Metsä Board invests in Kemi finishing operations

Metsä Board is investing in the finishing operations at its Kemi board mill in Finland through the modernisation of the board machine winder, aiming to improve product quality, operational stability and supply-chain reliability.

The upgrade will be carried out during the mill’s annual maintenance shutdown in October and November 2026. The investment forms part of Metsä Board’s broader focus on improving the competitiveness and efficiency of its existing production assets rather than pursuing major new capacity expansions.

Winder modernisation targets consistent quality

The winder plays an important role in the final stages of paperboard production by converting large parent reels into customer-specific rolls with precise dimensions and winding characteristics.

Modernising this equipment can improve consistency in roll quality, reduce production interruptions and support more stable downstream handling. Metsä Board says the project will strengthen its ability to deliver high-quality products reliably to customers.

Kemi is a major kraftliner production site

The Kemi mill has an annual production capacity of approximately 465,000 tonnes and specialises in coated white-top kraftliner, a material widely used for high-quality corrugated packaging applications.

Metsä Board describes the facility as the world’s largest producer of coated white-top kraftliners. These grades combine strength with a smooth printable surface and are used in applications where corrugated packaging needs both structural performance and high-quality graphics.

Investment builds on previous Kemi upgrades

The latest project follows a wider development programme completed at Kemi in 2023. That investment increased the mill’s annual white kraftliner capacity from approximately 425,000 tonnes to 465,000 tonnes while also improving energy and water efficiency.

The programme included the acquisition of a modernised unbleached pulp production line from Metsä Fibre and helped reinforce the site’s position within Metsä Board’s global packaging portfolio.

Operational reliability becomes a strategic priority

Metsä Board is currently focusing more heavily on extracting value from investments completed during recent years. The company invested close to €1 billion between 2021 and 2025 in growth, competitiveness and environmental efficiency across its production network.

For 2026, total investment is expected to remain well below €100 million, with a significant proportion directed towards maintenance, repairs and operational improvements rather than large-scale capacity expansion.

Finishing equipment influences supply performance

While major mill projects often focus on board machines, coating lines or pulp production, finishing equipment can also have a significant impact on customer service and overall mill efficiency.

Reliable winding helps reduce defects, minimise production bottlenecks and ensure that finished rolls meet converter specifications consistently. This is particularly important for kraftliner customers running high-speed corrugating and printing operations.

Metsä Board focuses on efficiency after major investment cycle

The Kemi project reflects a broader shift in Metsä Board’s capital strategy. Following several years of major investments, the company is now prioritising operational efficiency, product quality and the full utilisation of recently expanded capacity.

For packaging converters, improvements at finishing level can translate into more consistent raw material, fewer production disruptions and greater confidence in supply. The winder modernisation therefore represents a relatively targeted investment with direct implications for the reliability of Metsä Board’s kraftliner offering.