Metsä Group has invested €25 million in a new fibre packaging production line in Äänekoski, Finland for its Muoto products, made from wood fibres and suitable for applications such as demanding serving and food packaging.
The company’s Muoto solution is made directly from Metsä’s wet wood pulp without any intermediate steps. The lightweight material is said to provide both stiffness and functionality.
Muoto products also meet the requirements of the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. The new fibre packaging production line will be located within Metsä’s Äänekoski mill site next to the existing Muoto demo plant and is due to start up in 2028.
Metsä says the nominal capacity of the production line will be over 100 million products per year, and the production line will be supplied by technology company Valmet.
The company adds that its previous plans to invest in a Kuura textile fibre mill (for man-made cellulosic fibres) in Kemi, Finland, will not proceed due to market changes. According to Metsä, ‘significant global overproduction’ has emerged in a short period which has undermined the competitiveness of high-quality and responsibly manufactured fibres.
‘Significant new capacity’ has emerged in Asia in recent years, and the company states that too few customers are willing to pay a premium for responsibly produced materials. However, Metsä adds that the expertise developed in the field of textile fibres is valuable and it is exploring options for utilizing it.
In related news, flow-control technology company John Crane (a Smiths business) claims it helped a US pulp and paper mill reduce water consumption by 90% and save $75,000 in total cost of ownership through a mechanical seal upgrade in its cellulose fibre production process. By deploying its Type SB2 USP heavy-duty dual cartridge mechanical seal with Upstream Pumping (USP) seal face technology, the mill was able to extend seal life from weeks to over than a year while ‘sharply reducing’ water demand.
More recently, Valmet was selected to deliver a full board making line with automation and lifecycle support for Sun Paper’s mill in Nanning, China, aiming to increase containerboard capacity and ensure ‘reliable, energy and resource efficient’ operation. Valmet says it utilizes forming fabric compression to ensure smart usage of energy and ‘excellent’ quality parameters.
If you liked this story, you might also enjoy:
The ultimate guide to packaging innovation in 2026
Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation: what to know in 2026
Everything you need to know about global packaging sustainability regulation
No comments yet