Varkaus Mill
Stora Enso will consolidate its spruce timber production at its mill in Varkaus, Finland, where spruce timber production has synergies with the existing LVL (laminated veneer timber), pulp and paperboard mills. The target is to improve long-term competitiveness, the consolidation is part of the company’s profit protection program. As a result of this consolidation, the Kitee sawmill will be shut down. Source: Timberbiz
Stora Enso will permanently close the Kitee sawmill by the end of this year, leading to 73 employee redundancies.
“Consolidation of spruce timber production to Varkaus creates the opportunity for utilising the full potential of a sawmill and processing plant as an integrated facility that produces high value timber products, such as LVL veneers and processed timber.
“This gives us a larger range of products, enhanced R&D and innovation work, and more efficient production,” Jari Suominen, Executive Vice President Wood Products division said.
The increase in production at the Varkaus Mill will create 20 new jobs and Stora Enso’s employees affected by the closure will be given priority when filling these and other internal positions.
“During the co-determination negotiation process for Kitee sawmill, we were unfortunately unable to find any measures that would significantly improve the profitability of the sawmill,” Mr Suominen said.
“It is now important for us to provide with support to our Kitee sawmill employees in finding new employment opportunities.”
