top forklift professionals. He will be aiming to improve on Estonia's previous result, a shared 5th to 10th place finish, which was achieved last year by a national team that also included our own transport manager, Kert Preeden.
The daily responsibilities of a forklift operator build the ability to work efficiently under pressure and handle complex logistics with confidence. Whether it's warehousing, truck loading, or keeping materials moving between production and storage, this is a role that demands precision, spatial awareness, and smooth, controlled execution. At Räpina paper factory, the counterbalance forklift is the primary tool in this process, and mastering it requires both technical skill and experience. Daily experience sharpens accuracy and decision-making, these are skills that carry over into competition.
The championship results mirror the reality of our work: maintaining the flow of the production chain as smoothly and swiftly as possible, without compromising quality. Our operators' skill ensures every outbound shipment is loaded securely, precisely, and efficiently. While high-quality delivery relies on trusted logistics partners, it all starts with the expert handling on our own loading docks.
For the second year in a row, the Räpina forklift team has shown that their capabilities go far beyond the factory floor. Their strong results both this year and last are a direct reflection of their technical competence in counterbalance forklift operations and a testament to their consistent professional excellence.
NEW SHEET CUTTER BOOSTS PRODUCTION SPEED & QUALITY
A cutting-edge upgrade made in late 2024 enhanced speed, precision, and efficiency, elevating production to a new level.
In December 2024, a custom-built sheet cutter, designed to meet the paper factory's needs and manufactured in Turkey, was installed in the post-production unit. This upgrade enhances efficiency, boosting both production speed and final product precision. The previous sheet cutter could no longer fully meet production needs. 
Enhanced Capabilities and Workflow
The new sheet cutter processes material up to three times faster. Its maximum speed reaches 300 metres per minute, depending on the material's thickness—thinner materials take longer to cut. For example, cutting 1.5 tonnes of 80-gram paper once took an entire workday; now, it takes just two hours.
The machine has introduced several key improvements. The maximum sheet size has increased from 1.1 x 1.2 metres to 1.6 x 2.0 metres. Sheet length adjustments, previously done manually, now require only a button press, saving time. Accuracy has also significantly improved, reducing deviation from ±10 mm to just ±0.25 mm. Additionally, the machine allows for sheets to be trimmed or split in half, enabling the production of either one wide sheet or two narrower ones in a single run.
Technological Advancements
The cutter features built-in edge trimming, eliminating the need for separate guillotining. Cut-off scraps are automatically transported through tubes to a waste container, keeping the workspace cleaner and improving efficiency. The machine also smooths sheets, reducing curling—an essential advantage for industries using robotic handling, where flat sheets improve grip and operational reliability.
Automation and Increased Productivity
An automatic braking system removes the need for manual adjustments. The machine tracks material by both sheet count and weight, simplifying waste management and defective sheet replacement.
The impact on production efficiency is significant. One of the most notable examples is a 12.5-tonne order that previously took 2.5 workdays and produced 25 pallets of cut sheets now takes just 6.5 hours.
The introduction of this sheet cutter marks a major step forward, improving efficiency, speed, and quality—helping the factory stay competitive and adaptable in the industry.
THE HISTORIC PAPER MILL BUILDING WILL BE FULLY RESTORED
The part of the building built of red bricks, on the edge of Pargi Street, where the paper mill started working in 1734, has undergone several reconstructions over the years.
The building to be restored is a nationally protected cultural monument in Estonia and one of the most unique examples of industrial architecture in Europe. Due to the uniqueness of the paper mill, it was necessary to coordinate the planned works with the Heritage Protection Board.
Part of the former paper mill building will be covered with a hand-rolled roof. The walls and window openings of the building were restored according to the old plans. In the 1730s, the local brick factory, which was once located above today's Ironman Park, produced bricks for the construction of the paper mill. In order to restore the old building, a large amount of whole stones were needed, matching the dimensions of the stones produced in the brick factory. For example, the stones used during the repairs also come from the old railway station in Lepassaare, Võrumaa, Estonia.
The hydroelectric plant, which is located in the old part of the paper mill and produces hydropower for the paper factory, was restored in 2023. This summer, a new river border was installed and the site in front of the hydroelectric plant was concreted.
The restoration works of the paper mill will be completed in November at the latest.
NEW MACHINE IN PAPER PRODUCTION UNIT
Räpina paper mill is innovating the next time-consuming production process by adding a starch boiling machine to its fleet.
The new starch cooking machine designed in Finland starts working using technology developed in Tartu, Estonia. 
In order to make starch mass, it is needed to add starch powder, water and hot steam into the machine. The necessary quantities are calculated by the device, dosed accordingly and next, the appropiate mass is boiled. The starch cooking machine is able to boil 1,2-4t of starch mixture per hour, which is directed straight into paper machine's pressure box.
Compared to the starch mixture used today, it is denser and aids to make the cardboard produced stronger and stiffer. The renewed quality of cardboard makes it possible to produce edge protectors, which are even more resistant, including to moisture.
The installation of the starch cooking machine started in the middle of August. In mid-September, the first tests can be run and the old starch boiling process can be replaced with the new one. As a result, the time and resource demanding manual production process used today, is automated.
Through innovation, the starch adding process in the paper production system is modernised.
FAIRS OF AUTUMN 2024
The team of Räpina paper factory participates in three great packaging-related trade fairs in Europe, Scandinavia and America during the autumn period of 2024.
The first fair will take place already on the 24-26th September in Nuremburg, Germany. FACHPACK is Europe's leading packaging fair, which focuses on the development of its technology and processes, shaping the sector's trends for the coming years. We are waiting for our cooperation partners at booth 657 located in hall no 3.
In October, we can be found at the Swedish fair, Scanpack from 22-25 October, in Gothenburg. Scanpack turns attention to the sustainable future of packaging industry, combining it with new digital technologies and smart solutions of biomaterials, being the most versatile packaging fair in Northern Europe. Our team is located at stand C00:06.
In November, we will participate as visitors in Pack Expo International, held in USA. The fair will be held November 3-6 in Chicago, Illinois. This year's largest trade fair in North America offers innovative packaging and processing solutions for any industry.
ESTONIAN FORKLIFT DRIVERS' CHAMPIONSHIP 2024
On May 22-23, 2024, at the Estonian forklift drivers’ championship, our colleagues achieved the following results
1st place: Kert Preeden
2nd place: Kristjan Kangro
4th place: Ingar Käär
Therefore, the best forklift drivers come from Räpina!
Congratulations and keep up the good job!
