Metsä Wood officially started up its birch plywood mill in Pärnu today, 27th August 2018.
“The mill investment project has proceeded in schedule in Finland and Estonia. Now we are commencing a very important phase during which the mill will be ramped up to its full capacity. Until this point we have ran test production at the mill, and the feedback of the quality has been excellent. I am pleased to say that we have had very motivated and professional people working with us in this demanding project and now running the mill in Pärnu,” tells Esa Kaikkonen, Executive Vice President, Metsä Wood.
Currently there are around 65 blue-collars and 10 white-collars working at the Pärnu mill. The production is running in three shifts five days per week. 12 new employees will start in September. Currently located in Finland, the plywood upgrading mill will be transferred from Suolahti plywood mill to Pärnu by the end of January. At that point, there is a need for 30 more employees and the trainings continue.
“This year has been very intensive work period for our people in Pärnu. In addition to the ramp-up of the mill, there have been many systems and ways of working implemented in a very short period of time. I am very proud of our motivated, skilled and well-trained personnel,” says Kaarel Tali, Mill Director of the Pärnu mill.
“The training program for new employees that includes theoretical and practical parts has proven to be successful. Safety issues have been adapted very well and that has been one of our biggest achievements. There have been zero accidents and fires in the mill. Also, the rate of sickness absenteeism has been low,” Tali continues.
Veneers used in Pärnu mill are produced in Äänekoski. The aim of the new veneer mill is to serve the production of Pärnu as efficiently as possible.
The Pärnu birch plywood mill is part of Metsä Wood’s €100 million investment program executed during 2017–2018 that was published in June 2016. The new mill will create approximately 200 jobs to Pärnu. The birch veneers are manufactured in Finland and converted into plywood at the Pärnu mill. The annual birch plywood production capacity at the Pärnu mill is 50 000 cubic metres. The mill will run at full capacity by the end of year 2019.