HELSINKI (News release) -- UPM is investing EUR 10 million in the development of UPM Plywood's plywood mill in Joensuu.

The investment includes new production lines, new workspaces and 720 square meters of completely new production space. UPM's investment strengthens the mill's competitiveness by improving the mill's security of supply and ensuring the high quality of demanding products.

UPM Joensuu manufactures plywood and plywood components for demanding industrial applications, such as the floors of heavy-duty trailers and the insulation elements of LNG tankers carrying liquefied natural gas. In industrial applications, the consistent and high quality of the products as well as the reliability and punctuality of deliveries are emphasized. Defective or untimely components cause difficulties in the production of customer companies.

'Personnel plays a significant role in the success of the mill. High-quality products come from the hands of committed experts, and the pride in keeping the customer promise ensures timely deliveries to customers. By investing in the upgrading of the plant and new premises, the company also strives to provide the best possible prerequisites for work,' says Mika Kekki, Executive Vice President, UPM Plywood.

'Last week, UPM Plywood signed a three-year collective agreement, and in addition to that, the mill has renewed all local agreements that, in addition to this investment, support the smooth running of the work and the success of our own unit,' says Antti Rinkinen, Mill Director, UPM Joensuu.

'New modern production lines make work easier, and with the help of new locally agreed models, we are able to optimize production and at the same time organize work in the best possible way from the employees' point of view,' says Tomi Vikla, Chief Shop Steward, UPM Joensuu.

The investment now being made is a continuation of the development projects of recent years at UPM Joensuu mill. In 2020, a new bioboiler was commissioned, and many production lines were upgraded in 2018-2020.

UPM Joensuu plywood mill employs about 170 people and has an annual production capacity of about 55,000 m3.