Södra to cease production at Värö mill, for equipment replacement

Södra announced all production cease at its Södra Cell Värö production site in Sweden on May 7, 2016. The cease will be followed by five intensive weeks of dismantling the old machinery, and installing new and larger machinery.

The company plans to temporarily shut down the entire facility to connect the new machinery and recommence production in mid of June. After completion, the mill’s pulp production capacity will increase from 425,000 tonnes per year to 730,000 tonnes. The investment agreed by Södra’s Board of Directors in February 2014 is expected to total SEK 4 billion (around USD 450 million).
Södra Cell Värö mill was built in 1972. Currently it produces 425,000 tonnes per year of high quality totally chlorine-free softwood pulp employing around 330 people. Södra runs a number of other operations in conjunction with Södra Cell Värö: Södra Cell R&D, the Södra sawmill in Värö and Södra Skog Region West. The mill is also now a supplier of electricity and district heating. At the end of 2013 it started production of wood pellets.

"The shutdown will bring two major challenges - the digester and the machine hall. Removing the old drying cabinet and installing a new one in such a short time will need a world record in advanced installation. But we're aiming for a world record," says Pasi Laine, CEO of Valmet.

Valmet is the main supplier of machinery to Värö's expansion, entailing an investment of more than SEK 4 billion, which is also Valmet's largest project in Europe right now. Valmet has several sub-projects at Värö that are progressing well, but maintaining the project schedule has proven a real challenge.