Part of the Finnish-owned UPM group, which employs 24,000 people across 14 countries, the Caledonian operation is the only UK producer of high quality Light Weight Coated (glossy) paper in the UK.  Opening in Irvine in 1988, it was Scotland's largest inward investment, producing material used mainly in magazine publishing and catalogues.

Further investment was made when a £75m Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant opened in 2009.  This truly transformational project enables the plant to generate all of the steam requirement for production in addition to 55% of electricity required for the site from biomass.

Based on current useage, the CHP plant will make a 1% contribution to Scotland's 2020 renewable energy target and by switching from coal to biomass, the development reduces C02 emissions by 80% - around 70,000 tonnes per year.

This was supported by a £10m RSA grant from Scottish Enterprise to safeguard over 320 high quality jobs, more than half of which pay in excess of 20% of Scottish average earnings.

Today, there are are around 330 employees based at the site.