In Estonia, Metsä Wood, the wood products arm of Finland-headed forest industry major Metsä Group has officially inaugurated its new EUR 55 million birch plywood mill investment in Pärnu. Held on October 3, the event was officiated by Rene Tammist, Minister of Entrepreneurship and Information Technology of Estonia, and Ilkka Hämälä, President and CEO of Metsä Group.
For Metsä Wood, the Pärnu mill is a strategically important investment in birch plywood speciality products enabling the company to respond to the growing demand for birch plywood in the global market. The most important applications for birch plywood include construction and transport industry, which are increasing globally as a result of enhanced urbanisation.
Metsä Wood has been implementing its industrial efficiency strategy for five years, to great effect. The inauguration of the birch plywood mill in Pärnu is the culmination of the company’s EUR 100 million investment programme, which improves production excellence and competitiveness in the market. Today, we are witnessing another new beginning for Metsä Group’s strong growth, said Ilkka Hämälä President and CEO of Metsä Group.
The annual production capacity of the Pärnu birch plywood mill is 50 000 m3 and this increases Metsä Wood’s total net production capacity by around 30 000 m3. Once the mill is operating at full capacity, it will employ around 200 people.
Attractive workplace
According to the company, the growing wood products sector is popular among job applicants. The mill has a highly dedicated and motivated team, which will still enlarge significantly in the future.
The birch plywood mill in Pärnu uses birch veneers as a raw material. The veneers are produced in Äänekoski in central Finland. The wood is acquired from Finland, mainly from the forests of Metsä Group’s owner-members. The veneer mill at Äänekoski and the birch plywood mill in Pärnu constitute a mill complex, in which the two parts must work seamlessly together. The Pärnu mill is expected to reach its full capacity during 2019.
The construction of Pärnu birch plywood mill began in April 2017 and was completed last spring, with the Estonian firm Nordecon AS as the building contractor. Production officially began in August 2018. The main machinery suppliers were Raute Oyj and Pinomatic Oy from Finland.
