Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Metsä Group is building a dedicated research and development laboratory in Äänekoski, Finland, focused on advancing veneer-based wood products. Set next to the new Kerto LVL mill under construction, the facility is slated for completion by the end of 2025, with an estimated investment of EUR 6 million. The laboratory will be a test environment for researching and developing new high-value veneer-based wood products in collaboration with Metsä Group’s partner network. The investment will establish the conditions for testing material-efficient load-bearing structures and enable product research based on a broader raw material base.
“We are enhancing the production process of our products to improve material efficiency and reduce environmental impact. We aim to utilise our raw materials precisely and generate the highest possible added value.” says Jaakko Anttila, Executive Vice President, Metsä Wood.
“With the new research and development laboratory, the lead time of our research and development projects will be significantly shortened, accelerating the development of our product portfolio in the long term,” Jaako added further.
The Äänekoski mill area in Finland is the largest of Metsä Group, housing the company’s cartonboard, veneer, and bioproduct mills. A new Kerto LVL mill is currently under construction in the mill area, with production expected to start by the end of 2026. Metsä Group’s Kuura textile fibre and Muoto fibre product pilot plants are also located in Äänekoski. A demo plant for lignin products is also under construction in the mill area, and it is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
The products of Metsä Wood, Metsä Group’s wood products business, include Kerto® LVL, birch and spruce plywood and further processed sawn timber. Their products made of northern wood store carbon, and play an important role in combating climate change. They promote a culture of diversity, equality and inclusion.
In 2024, their sales totalled EUR 0.6 billion, and they have approximately 1,700 employees. Metsä Group’s parent company Metsäliitto Cooperative is owned by more than 90,000 Finnish forest owners. The sales of the whole Metsä Group were EUR 5.7 billion.
“We are one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of engineered wood products. We deliver sustainable and value added wood products for construction and transport industries.” – Metsä.
Our strategy is to provide efficiently sustainable wood products with excellent value for builders of tomorrow.
Metsä implements their strategy through three strategic programmes that drive sustainable growth and industrial efficiency. Their vision is the preferred industrial partner in engineered wood and upgraded products. The purpose is advancing bioeconomy and circular economy by efficient and sustainable processing northern wood into first-class products.
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