Stora Enso Timber is investing €12.2m in two projects – one in Sweden and one in Finland.
A finger-jointing and glue laminating component mill costing €8m and aimed at the window industry will be built at Ala sawmill in Sweden, and a €4.2m hi-tech finger-jointing line using pine heartwood and aimed mainly at the window and door sectors will be built at Honkalahti, Finland.
Building at Ala sawmill will start in this month and is due for completion by August 2003. Annual production capacity will be 26,000m3 of ready components.
Business line director Olle Berg said: “We believe finger-jointing will remain a key technology for the window business.”
Target market for the finger-jointed and glued components is the Swedish market, followed by Norway and Denmark.
At Honkalahti work on the finger-jointing line is under way, with completion expected in February next year. The overall process is the first of its kind in Finland and annual production is projected to reach 20,000m3 by summer 2003.
The line is designed for a special component concept, including X-ray camera techniques in the log yard to facilitate exceptional selection of raw material.
Product development manager Jouko Silén said: “Pine heartwood is recognised as a naturally durable and stable material. With this modern technology application we are able to offer an advantageous solution to the joinery industry in end uses where consistency and durability are of vital importance.”
