UPM-Biofore-Magazine-3-2016-EN

TEXT MATTI REMES   PHOTOGRAPHY TUOMAS UUSHEIMO, JANNE LEHTINEN

Pulp is a versatile raw material, and its demand is on a trajectory of constant growth, particularly in emerging markets. UPM has strengthened its foothold in these growing markets by investing in all its pulp mills.

UPM’s annual pulp production capacity will reach 3.7 million tonnes next year.

Anssi Klinga

I n recent years, UPMhas made major investments in order to streamline its pulp production and increase its production capacity in both Finland and Uruguay. As a result, the company’s annual pulp production capacity will reach 3.7 million tonnes next year, reports Anssi Klinga , Senior Vice President at UPMPulp. UPM’s overall pulp capacity has grown by more than 500,000 tonnes since 2013. Two thirds of this pulp is sold to customers around the world, mainly in Europe and China, with UPM’s own paper businesses purchasing approximately one third. “The long-term outlook for the global pulpmarket is excellent, as several megatrends will increase pulp demand in the long run. This is why our recent investments have been timely,” Klinga explains. Upgraded production capacity “We have carried out carefully targeted investments at all of our mills in order to increase production capacity as cost-efficiently as possible,” Klinga

Megatrends drive pulp demand

Continuous improvements are also being made to production processes. “We have focused on employee competence andmill maintenance and achieved excellent results in these areas. UPMpulp mills are extremely competitive by global comparison, and our recent improvements will make us even stronger,” Klinga says.

says. Upgrades have beenmade at the Pietarsaari, Kymi and Kaukas mills in Finland and the Fray Bentos mill in Uruguay. Last year a new pulp drying machine was completed at the Kymi mill. With this added drying capacity, the Kymi mill has been able to increase its annual pulp production by more than 170,000 tonnes. In July,

UPMannounced further production expansion at Kymi mill to be completed by the end of 2017. “Through these investments, we have successfully expanded our pulp production capacity by a total of 500,000 tonnes in recent years, which is equivalent to the entire annual output of a medium-sized pulpmill,” Klinga explains.

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Large modern assets allow growth through debottlenecking with high pay-off at low risk

PIETARSAARI pulp production expansion 70,000 t

FRAY BENTOS pulp production expansion 100,000 t

KYMI pulp production expansion 170,000 t

KAUKAS pulp mill efficiency improvement

KYMI pulp production expansion 170,000 t

2014

2015

2016

2017

Capacity increase since 2013 more than 500,000 tonnes with investments of ~EURm 350

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