​Metsä Board’s Kemi mill is gearing up to increase annual capacity by 40,000 tonnes

23.2.2022

Metsä Board Kemi mill sets sights on success with Timo Ahonen at the helm

​Metsä Board’s Kemi mill is gearing up to increase annual capacity by 40,000 tonnes and further enhance sustainability and efficiency through a series of investments in its white kraftliner production line, which will significantly reduce the mill’s water and energy consumption.

​The coming two years are set to be an exceptional period of growth and improvement at Metsä Board’s Kemi mill, driven by significant investments to modernise the production process and eliminate bottlenecks. At the helm is mill manager Timo Ahonen, who is excited by what 2022 and 2023 have in store for the Kemi site: “I thoroughly enjoy the process of implementing changes to our operations that we can see reflected in our results. One of our key goals for 2022 is to ensure the successful implementation of our production development programme,” Ahonen highlights.

Ahonen took up his position in October 2021 after having spent most of the last four years as production manager of the board mill at Kemi. “The best part of being a mill manager is being able to improve safety and efficiency through mutually agreed operating models, increase competences and invest in future development,” he continues.

Preparations are well under way, and Ahonen is confident that the project will be a success thanks to the uncompromising attitude towards quality shared by Metsä Board’s partners and employees. “After the kraftliner production line start-up in 2023, our target is to reach 465,000 tonnes of premium-quality board per year, an increase of 40,000 tonnes over our current capacity, while improving energy and water efficiency.

Parallel to Metsä Fibre’s bioproduct mill investment, Metsä Board is also investing in the fibre line producing unbleached pulp, which it will take over from Metsä Fibre, in order to boost the unbleached pulp production capacity. “Kemi has always been a closely integrated production site, and these investments will allow us to continue to develop the board mill through strong synergies,” Ahonen summarises.