Metsä Group will build a new research and development laboratory in Äänekoski to advance its veneer-based wood products. The facility, located next to the company’s upcoming Kerto LVL mill, is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
The investment is valued at approximately €6 million.
The lab will serve as a test environment for developing high-value-added wood products in collaboration with Metsä Group’s partner network. The aim is to improve material efficiency and broaden the scope of raw material utilisation. The facility will also support testing for load-bearing wood structures.
“Our goal is to maximise the value of our raw materials while reducing environmental impact,” said Jaakko Anttila, Executive Vice President of Metsä Wood. “This new laboratory will accelerate the turnaround time of our R&D projects and support the long-term development of our product portfolio.”
The new lab will support product innovations based on a wider range of fibre materials and is designed to facilitate faster prototyping and validation of structural components.
The Äänekoski site is Metsä Group’s largest industrial complex and includes the company’s paperboard, veneer, and bioproduct mills. The new Kerto LVL mill currently under construction is scheduled to begin operations in late 2026.
Other facilities at the site include Metsä Group’s Kuura textile fibre pilot plant and Muoto fibre product pilot facility. A pilot plant for lignin-based products is also under construction, with completion planned for the end of 2025.
HT
