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A bird's eye view of the APP Rudong manufacturing complex in the Yangkou Port Economic Development Zone. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

The first phase of the APP Rudong manufacturing complex – a massive household paper production base located in the Yangkou Port Economic Development Zone – was completed and started operations on Jan 18, local media reported.

The development zone lies in Rudong county, administered by the city of Nantong in East China's Jiangsu province.

The complex, with a total investment of 45 billion yuan ($6.66 billion), is being funded by giant paper product manufacturer Asia Pulp and Paper (APP), a subsidiary of Sinar Mas Group, one of the largest business conglomerates in Indonesia. It will be built in three phases.

The first phase includes 24 production lines which can produce 780,000 metric tons of household paper products a year.

A production line in the first phase of the APP Rudong manufacturing complex. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

The complex is seen as a key project for smart manufacturing and the digital strategy of the Sinar Mas Group. The company says its production process, equipment and controls system represent the most advanced level in the industry.

"By using digital and intelligent equipment, the power consumption per ton of paper has dropped from 800 kWh to less than 600 kWh, while the production efficiency has increased by 25 percent," said Lin Weizhu, deputy general manager of the company's Nantong subsidiary.

In addition, the raw materials for the first phase are all imported bleached wood pulp made by APP. Lin said the highest standards were adopted in the construction of auxiliary projects, such as the cogeneration center and the wastewater treatment station, to assure clean production.