Metsä Board, a European packaging company, has launched its modernised folding boxboard machine (BM1) in Husum, Sweden.  

This strategic move is in response to the increasing demand for sustainable packaging materials that align with the principles of the circular economy.  

The company invested €230m ($245.16m) to upgrade the BM1, which started production in 2016. 

Completed in 2023, this investment extended the board machine's drying section, added a new winder, and implemented an automated reel handling system.  

The BM1 now boasts an annual capacity of 600,000 tonnes (t), compared to its annual capacity of 400,000t previously.  

The machine operates on 98% renewable energy. 

Metsä Board CEO Mika Joukio said: “With the investment in the folding boxboard capacity at Husum, Metsä Board is well-positioned to meet the growing demand for fibre-based packaging materials. We are dedicated to supporting our customers with high-quality and resource-efficient solutions that help replace fossil-based materials and support the circular economy.” 

The Husum mill has seen substantial investment from 2019 to 2023, with the first phase concluding in December 2022.  

This phase included the installation of a new recovery boiler and turbine at the mill, amounting to an investment of €380m.  

These modernisations enable the Husum mill to significantly enhance biobased energy production and efficiency, contributing to Metsä Board's goal of achieving fossil-free mills by 2030. 

The integrated board and pulp mill in Husum produces folding boxboard, uncoated white kraftliner, and bleached chemical pulp.  

Recently, Metsä Spring, the innovation company of Metsä Group, started a pre-engineering project for its first commercial factory to produce Muoto, new wood fibre packaging products.