Sampoerna adds new machines

Sampoerna adds new machines

JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed cigarette producer PT HM
Sampoerna said on Thursday it would add three more twin-wrap
machines this year for its A-Mild brand production line.

Marketing director Surja S. Handoko said only the company's A
International, A King and Dji Sam Soe Filter previously used the
twin-wrap procedure.

"With the additional three machines, we will have a total of
eight twin-wrap machines this year," Surja said, adding that each
had a capacity of 5,500 cigarettes per minute.

Although unable to give an exact figure, Surja said the
company's investment totaled millions of U.S. dollars because the
raw materials were from North American and Scandinavian woods and
imported following processing in France.

He said Sampoerna was the first cigarette producer in the
world to apply the technology, which was developed in Germany. He
claimed cigarettes processed with twin-wrap machines tasted
better. (nur/bkm)