With the upgrade, the firm intends to boost its production capabilities for premium packaging board and minimise the use of process water and mitigate environmental impacts
Stora Enso has completed the modernisation of wood handling at Imatra Mills. (Credit: Stora Enso Oyj)
Finnish paper mill firm Stora Enso has announced the completion of the modernisation of wood handling at Imatra Mills in Finland to boost its production capabilities for a premium packaging board.
As part of the upgradation, which started in the first quarter of 2021, a third debarking line was installed, chip handling technologies were improved, and the infrastructure of the existing wood yard was changed.
According to the firm, the capacity for modernised and centralised wood handling will increase the process’s stability and efficiency.
The project completion will allow the paper firm to debark and handle the wood centrally on Kaukopää Mill’s new debarking line.
Stora Enso said that the €80m investment will result in a significant decrease in the amount of water used for wood handling.
The amount of water used will be reduced by 85% when compared to the old debarking line, or about 500 million litres annually, Stora Enso claimed. As the Tainionkoski Mill stops handling wood, the noise level there will also drop.
This investment worksite was the first time a Stora Enso mill employed the House building (TR) Audit, a technique often used in the construction sector to evaluate the safety, a clean working environment, and behaviour on worksites.
Imatra Mills director Mikko Nieminen said: “Despite the challenges brought by the pandemic, construction progressed as usual, and the investment was completed on time and within budget. Most importantly, the work was completed safely.
“Co-operation between the various players was very smooth. The investment will serve Imatra Mills for decades to come.”
On the project, more than 500 companies for 700,000 man-hours were involved. 700 steel pipe piles and 100 digging piles totalling around 18km were inserted into the ground throughout the building phase. To store chips, two new silos were constructed near the Kaukopää Mill, the company said.
In October this year, the company partnered with UK-based dry food firm Dizzie to introduce reusable pots for food packaging and delivery.