In September, Metsä Board begins the installation phase of a comprehensive modernisation of the board machine at its Simpele mill in Finland. The company is investing around 60 million euros to improve the quality of its flagship product, MetsäBoard Classic FBB, and to orientate production even more towards fossil-free production.
The renewal includes the use of curtain coating technology, which enables an improved print surface and sharper details. The aim is to achieve greater consistency in the print image, particularly for demanding packaging applications. The modernisation step is also intended to increase the proportion of fossil-free energy at the site from the current 89% to 98% by the end of 2025.
Extensive installations
An investment break of around five weeks is planned for the conversion. During this period, the coating section will be modernised, the coating system expanded and a new pallet packaging line installed, among other things. According to Toni Tahvanainen, Vice President of the Simpele plant, preparations went according to plan during the summer. More than 35 lorry loads of equipment will be arriving from key suppliers in the coming weeks, while over 430 skilled workers are working on site. The modernised line is scheduled to start production at the beginning of October.
Focus on quality and sustainability
MetsäBoard Classic FBB is regarded as a reference product in the food and healthcare packaging segments, where efficiency, reliability and consistent quality are crucial. According to CEO Esa Kaikkonen the company wants to offer brand owners an even more competitive solution - both in terms of quality and environmental performance. This is particularly important against the backdrop of increasing sustainability targets and stricter regulatory requirements.
Metsä Board aims to achieve completely fossil-free mills and raw materials by 2030. The company is part of the Metsä Group, which is owned by more than 90,000 Finnish forest owners.
Source: Metsä Board
