UPM Korkeakoski Sawmill

Staff

Helsinki, Finland 26 September 2013 -- A new bio heating plant that uses solely bark for heat energy generation has been taken in use at UPM Korkeakoski sawmill in Finland. The plant improves sawmill’s energy efficiency in an environmentally responsible way by using bark that is left out from the sawing process.

The former heating plant at Korkeakoski sawmill was closed down when the new plant came into operation. Also the old plant used bark but fossile fuel was needed for additional heat energy. With the new bio heating plant running there is no longer need for fossile fuel in heat energy generation which means no more fuel transportations at the site. Also side product and waste transportations have decreased substantially as all the bark is used in sawmill’s heat energy generation.

“Kilning of sawn timber requires a lot of heat energy. It is important that we are able to generate it efficiently without burdening the environment. We are now fully self-sufficient in heat energy generation as the bio heating plant generates all the heat and steam needed at the Korkeakoski sawmill from its own side products,” says Sami Kotivuori, Mill Director, UPM Korkeakoski sawmill.

UPM Korkeakoski sawmill produces redwood sawn timber from Finnish pine. The annual production capacity of the sawmill is around 300 000 cubic meters. The majority of the production is exported to Asia, Europe and North Africa. UPM Korkeakoski sawmill employs around 80 people and indirectly number of harvesting and transportation entrepreneurs.

UPM Timber manufactures top-class sawn pine and spruce timber and further processed products for the construction and joinery industries. UPM Timber annually produces around 1.8 million cubic metres of timber from wood acquired from certified forests. UPM Timber’s production units are located in Finland, Austria and France. In Finland, UPM operates four sawmills in Lappeenranta (Kaukas), Pietarsaari (Alholma), Korkeakoski and Pori (Seikku). www.upmtimber.com

UPM leads the integration of bio and forest industries into a new, sustainable and innovation-driven future. Our products are made of renewable raw materials and are recyclable. UPM consists of three Business Groups: Energy and pulp, Paper, and Engineered materials (until 31 October 2013). The Group employs around 22,000 people. UPM is present in 67 countries and has production units in 17 countries. UPM's annual sales exceed EUR 10 billion. UPM's shares are listed on the Helsinki stock exchange. UPM – The Biofore Company – www.upm.com