The new Finnforest plywood upgrading mill in Suolahti provides more comprehensive solutions
27/05/2008 Metsäliitto Group Press release 27.5.2008
The new Finnforest plywood upgrading mill in Suolahti, Finland further strengthens the position of Finnforest as a leading supplier of plywood. The upgrading mill uses state-of-the-art technology and manufactures more comprehensive and more tailored plywood products for example to the transportation industry and the formwork industry. Minister of Economic Affairs Mauri Pekkarinen inaugurated the upgrading mill on 27 May. "High-quality Nordic wood raw material and advanced engineering know-how constitute a competitive edge for the Suolahti mills. The new upgrading mill is a model example of a successful combination of these factors, enabling more comprehensive plywood processing than before," says Joni Lukkaroinen, Senior Vice President, Plywood Business Line. According to Lukkaroinen, intense competition forces Finnforest to focus on increasingly demanding customerships and further tailored products. "We have followed our new strategy and developed from a raw material manufacturer into a manufacturer of components." "In addition to added value, our expertise provides our customers with products that our competitors are unable to supply. Our solutions support product development carried out by our customers, while also accelerating their manufacturing processes." The value of the upgrading mill investment amounts to EUR 15 million, making it one of the largest wood products industry investments in Finland in the last 12 months. The upgrading mill further processes a total of 30 per cent of the material produced by the birch plywood mill in Suolahti, which promotes employment and the maintenance and development of plywood manufacturing in the area. The upgrading mill will operate at full capacity during the second quarter of 2008. For further information, please contact: Joni Lukkaroinen, Senior Vice President, Plywood Business Line, tel. +358 50 590 0720 Johanna Kankkunen, Vice President, Marketing and Communications, tel. +358 50 350 4005