Finnforest, part of the Metsäliitto Group, invests 15 million euros to develop innovative birch plywood solutions for its industrial customers. It will build a birch plywood upgrading unit that will be ready for production by the beginning of 2008.

“Investing in new upgrading technologies is in line with our strategy, which emphasizes the combination of Nordic premium timber with our know-how competence to increase the added value that we can bring to our customers’ business. Our goal is to become a leading plywood supplier for demanding industrial end uses,” says Joni Lukkaroinen, Senior Vice President, Plywood Business Line, Metsäliitto Wood Products Industry, Finnforest..

“The new upgrading unit serves especially the needs of the customers in the transportation vehicle industry. We will introduce new types of plywood products and components that are based on a new generation of overlaying technology. At the same time, we will significantly widen the selection of sizes we can offer. Our strategy is to combine innovative product solutions with the capability of our machining and distribution centres to serve our clients with regard to their product and delivery needs,” Lukkaroinen continues.

The construction work for the upgrading unit will start this summer, with operations beginning in 2008. At this time, products based on the new overlaying technology and Kking-sSize plywood boards will be introduced.

The upgrading unit is planned to be built next to the Suolahti plywood mill, Finland. The new unit will employ approximately 20 people.

For more information:

Joni Lukkaroinen, Senior Vice President, Plywood Business Line, Metsäliitto Wood Products Industry, Finnforest, tel. +358 50 590 0720.
Johanna Kankkunen, Director, Marketing and Communications, Metsäliitto Wood Products Industry, Finnforest, telephone +358 50 350 4005.

Metsäliitto is the tenth largest forest industry group in the world with sales of EUR 9.3 billion and 25,000 employees. Its five business areas include wood supply, wood products industry, pulp, paper and board and tissue and cooking papers. The Group's parent company Metsäliitto Cooperative and subsidiaries Metsä-Botnia, M-real and Metsä Tissue operate in 30 countries www.metsaliitto.com

Metsäliitto Wood Products Industry, Finnforest is an efficient solution provider offering products and services based on Nordic premium timber to targeted customer segments. The wood raw material is supplied by the forest owners of Metsäliitto Cooperative. Our sales total approximately 1.3 billion euro and we have 4,400 employees in 20 countries. Our Plywood Business Line develops plywood solutions for demanding industrial applications. The main segments are the transportation vehicle and building industries. www.finnforest.com