The upgraded board machine is now fully operational, and the renewed MetsäBoard Classic FBB folding boxboard is available for customer deliveries.
Nov. 13, 2025 - Metsä Board in mid-October completed an EUR 60 million modernization project at its Simpele paperboard mill in Finland, marking a significant milestone in product performance. The upgraded board machine is now fully operational, and the renewed MetsäBoard Classic FBB folding boxboard is available for customer deliveries.
The latest upgrades elevate paperboard quality to a new level, while supporting Metsä Board's transition toward fossil-free production. The introduction of modern curtain coating technology enhances print quality and visual uniformity — delivering sharper, more vibrant print results for demanding packaging applications.
Esa Kaikkonen, CEO at Metsä Board, views the investment as a strategic advantage for brands navigating evolving packaging demands and tightening regulations.
"Our customers face increasing pressure to meet stricter sustainability and safety standards, while also managing cost efficiency and waste reduction," Kaikkonen explained. "We want to help our customers stay ahead and lead the pack — by offering solutions that are safe, reliable, and deliver excellent material efficiency, with a high-quality print surface for brand promotion. That's also the aim with our Simpele investment, which is now completed."
The investment included a full rebuild of the coating section, expansion of the coating color kitchen, and installation of a new pallet packaging line.
More than 430 professionals contributed to the project.
Previously, 89% of the energy used in production at the Simpele mill was fossil-free. With the new technology now in place, that figure will rise to 98% — reinforcing Metsä Board's commitment to achieving fossil-free mills by 2030.
Metsä Board Simpele mill, located in Simpele in Southeast Finland, produces high-quality lightweight folding boxboard for packaging end uses such as foodstuffs and frozen foods as well as medical products. The mill has about 270 employees and the capacity to produce 300,000 tonnes per year of paperboard.
Metsä Board is a producer of lightweight and high-quality folding boxboards, food service boards and white kraftliners.
SOURCE: Metsä Board