One of the world’s largest forest companies, Metsä Wood, will kick off test runs on its new Kerto LVL production line next month, whilst crews begin work on installing a second line—putting the €300 million, state-of-the-art mill on track to produce up to 160,000 cubic metres of additional laminated veneer lumber from late 2026. According to Eero Lampola, Project Director at the plant, focus now shifts to extensive trial operations through winter:
“Our goal is to validate every system under real-world conditions so we hit our end-2026 start date spot on.”
Eero Lampola, Project Director at the Metsä Wood Äänekoski Kerto LVL mill.
Wood Central understands that safety has been at the forefront throughout construction and assembly at the new plant. And despite overlapping work shifts on-site, the team has maintained an exceptionally low accident rate by rigorously identifying and eliminating risks from the outset. It comes as demand for laminated veneer lumber is surging across Europe, North America and Australia, and with existing mills already running at full capacity, Metsä Wood is adding capacity just as the market heats up.
“Although the general uncertainty continues to inhibit investment, the popularity of timber construction is growing worldwide. In addition, stricter European regulations that favour timber construction are increasing demand,” says Ulla Kivistö, Vice President, Sales for Kerto LVL in Central Europe. “In recent months, there have been signs that the construction industry in Europe is slowly starting to recover.”
Last year, Wood Central reported that Metsä Wood was collaborating with Swedish concrete manufacturer Heidelberg Materials Precast Contiga to produce timber-concrete walls using Kerto LVL. The new product, a wall panel made from layers of concrete, insulation and load-bearing laminated veneer lumber, “capitalises on the benefits of combining wood and concrete in future building structures.”
At the time, Metsä Wood stated that the new panels have a climate impact that is between 30% and 50% lower than that of a traditional concrete sandwich element, are 60% lighter, and are suitable for buildings up to five floors.
“Around 1 million square meters of concrete wall elements are produced in Finland every year,” Metsä Wood said, adding that replacing all concrete elements with hybrid sandwich elements would reduce CO2 emissions by 30,000 tons yearly, with a further 95,000 tons stored. According to Heidelberg, the new product is ideal for exterior walls, “providing heightened resistance to weather and wind.”
“By developing a hybrid element, we want to see how the different technical properties of wood and concrete can work together to support each other in building structures,” according to a spokesperson, who added that the new product is “just the beginning of a relationship between the material giants.”
