UPM KEEPS RAUMA AT ITS PEAK

Headnote

To "stay in the game", top quality is imperative

AS EUROPE'S LARGEST magazine paper mill, one can expect there to be a certain amount of modErnization/upgrading going on at any given time at UPM Rauma. Yet, since 2002, it seems the massive papermaking complex on the west coast of Finland has not stood still for a second. Three of its four paper machines have undergone or are about to undergo major refits. And, UPM has also changed a refining line in its TMP plant.

Into this mix entered a new vice-president and general manager, Pertti Asunmaa, who took up his duties on January 1 this year, moving from UPM's Kymi mill where he had led the very successful conversion ofthat mill's PM 8 to coated woodfree (PP/, june 2002, pp. 46-48).

Although he maintains he is still on a learning curve" when it comes to the Rauma mill, Asunmaa is definite when he cites three basic reasons why so much work has been done.

Firstly, as the company's largest mill, Rauma is a cost-efficient unit. secondly, its logistics are very favorable. The harbor is less than a kilometre away, so close that the mill does not keep inventory on site. After packaging, rolls are sent directly to the harbor. "Logistically, we are the best place in Finland," Asunmaa says.

Finally, its source of chemical pulp, Metsa-Botnia's Rauma mill, is right next door. (UPM owns 47% of MetsaBotnia.) The paper mill uses about 250,000 tonnes/yr of chemical pulp on four paper machines.

Besides using Metsa-Botnia pulp, UPM also takes steam from the pulp mill. There is a common wastewater treatment plant. all fresh water for the chemical pulp mill is supplied by UPM and there is common wood measuring and a shared weighing station. "It's almost like an integrated mill," Asunmaa adds.

PPl celebrates the Million Tonners1 Club every year in its September issue. That is, companies that produce one million tonnes/yr of paper and/or board. UPM Rauma is a million tonners club unto itself: 1.24 million tonnes/yr of paper, 700,000 tonnes/yr of LWC, and 540,000 tonnes/yr of uncoated SC.

On the pulp side, Rauma has a groundwood pulp mill producing 260,000 tonnes/yr while the TMP plant can make 380,000 tonnes/yr.

Rauma also has...