The project represented Finland’s biggest sawmill investment in 2011.
Previous machinery dating back to 1995 was replaced with a new sawline, with further investments in log feeding and sawn timber handling equipment.
"Building and construction industries, as well as the sawmilling business which is closely linked to them, have faced challenging times globally since the end of 2007," said Vapo’s CEO ?Tomi Yli-Kyyny.
"However, we at Vapo have trust in the sawmilling industry. More dwellings are needed and the increasing use of wood in construction work helps in the battle against global warming."
"The investment improves the mill productivity by a fifth and so it improves our competitiviness markedly," said Vapo Timber managing director Juha Hakala.
"Both the running and maintenance costs will be reduced and the production volumes at Hankasalmi will remain roughly at the current level."
The development also helps to boost more efficiency in procurement of both sawlogs and energy wood in central Finland and northern and southern Savo.
The sawline was supplied by Veisto Oy and log feeders by Nordautomation Oy, while board handling technology came from Kit Sell Oy and sawn timber feeding was by Rajako Oy. Camera grading technology was supplied by Finscan Oy and automation from OT-Laite Oy and Prologic.
"Currently we are supplying five sawlines to locations like Russia, Australia and Scotland," said Veisto Oy’s managing director Markku Rautio.
