Neles has been selected as the main supplier of valve solutions for the planned bioproduct mill of Metsä Fibre, part of Metsä Group. According to the agreement, Neles would deliver technically and economically optimal valve solutions to the new Kemi mill.

The agreement also includes comprehensive maintenance and spare part services. About 70 percent of the solutions would be sourced domestically.  

Metsä Fibre estimates that the final investment decision of the bioproduct mill will be made during the fall of 2020 at the earliest, when the environmental permission will be finalized, and other conditions of the investment decision are completed. The new bioproduct mill would have the capacity to produce 1.5 million tonnes of pulp and various other bioproducts annually. 

The related orders would be booked in Neles’ orders received during the first and second quarters of 2021. The total order stands for the largest valve order for Neles in Finland.

“We’ve set high environmental, material and energy efficiency targets for the Kemi bioproduct mill. We therefore also expect our partners to deliver both the technologically most reliable solutions and know well our production requirements. Neles has strong experience in delivering valve solutions to the forest industry, as well as a comprehensive, industry proven product portfolio,” says Jari-Pekka Johansson, Project Director, bioproduct mill project, Metsä Fibre. 

The main planning premises of the bioproduct new mill include completely fossil-free operations and 250 percent self-sufficiency in electricity. The building of the new mill will begin after the investment decision has been made, and its expected lifecycle will be around 30 to 40 years.

“It’s important to us that original spare parts, as well as maintenance and expert services, are easily and timely available to us. Readiness for proactive maintenance and the highest possible degree of Finnish content in deliveries are also emphasized in the choice of solutions,” Johansson continues.

Neles’ valve solutions 

Neles will supply the new mill with Neles® ball valves, segment and butterfly valves for on-off and control applications. The control valves are equipped with Neles® ND9000 series valve controllers, which have the capability of advanced performance follow-up and enable predictive maintenance planning activities. The optimal solutions will be selected in cooperation with Metsä Fibre.

“Selecting optimal valves and actuators specifically for the requirements of each process can contribute to the operational reliability of production, a reduction in water consumption, energy efficiency, and minimized emissions. For more than 60 years, Neles has been developing reliable flow control solutions and expertise for serving the paper and pulp industry. By utilizing our cumulated experience also from other industries, we can offer our customers with the leading flow control expertise for the bioproduct applications. We are very proud of the opportunity to participate again in building sustainable bioproduction with Metsä Fibre,” notes Timo Hänninen, Head of Valve Equipment business line at Neles. 

Metsä Fibre and Neles share a long history of cooperation. For example, in 2015, Neles delivered valve solutions to the company’s Äänekoski bioproduct mill. More information about Neles’ solutions for paper, pulp and bioproduct processes is available on Neles’ website.

About Metsä Fibre and the Kemi bioproduct mill 

Metsä Fibre, part of Metsä Group, is a leading producer of bioproducts, biochemicals and bioenergy. Currently employing approximately 1,300 people, the company’s sales in 2019 amounted to EUR 2.2 billion. The company’s new bioproduct mill project in Kemi is now in the pre-engineering stage. If implemented in full, the new bioproduct mill will be the largest and most efficient wood-processing unit in the Northern Hemisphere and the largest investment in Finnish forest industry history. For more information, please visit the project’s website. 

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We are a global leader in flow control solutions and services. Our valves and valve automation technologies are known for quality, reliability and highest safety. Our customers operate oil and gas refining, pulp, paper and bioproducts industry, chemicals and other process industries. Re-born in the partial demerger of Metso on July 1, 2020, Neles is …