Developing new innovations to speed up the green transition at Metsä Group’s Äänekoski mill
Dec 22, 2022
Right from the start of the planning Metsä Group’s bioproduct mill in Äänekoski was planned to take pulp production to a new level. In the mill, every single bit of the wood raw material and production side streams are utilized to achieve maximum material and energy efficiency. The mill area is also home to Metsä Group’s paperboard and birch veneer mills, as well as a demo plant for wood-based textile fibers and a demo plant for 3D fiber products.
Utilizing side streams for sulfuric acid production
One of the major targets for pulp production is to close the chemical circles. At the Äänekoski mill, a new solution was taken into use to produce sulfuric acid from mill’s own odorous gases to increase the mill’s self-sufficiency in chemicals. This enhances the circular economy, improves resource efficiency, and reduces emissions.
The manufacturing process can be easily tailored to different purposes and products due to the production line’s modular concept.
New pilot plant for 3D fiber products
In addition to improving the environmental performance, forest industry companies are actively searching for new value adding products.
The operations at Metsä Group’s and Valmet’s 3D fiber product demo plant in Äänekoski begun in 2022. The demo plant produces finished 3D fiber packaging products directly from wet pulp without intermediate phases. The molded fiber technology enables the pulp to be directly pressed into three-dimensional forms and to be shaped into biodegradable and recyclable products such as plates and other food packaging. The manufacturing process can be easily tailored to different purposes and products due to the production line’s modular concept. This enables the production of lightweight and easy-to-transport products with a smaller environmental footprint.
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