UPM Kymi pulp mill expansion project targets reach rooftop

(UPM Kymi, Kouvola, 28 March 2017 at 09:00 EET) – Today’s the day of the UPM Kymi pulp mill Kymi-870 expansion project roof-wetting party, which celebrates the project’s main construction targets. There will be a total of 130 attendees at the event, including those working on the project and invited guests.

UPM’s investment project is worth EUR 98 million, and involves a renewal of the Kymi pulp mill wood handling, birch fibre line, recovery island and waste water treatment. As a result of this investment, UPM Kymi’s annual production capacity will increase to 870,000 tonnes of bleached northern softwood and birch pulp. UPM invests in the Kymi pulp mill in order to strengthen its position as a supplier of bleached chemical pulp for growing consumer and industrial end-use segments such as tissue, specialty papers and board.

The renewals that will be completed this year will increase the efficiency of pulp production as bottlenecks are eliminated, in addition to environmental performance being improved. As pulp production increases, so does energy production.

“All work site targets have progressed as planned and on schedule. So far there have been no lost-time accidents. Working when full production is in process requires all workers to focus on safety,” says Project Manager Tero Pöllänen.

The expansions of the birch fibre line, chemical recovery island and screening building have reached rooftop height. The largest of the targets is the manufacturing space connected to the birch fibre line – with a length of 60 metres and height of 23 metres. Mechanical and automation installation work will start in the spring. At the moment, around 100 people are working across different project sites.

The UPM Kymi investment will create jobs both during the project and after completion to the whole operational area including harvesting and transportation. The most significant construction contract partners are businesses located in the northern part of the Kymenlaakso region. The largest number of people working on the project will be reached in the autumn, during a shutdown and commissioning in October.

The previous extension of the Kymi pulp mill, worth EUR 160 million, was completed in autumn 2015, when a new debarking plant and a new pulp drying machine were commissioned.

Photos from the Kymi mill and the project site in UPM’s image bank »

Link to UPM’s announcement on the Kymi investment 4 July 2016: UPM invests in its Kymi mill to strengthen its position in the global pulp market

For further information, please contact: 
Tero Pöllänen, Project Manager, UPM Kymi-870 project, tel. +358 40 519 1569, tero.pollanen@upm.com
Markku Laaksonen, General Manager, UPM Kymi, tel. +358 400 754 649, markku.o.laaksonen@upm.com


UPM
Through the renewing of the bio and forest industries, UPM is building a sustainable future across six business areas: UPM Biorefining, UPM Energy, UPM Raflatac, UPM Specialty Papers, UPM Paper ENA and UPM Plywood. Our products are made of renewable raw materials and are recyclable. We serve our customers worldwide. The group employs around 19,300 people and its annual sales are approximately EUR 10 billion. UPM shares are listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. UPM - The Biofore Company - www.upm.com

UPM Pulp
UPM is one of the world's leading producers of northern softwood, birch and eucalyptus pulp. We supply global customers in end use segments such as tissue, specialty, printing and writing papers, and board, through our own sales and technical service network close to customers. UPM Pulp operates four modern pulp mills, three in Finland and one in Uruguay, as well as eucalyptus plantations in Uruguay. UPM Pulp employs approximately 1,500 people. The annual pulp production capacity is 3.6 million tonnes. Pulp Business is part of the UPM Biorefining Business Area. www.upmpulp.com

UPM Kymi
UPM Kymi is a modern and environmentally efficient mill integrate producing pulp, paper and energy. Kymi produces bleached softwood and hardwood kraft pulp as well as coated and uncoated fine paper. UPM Kymi employs about 700 people and is located in south-east Finland in Kouvola. www.upmpulp.com > About us > Pulp mills > Kymi, www.upmkymi.fi

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