Metsä Board Investing EUR 60 Million in Major Upgrades at Simpele Mill

The investment at the Simpele mill includes the modernization of the pre-drying section and the installation of a new coating section on the production line.

Nov. 19, 2024 - Metsä Board announced that it will invest approximately EUR 60 million to modernize its Simpele mill in Southeast Finland. The project is focused on further enhancing product quality, production efficiency, and reducing the carbon footprint of its operations and products.

The Simpele mill produces high-quality lightweight folding boxboard (FBB) for packaging end uses such as foodstuffs and frozen foods as well as medical products.

The investment includes the modernization of the pre-drying section and the installation of a new coating section on the production line.

According to the company, these enhancements will further improve the print quality and visual consistency of the MetsäBoard Classic FBB product while enabling the company to shift to fossil free alternatives in its paperboard production process.

"This project marks an important milestone in our shift toward fossil free paperboard production at the Simpele mill and is in full alignment with Metsä Board's goal of achieving fossil free production across all mills by the end of 2030," says Markku Leskelä, Senior Vice President of Development at Metsä Board.

Announced last April, the modernization of the Simpele mill is being implemented in stages and is progressing according to schedule in all areas. The technology purchases for the project were mostly completed in June, and detailed planning with equipment suppliers is ongoing. The building permit was granted earlier this year and the first visible work at the mill has already started. Most tasks, such as installing the new pre-drying and coating sections, will be completed during a scheduled maintenance shutdown at the mill in September 2025.

Metsä Board said it will ensure uninterrupted service and consistent product availability by careful planning in close collaboration with its customers.

The upgraded Simpele mill is expected to start up in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Metsä Board noted that the modernization of the mill's board machine is part of a planned wider investment program at Simpele. The planned program also includes renewals in the mechanical pulp production, in the finishing area of paperboard as well as a new power plant. The company has not yet taken investment decisions on these.

Metsä Board is a leading European producer of premium fresh fibre paperboards with a focus on lightweight and high-quality folding boxboards, food service boards and white kraftliners.

SOURCE: Metsä Board