The new name will be rolled out from 1 January 2019 by Mark Lyndon Paper Enterprises which has its UK base in Nottingham from where it arranges exports from across the UK.
The Winfibre name is to be introduced after changes in the ownership structure within the Lee family which owned the Mark Lyndon business. The family is part of the Lee & Man Paper mill business which produces new cardboard and associated grades in China and South East Asia. The new owner will be from the same family but the name Winfibre used going forward.
On the business side, UK operations along with those in the United States and Europe will become one global company.
The new business will continue to provide fibre under a long term contract for Lee & Man’s existing and proposed paper mills in China, Vietnam, and other countries.
Global strategy
Winfibre UK managing director Colin Clarke said: “Our new name Winfibre is part of a new global strategy to have one brand purchasing fibre for Lee & Man Group’s subsidiary Lee Kwok Trading.
“This new structure enables us to act as a global business, rather than operating as separate businesses in different territories as we do now. It will enable us to devise global procurement strategies and provide the ability to negotiate global terms with shipping lines and other suppliers.
“But for our suppliers in the UK, they shouldn’t really see any changes apart from a new name. They will still be dealing with the same people on a day-to-day basis and we look forward to working with them as Winfibre.”
And, Mr Clarke said that the market for export material is changing and adapting. “In the past it was almost about the ‘vanity of volume’ while today it is more about quality and the availability of markets.
“We have good business supply partners and we aim to meet their expectations.”
Quality
Mr Clarke added that the company maintained a focus on quality, not just for China but also for the other markets the business served. “We were the first to have a quality inspection team on the road and we now have 10 inspectors. We are also working closely with CCIC and the new inspection system they have developed with the Recycling Association.”
The rebranding is being seen within the sector as a “positive” for the UK in that the company will remain a keen buyer of material, including mixed papers, OCC (used cardboard), office papers and deinking (newspapers) material.
While its main purchasing target is cardboard and some other grades for papermaking in China, where it’s has mill capacity of seven million tonnes, under its new name, Winfibre will be also a substantial purchaser of various grades for mills outside of China, including one million tonnes of capacity in Vietnam and facilities underway in Malaysia and Myanmar.
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