In Finland, MI Demo Ltd has passed an important milestone in the construction of its novel textile fibre demonstration plant being built at Metsä Fibre's Äänekoski pulp mill in Äänekoski. The outer structure, including the roof of the new demo plant building, is now in place and a "topping-out" ceremony to mark the construction milestone was held on March 14, 2019.
In October 2018, Japan-headed Itochu Corporation and Metsä Spring – the venture capital arm of Metsä Group – formed a 50:50 joint venture, MI Demo Ltd. The main objective of MI Demo is to further develop a novel technology, by which Metsä Group’s paper-grade pulp is converted into textile fibres.
The endeavour has passed an important milestone, namely the outer structure, including the roof of the new demo plant building at Metsä Fibre’s Äänekoski bioproduct mill in Äänekoski, Finland, is now in place. Hence, a topping-out ceremony, a feast held among the builders of the plant, was thus organised on March 14, 2019, in Äänekoski.
According to a statement, the approximately EUR 40 million investment project to build the demo plant is progressing in line with the project plan, with the start-up of textile fibre production is expected to take place at the end of this year. The joint venture has, in parallel, also initiated the recruitment of personnel to run the demo plant.
