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Metsä Board has finalised a €60 million modernisation project at its Simpele paperboard mill in Finland, enhancing the performance and quality of its MetsäBoard Classic FBB folding boxboard.

With the upgraded board machine now fully operational, the renewed product is ready for customer deliveries, reinforcing Metsä Board’s position as a leader in sustainable packaging solutions.

MetsäBoard Classic FBB is widely recognised for its reliability and consistency, particularly in the food and healthcare sectors. The recent upgrades have elevated its quality, incorporating modern curtain coating technology that enhances print quality and visual uniformity.

This advancement delivers sharper and more vibrant print results, catering to the increasing demands of packaging applications.

Esa Kaikkonen, CEO of Metsä Board, said: “Our customers face increasing pressure to meet stricter sustainability and safety standards, while also managing cost efficiency and waste reduction”.

“We want to help our customers stay ahead and lead the pack by offering solutions that are safe, reliable and deliver excellent material efficiency, with a high-quality print surface for brand promotion.”

The modernisation project involved a comprehensive rebuild of the coating section, an expansion of the coating colour kitchen, and the installation of a new pallet packaging line.

Over 430 professionals contributed to this significant upgrade, showcasing Metsä Board’s commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and product quality.

In addition to improving product performance, the modernisation aligns with Metsä Board’s sustainability goals. Previously, 89% of the energy used in production at the Simpele mill was sourced from fossil-free resources.

With the new technologies in place, this figure is expected to rise to 98%, furthering the company’s commitment to achieving fossil-free mills by 2030.