Södra unveils SKr200m sawmill investment plans

The investment is taking place at the Långasjö, Värö, and Orrefors sawmills, with the largest (about SKr100m) being at Långasjö, where production volume will increase from 280,000m3 to 360,000m3. The investment programme will be completed during the third quarter 2017.

Over the past year, Södra has worked intensively to increase the profitability of its sawmill operations by optimising the flows of raw materials to customers and reviewing the sawmill structure.

Jörgen Lindquist, business area president for Södra Wood, said the Långasjö investment would be achieved by replacing an old small-dimension timber saw line with a new profiling curve sawing line to simplify and streamline throughput at the saw.

“In addition, we will build a new stacker and binding stick stacker and also install a completely new wood dryer,” he said.

SKr80m is also being invested at Södra’s largest sawmill in Värö to further streamline production to improve profitability.

"In addition to these investments, we are working intensively at the Värö sawmill, as well as every other Södra sawmill, with Lean principles so staff can operate the sawmill machines as safely and efficiently as possible,” said Lindquist.