Sappi to add multi-fuel boiler at its Kirkniemi coated fine paper mill in Lohja, Finland, with startup in summer 2015; boiler, to be supplied by Valmet, can use bark, other wood-based fuels and coal, improving mill's cost-competitiveness, profitability

Debra Garcia

ESPOO, Finland , January 27, 2014 (Valmet) – Valmet will deliver a complete multi-fuel boiler to Sappi Ltd's Kirkniemi Mill in Lohja, Finland. The startup of the plant is scheduled for summer 2015. The order is included in Valmet's first quarter 2014 orders received. The value of the order is not disclosed.

"Competitive solutions for multi-fuel based energy production are one of Valmet's key competences and we are a leader in this field. The agreement with Sappi is an excellent start for our energy business for the new year," says Jyrki Holmala, Pulp and Energy Business Line President, Valmet.

The new boiler can flexibly use solid fuels such as bark from the mill's debarking process, other wood-based fuels and coal. Together with the mill's current biofuel boiler and Valmet's new boiler it is possible to produce biomass-based energy up to 100%.

"With this investment we will be able to improve our cost competitiveness and profitability as well as secure energy supply at our Kirkniemi Mill. In line with Sappi's commitment to sustainable development, the processes will be based on BAT - Best Available Technology, and the use of effective flue gas cleaning equipment will minimize any environmental impact," says Martti Savelainen, Mill Director of Sappi Kirkniemi.

Valmet's delivery will include a complete circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler, and a Valmet baghouse filter. The contract also covers installation, training and commissioning for the equipment. The boiler plant will have a steam capacity of 88 MW. The boiler combines high-efficiency combustion of various solid fuels with low emissions, even when burning fuels with completely different calorific values at the same time.

"Commissioning a boiler plant of this size in 1.5 years is a challenging timetable. This tight delivery schedule is possible thanks to Valmet's standardized CFB boiler design, proper pre-engineering and experienced project team," points out Juha Särkijärvi, Project Manager, Pulp and Energy business line, Valmet.

About Sappi Kirkniemi Mill
Sappi Kirkniemi mill in Lohja, Finland is part of Sappi Fine Paper Europe. Annually it produces 735,000 tons of high quality magazine papers which are used for premium quality publications all over the world. The mill employs 600 paper industry professionals from production to R&D. Over 90% of the mill's production is exported.


About Sappi
Sappi Fine Paper Europe (SFPE) is the leading European producer of coated fine paper used in premium magazines, catalogues, books and high-end print advertising. Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, Sappi Fine Paper Europe is recognised for innovation and quality.

Sappi Fine Paper Europe is a division of Sappi Limited (JSE), a global company headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with over 14,000 employees and manufacturing operations on three continents in seven countries, sales offices in 50 countries, and customers in over 100 countries around the world. Learn more about Sappi at www.sappi.com.


Valmet Corporation is a leading global developer and supplier of services and technologies for the pulp, paper and energy industries. Our 11,000 professionals around the world work close to our customers and are committed to moving our customers' performance forward - every day.

Valmet's services cover everything from maintenance outsourcing to mill and plant improvements and spare parts. Our strong technology offering includes entire pulp mills, tissue, board and paper production lines, as well as power plants for bio-energy production.

The company has over 200 years of industrial history and was reborn through the demerger of the pulp, paper and power businesses from Metso Group in December 2013. Valmet's net sales in 2012 were approximately EUR 3 billion. Valmet's objective is to become the global champion in serving its customers.

Valmet's head office is in Espoo, Finland and its shares are listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Ltd.

* All content is copyrighted by Industry Intelligence, or the original respective author or source. You may not recirculate, redistrubte or publish the analysis and presentation included in the service without Industry Intelligence's prior written consent. Please review our terms of use.