Metsä Board, a leading European producer of premium fresh fibre paperboards, will begin the installation phase of a major board machine modernisation at its Simpele mill this September as part of a €60 million investment programme. The investment will elevate the quality of the flagship folding boxboard grade MetsäBoard Classic FBB and accelerate the mill's transition toward fossil-free production.

The renewed MetsäBoard Classic FBB will feature curtain coating technology, resulting in an improved print surface and enhanced visual quality. This innovation enables more consistent print results and sharper details, especially in demanding packaging applications.

Currently, 89% of the energy used in production at the Simpele mill is fossil-free. With the implementation of new technologies, this figure is expected to rise to 98% by the end of 2025, marking a significant milestone in Metsä Board's journey toward fossil-free production and supporting customers' increasingly ambitious sustainability goals.

The investment shutdown will last approximately five weeks and includes key installations such as a complete modernisation of the coating section, expansion of the coating kitchen, and commissioning of a new pallet packaging line. "Preparations have progressed excellently throughout the summer. In the coming weeks, over 35 truckloads of equipment will arrive from our main suppliers, and more than 430 professionals will be working on-site," says Toni Tahvanainen, VP  Simpele mill. The upgraded production line is scheduled to be operational in early October.

MetsäBoard Classic FBB is a benchmark product in high-volume food and healthcare segments, where packaging solutions demand high efficiency, reliability and consistency. "Our goal is to offer brand owners an even more competitive packaging option - both in terms of quality and environmental performance. This is especially critical now, as sustainability targets and regulatory requirements are more stringent than ever," says Esa Kaikkonen, CEO of Metsä Board.

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