UPM Celebrates Topping Out of Kymi Pulp Mill Expansion Investment

 

Some 200 participants joined with UPM Kymi this past week to celebrate the topping out of investments in its Kymi pulp mill in Finland, including those working on the project and guests. UPM has invested EUR 160 million into the Kymi pulp mill to strengthen its position in the growing end use sectors of the global pulp market. 

 

Following this investment, Kymi’s annual pulp production capacity will increase by 170,000 metric tpy to 700,000 metric tpy of bleached northern softwood and birch pulp.

 

The investment includes a new pulp drying machine, modernization of the softwood fiber line, a new debarking plant, and improvements in the mill’s energy performance.

 

The construction work that began in June is reportedly on schedule. Approximately 150 people are working in different project sites. The current and initial jobs are, among others, laying foundations, steel construction installation, painting, tank and pulp tower installations, as well as demolition work at the softwood fiber line. Machine installation will take place in January. 

 

"The biggest challenge has been the pulp drying machine. The demolition of the old machine hall, including land construction work and implosions, has been successful, while paper production has been ongoing in the same location. We can be especially pleased that we have achieved this with no accidents in any project area that would have resulted in sick leave. We emphasize the importance of safety measures at our sites, and the construction firms take it seriously," said project manager Tero Ojala.

 

At its largest, the construction team will number 800 people next summer when the new facilities become operational. The project is scheduled to be completed in the autumn of 2015. After its completion, UPM Kymi will be one of the most modern pulp mills in Finland, together with the EUR 360 million pulp mill chemical recovery plant completed in 2008.