Stora Enso

Converting a paper machine into a consumer packaging board line in Oulu

Forestry Industry

About the project

In October 2022, Stora Enso announced a decision to invest approximately EUR 1 billion to convert the idle paper machine at the Group’s Oulu site into a high-capacity consumer board production line. The billion investment is the second phase of the Oulu mill, which will turn the former paper mill into Stora Enso’s largest packaging board mill.

The investment supports Stora Enso’s growth strategy in renewable packaging by providing new volume for growing packaging segments. The line will be used for producing folding boxboard (FBB) and coated unbleached kraft (CUK). The total annual capacity will be 750,000 tonnes. The boards’ end-use segments are food and beverage packaging, especially frozen and chilled, and dry and fast food.

Fimpec’s role in the project

Fimpec’s responsibilities in the project’s implementation planning phase include process, plant, piping, process electrical, building electrical, instrumentation, and HVAC engineering. Previously, Fimpec has been involved in the pre-engineering of the project.

Most of the engineering work that Fimpec was responsible for was carried out by the summer of 2024.

As mentioned

A Suitable Assignment for Fimpec

”In terms of size, this is one of the largest planning assignments for us. It is, therefore, a significant project where we can truly showcase our expertise”, says Reijo Parkkinen, Sales and Project Manager at Fimpec, leading the project.

Harri Soininen, Business Unit Director of Fimpec Engineering, describes the project as a suitable assignment for Fimpec. It combines the requirement for planning expertise in the forest industry and converting projects.

“We have experience in similar projects and the necessary capabilities to carry them out. Above all, it requires skilled individuals, designers who know their job. On the other hand, we need good tools, and one of our strengths is an integrated planning environment for handling design information. The third important aspect is effective work coordination,” he lists.

“I want to emphasize the professionalism and competence of our designers. Their significance only grows in projects like these, which involve surprises as functions are planned for existing spaces. The ability for change management is crucial,” Parkkinen adds.

A unique aspect of the ongoing project is that Stora Enso’s Oulu Mill is a familiar working environment for Fimpec. There is a history of assignments and collaboration with Stora Enso related to this pulp and paper mill.

“We were responsible for part of the implementation planning and construction services when the Oulu Mill second paper machine (PK 7) was converted to produce corrugated board surface paper in a project completed in 2021. We also planned both of the original paper machines in the 1990s, so we have a close relationship with this factory,” Soininen and Parkkinen explain.