Although Metsä Fibre originated more than 40 years ago, the oldest part of the company, Kemi Osakeyhtiö, was founded over 120 years ago. Our Joutseno mill founded in 1908 also has long traditions. Over the years Metsä Fibre has grown from a single mill company mainly supplying its owner companies to a significant market pulp producer and agent and softwood manufacturer.
1973 The story of Metsä Fibre begins in Kaskinen
Oy Metsä-Botnia Ab was founded in 1973 for the purpose of building a pulp mill in Kaskinen. The founders of the company were the financing company Metsäpohjanmaa, Nokia Corporation and G.A. Serlachius. Manufacturing of bleached sulphate pulp began in Kaskinen in August 1977.
1985 The Äänekoski mill is built
The second mill was built in Äänekoski. Upon its completion in 1985 the Äänekoski mill was one of the largest and most efficient single-line pulp mills in the world. Special attention was paid in the design of the mill to protecting waterways and creating a functional, high-quality factory milieu.
1980s Development of chlorine-free bleaching
The production capacity of Metsä Fibre mills has been systematically increased through investment in equipment and processes. These investments have also improved the standard of environmental protection. At the end of the 1980s a far-reaching decision was made to begin developing a bleaching process that would replace gaseous chlorine with oxygen compounds.
Production of ECF (Elemental Chlorine Free) pulp bleached with oxygen compounds and chlorine dioxide was launched in Kaskinen in 1989.
1986 Changes in ownership base
Metsäliitto Teollisuus and G.A Serlachius merged and founded Metsä-Serla, which became the principal owner of Metsä-Botnia. The next change in the ownership base occurred in 1989 when Nokia Corporation divested its ownership and United Paper mills became the second primary owner of Metsä-Botnia.
1991 The Kemi mill is purchased
Metsä-Botnia purchased the pulp and board manufacturer Kemi Oy in 1991. The Äänekoski mill was separated from Metsä-Botnia and became the independent Metsä-Sellu corporation owned by Metsä-Serla.
1994 Sales team initiated
Our first in-house sales organisation, Botnia Pulps, began operations selling Metsä-Botnia market fibres. Metsä Fibre is now the market pulp agent for M-real, UPM and Cenibra, with sales offices in Germany, Italy and China. Marketing is handled by agents such as Itochu in other market areas.
1996 Metsä-Rauma constructed
Soon after developing chlorine-free bleaching, the principal owners of Metsä-Botnia decided to build a greenfield pulp mill in Rauma. Founded as a separate company, Oy Metsä-Rauma Ab went on stream in 1996, and at this time it was the biggest producer of softwood pulp on a single line. The Rauma mill was merged with Metsä-Botnia at the end of 2000.
1997 Joutseno Pulp purchased
The basis for Metsä Fibre's growth has been rising profits and a steadily improving balance sheet. In 1997 Metsä-Botnia acquired the Joutseno Pulp mill from UPM Kymmene, and at the same time the company regained ownership of the Äänekoski mill.
The start-up of the new fibre line marked the completion of the Pulp 2000 project, which has seen the Joutseno mill almost completely rebuilt.
2002 Customer-centred process model introduced
All four pulp mills have operated under the name Metsä-Botnia since the beginning of 2000. At the same time the company started converting its structure from production-centred to process-oriented management where businesses are operated as one unit instead of separate entities. The operations are transparent and personal targets are based on common objectives.
2006 Russian sawmill Svir Timber begins operating
The Svir Timber sawmill began operating in Podporozhje, Russia in 2006. Svir Timber is a fully-owned subsidiary of Metsä Fibre, which also owns two Russian wood procurement companies, ZAO Petrovles-Pasha and ZAO Petrovles Podporozhje.
2007 Fray Bentos pulp mill begins production in Uruguay
The Board of Directors of Metsä-Botnia made the final decision on pulp mill investment in Uruguay in 2005. The greenfield pulp mill in Fray Bentos, Western Uruguay, began operating in November 2007. The mill's production capacity was 1 million tonnes of bleached eucalyptus pulp.
2009 Metsä-Botnia become a subsidiary of Metsäliitto Cooperative
The ownership of Metsäliitto and M-Real in Metsä-Botnia increased to 83% and the share of UPM-Kymmene was reduced to 17% in December 2009 and the Fray Bentos pulp mill was divested to UPM-Kymmene. At the same time the oldest of Metsä-Botnia’s mills, Kaskinen, was closed down due to it reaching the end of its technical lifecycle and its deteriorated profitability in highly competitive market situation.
2010 The world’s broadest market pulp portfolio
Metsä-Botnia strengthened its position as a producer of Northern softwood pulp and became one of the world’s principal suppliers of market pulp and technical expert. We are now the market pulp agent for M-real, UPM and Cenibra.
2011 Metsäliitto Group increases its ownership in Metsä-Botnia
Metsä-Botnia redeemed its own shares from UPM-Kymmene on the basis of a shareholders' agreement the parties made in 2009. The number of redeemed shares corresponded to 6.7% of the whole share capital of the company. After the redemption Metsäliitto Cooperative owns around 57% of the company, M-real 32%, and UPM-Kymmene 11%. Metsäliitto Group was granted a call option to the rest of the Metsä-Botnia shares it owns. The call option is valid for two years.
2011 A pioneer in energy efficiency
Joutseno pulp mill is boosting its energy efficiency through pioneering work. After the investment in bioenergy is completed in June 2012, the mill will use only green fuels and the mill will become the first carbon neutral pulp mill in Finland.
In addition to the gasification plant investment at the Joutseno mill, Metsä Fibre is participating in a feasibility study with energy companies Gasum and Helsingin Energia on constructing a biorefinery for biogas production in Joutseno.
New water and causticising plants were constructed at the Kemi mill. The plants will safeguard the operating reliability of the mill and improve environmental efficiency.
2012 Metsä-Botnia becomes Metsä Fibre, part of Metsä Group
Metsä-Botnia has adopted the new Metsä Group corporate image and become Metsä Fibre. The harmonisation of name and company image reflects a major strategic change: we are now a single, strong Metsä Group and our strategy directs us towards our common goal.
On 11 April 2012, Metsä Group’s parent company Metsäliitto Cooperative, Metsä Board and Japanese Itochu Corporation agreed on a transaction in which Itochu will acquire a 24.9 per cent strategic stake in Metsä Fire Corporation. After the transaction, Metsäliitto Cooperative owns 50.2 per cent, Metsä Board 24.9 per cent and Itochu Corporation 24.9 per cent of the total share capital of Metsä Fibre.