Metsä Group´s bioproduct mill in Äänekoski - the largest wood-processing plant in the Northern Hemisphere

Metsä Group´s bioproduct mill is the largest wood-processing plant in the Northern Hemisphere. The Äänekoski bioproduct mill came into operation on 15 August 2017 and reached its nominal capacity in August 2018.

The mill is producing 1.3 million tonnes of pulp per year. Most of the pulp will be exported,
mainly to Europe and Asia. The bioproduct mill is manufacturing softwood and birch pulp for
board, tissue and printing paper and speciality products.

The new Äänekoski mill is called a bioproduct mill since it is increasing the product portfolio
with new bioproducts, generating excess bioenergy, and using no fossil fuels. The mill is
utilising 100 per cent of its wood raw material as well as production side streams. In addition to high-quality pulp, it is producing a broad range of other bioproducts, such as tall oil, turpentine, bioelectricity, product gas, sulphuric acid and biogas. Upgrading of lignin and manufacture of textile fibres from pulp are progressing at the research stage. We are studying several processes and product paths and will implement them gradually.