Metsä Board improves performance through maintenance partnership with Valmet

With a maintenance agreement, Valmet provides technology support for the entire production line, experienced maintenance resources as well as operational and financial predictability for maintenance operations. At Metsä Board’s Simpele, Äänekoski and Kyro mills, the target of the maintenance agreement is to improve equipment availability and enhance the mills’ maintenance strategy from reactive to proactive, and even predictive maintenance.

A systematic way to operate

At the Simpele mill, the maintenance agreement was initially introduced in 2020. Since then, the mill’s production efficiency has improved significantly.

“Overall, well-planned and professionally executed maintenance is crucial for our mill’s performance. Preventive maintenance activities and efficient resourcing play a key role in reducing downtime and improving machine availability. We have been especially satisfied with the results achieved in improving winder performance, reducing its downtime from nearly 80 hours annually to just a few hours,” says Vesa Hurskainen, Maintenance Manager at Metsä Board Simpele.

At the Kyro mill, the first three-year maintenance agreement was signed in 2017, and it has been renewed twice since then. At the Äänekoski mill, the cooperation started about a year ago and it covers all machine segments from headbox to winder.

“The aim of the agreement is to improve the reliability of our equipment and reduce production downtime. We expect the agreement to enhance our maintenance operations, and I think we’ve already developed a more systematic way to operate and can plan our maintenance activities better than before. I believe that in the future, the agreement will further strengthen our capabilities in preventive maintenance, reducing the machine-related unexpected shutdowns,” says Pasi Nevalainen, Maintenance Manager at Metsä Board Äänekoski.

Pasi Nevalainen, Maintenance Manager at Metsä Board’s Äänekoski mill, says that the agreement has helped the mill to develop a more systematic way to operate and plan their maintenance activities

Securing the availability of skilled resources

Valmet is the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of the key equipment at Metsä Board’s mills in Finland. Pasi Nevalainen says that Valmet was a natural choice for a maintenance partner, as they know the technology inside and out.

“One of the key benefits of the maintenance agreement is the availability of resources and maintenance expertise. Particularly, the support of Valmet's experts at critical times such as during annual shutdowns and start-ups is important for the operations of our mill,” Nevalainen says.

Toni Yli-Piipari, Maintenance Manager at Metsä Board Kyro, appreciates the structured way of managing maintenance operations:

“The agreement brings us peace of mind, as we know what can be expected from Valmet and how it will be executed. The necessary resources for our next shutdown are booked early on, and we don’t have to worry about whether the experts are available or not. The systematic way of operating has improved maintenance planning and predictability of costs. Additionally, comprehensive reporting has enhanced the way we follow up our maintenance operations,” Toni Yli-Piipari says.

Toni Yli-Piipari, Maintenance Manager at Metsä Board’s Kyro mill, appreciates the peace of mind and predictability of costs that the maintenance agreement provides

A platform for continuous improvement

Across all three mills, the maintenance agreements have delivered measurable benefits in terms of machine uptime, reliability, and operational consistency. While contract structures and operational models continue to evolve, the partnership remains strong. Companies are committed to continuous improvement, ensuring that maintenance practices stay aligned with technological development and business needs.

Metsä Board and Valmet are committed to continuous improvement, ensuring that maintenance practices stay aligned with technological development and business needs. Here pictured from left to right Markku Savioja, Senior Product Sales Manager at Valmet, Simo Rahkonen, Senior Mill Sales Manager at Valmet, and Toni Yli-Piipari, Maintenance Manager at Metsä Board’s Kyro mill.

“Over the years, we’ve learned to know each other and trust each other – a prerequisite for a good partnership. The communication has been smooth, and support has been available at all times. The maintenance agreement is not only a technical solution, but more like a long-term investment in production efficiency and reliability,” Vesa Hurskainen says.

By combining predictive maintenance planning, expert resources, and structured reporting through long-term maintenance agreements, Metsä Board and Valmet are shaping a future where maintenance is not just a necessity but a strategic asset for optimized production.

Text: Marianne Valta