FINLAND - Metsä Wood and the construction firm SRV have inked an agreement for the construction of Metsä Wood's new Kerto® LVL mill in Äänekoski, Finland. SRV will act as the primary contractor for this project, which will be executed as a cooperative project management contract.

Jaakko Anttila, of Metsä Wood, notes, "Our selection of partner was influenced by SRV's expertise in industrial project construction and the contractual model based on close collaboration."

Metsä Wood made the decision to construct a new Kerto LVL mill in June, and the preparatory work at the mill site has advanced as planned. The construction phase is estimated to have an employment impact of approximately 1,000 person-years. Once finalized, the mill will directly employ about 150 individuals and create jobs for 200 others in its direct value chain. Production at the mill is anticipated to commence in the latter half of 2026, with an annual production capacity of roughly 160,000 cubic meters. This signifies a 50 percent increase in the company's total Kerto LVL capacity.

Hannu Lokka, responsible for SRV's regional units, remarks, "The Äänekoski Kerto LVL mill will be executed using a contemporary cooperative model, which is increasingly common in industrial projects due to its benefits. During the development phase, we meticulously planned and coordinated the project in close collaboration with the client and are now poised to initiate the implementation phase."

Metsä Wood is one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of engineered wood products. It process sustainable wood raw material into efficient and value added wood products for construction, industrial and distribution customers. Their main products are Kerto® LVL, birch and spruce plywood and upgraded wood products.