Stora Enso Timber is to invest €3.1m doubling its ThermoWood production and building a new surface coating line.

The company will build a second ThermoWood kiln at Kotka, increasing annual capacity to 18,000m3 to satisfy growing demand for the product. The €1.6m kiln will be operational by September.

Stora Enso said there was strong demand for ThermoWood products in France, the Benelux and Alpine areas, but said interest was growing in other EU countries, Asia and North America. ThermoWood is mainly used for interior panelling, decorative products, exterior cladding and garden products.

A new €1.5m surface coating line will be built at Honkalahti, growing annual production to 18,000m3 in a two-shift operation.

The company, which is experiencing a steady growth in surface-coated profile board demand, will use the line to produce profile boards with white or transparent lacquering and white waxing.

The line will be operational by November, with the majority of products to be marketed by Stora Enso’s own distribution chain, Puumerkki.