Metsä Fibre's Kemi Mill achieves reliable electrification with ABB

Metsä Fibre's bioproduct mill in Kemi, Finland is the most efficient wood processing mill in the northern hemisphere and the largest investment in the history of the Finnish forest industry.  ABB played a pivotal role in this landmark project, serving as the supplier of comprehensive electrification and drive technology solutions.

Metsa Fibre Kemi mill slimmer

During the pre-planning phase of Metsä Fibre’s Kemi bioproduct mill, part of Metsä Group, a particular emphasis was placed on safety, on-time delivery and high-quality delivery when selecting key partners. In addition, a high degree of domestic origin was a key objective. ABB met the criteria, and the previous successful similar collaboration with the Äänekoski bioproduct mill was also a strong merit in the selection.  



Published April 2025.

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Comprehensive delivery

ABB's scope of supply included the entire mill's central electrical system, including main power distribution, switchgears, distribution transformers, frequency converters and electric motors. ABB Process Industries’ electrification unit in Finland was responsible for the engineering and project management. 

“ABB's strong experience and project expertise were evident throughout the delivery. ABB's technologies are part of the mill's core processes, and without them, the start-up would not have been possible,” said Jari-Pekka Johansson, Project Director at Kemi bioproduct mill, Metsä Fibre. 

The mill’s electrical system is extensive: it includes 110kV and 33kV switchgears with auxiliary systems, 2 main transformers, 1 generator transformer with isolated-phase bus and generator circuit-breaker, 84 distribution transformers, 94 low-voltage switchboards, almost 1,000 frequency converters and over 1,000 motors. The domestic content was high, as approximately 80% of the delivery was manufactured in Finland at ABB's factories in Helsinki and Vaasa. 

“The scope of the supply is illustrated well by the fact that a total of 1.2 kilometers of switchgears were installed,” said Esa Kivioja, Industry Segment Manager for Pulp and Paper, ABB Process Industries, Finland. 

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Jari-Pekka Johansson, Project Director at Kemi bioproduct mill, Metsä Fibre. Image: Metsä Fibre.

Energy efficiency supports sustainable development and business

High performance and energy efficiency are paramount for Metsä Fibre. The project incorporated ABB's latest reliable, energy-efficient electrification and drive technology. The mill’s electric motors are controlled by intelligent motor controllers and frequency converters, which adjust the rotation speed of the motors to minimize energy consumption. 

“Energy efficiency is crucial from an environmental perspective, but it also has a direct economic impact. The more electricity we can utilize efficiently, the more of it that can be sold back to the grid,” said Pekka Kittilä, Mill Manager at Metsä Fibre's Kemi bioproduct mill. The electricity self-sufficiency rate of the mill is 250% and the surplus electricity is delivered to the national grid. 

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Pekka Kittilä, Mill Manager at Metsä Fibre's Kemi bioproduct mill. Image: Metsä Fibre.

Safety and responsibility at the forefront

“Everyone cares about their own and their colleagues' well-being. Safety is always the number one priority, and we don't take any risks with it,” Johansson emphasized. ABB completed its on-site work without any reported accidents. 

The project also introduced a new operating model that reinforced responsibility. Safety, combating the grey economy, and legal requirements were addressed with suppliers during contract negotiations and monitored throughout the project.  

 

Strong implementation, successful outcome

“Everyone cares about their own and their colleagues' well-being. Safety is always the number one priority, and we don't take any risks with it,” Johansson emphasized. ABB completed its on-site work without any reported accidents. 

The project also introduced a new operating model that reinforced responsibility. Safety, combating the grey economy, and legal requirements were addressed with suppliers during contract negotiations and monitored throughout the project.  

 

Collaboration continues with maintenance service

 

The collaboration between Metsä Fibre and ABB continues with maintenance and predictive services now that the mill is up and running.  

ABB's scope delivery also included the ABB Ability™ Asset Twin condition monitoring system, which processes information from electrical equipment into easy-to-understand dashboard views. This enables predictive maintenance and optimizes service operations.  

“The ABB Ability™ system has proven to be very useful in monitoring and managing the electrical system,” Kittilä said. In addition, ABB offers both a remote support and a traditional on-call system, ensuring that any potential problems are resolved quickly.  

With the remote support, ABB can respond to fault situations within an hour, and the expert can perform all the same actions remotely as on-site from the device panel. If the problem requires physical maintenance on-site, ABB's service team will flexibly carry out the necessary measures. 

 

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Metsä Fibre's Kemi bioproduct mill. Image: Metsä Fibre.

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