UPM Inaugurates Wood Surface Treatment Line at Aureskoski Mill

Lahti, Finland, 20 February 2007 – The surface treatment line at UPM's Aureskoski timber components mill is being inaugurated today in Parkano. The value of the investment is some EUR 3 million. The surface treatment line has a capacity of 30,000 cubic meters per year and employs around 15 people.

Tuomo Visanko, senior vice president of operations at UPM's Wood Products Division, says that the investment at Aureskoski is a strategic, customer-focused step to increase further processing and to ensure profitable operations. "There is growing demand in the markets for high-quality and processed wood products suited to both housing starts and renovation work. Backed by modern technology we can meet these requirements. Customers increasingly favor products that are ready to install, offer high technical performance, and are environmentally friendly," Visanko said.

The installation of the new production line began in summer 2006. This versatile line allows interior cladding products to be treated in a variety of ways, such as painting, waxing, lacquering, and oil treatment. The surface treatment processes primarily use water-soluble or solvent-free agents, which are more environmentally and user friendly than the conventional solvent-based agents.

The Aureskoski timber components mill manufactures highly processed wood products for construction and interior decoration as well as industrial components. The mill's entire annual production capacity is 120,000 m³. Aureskoski mill employs 74 people and the raw material used is pine and spruce timber from UPM's own sawmills.