PM is continuously developing concrete measures to mitigate climate change. The switch to more energy-efficient equipment has reduced greenhouse gas emissions from log handling by more than 70% at the company’s plywood mills. The right partner plays an important role in achieving future targets.
Adolf Lahti reacted quickly when UPM expressed its intention to switch to renewable fuels in the machinery used in its plywood mills. Now, UPM’s plywood mills in Savonlinna and Pellos run on renewable fuel oil, which produces up to 90% less CO2 emissions than fossil diesel.
Adolf Lahti is responsible for receiving and feeding the raw material, birch logs, into the process at UPM’s Savonlinna plywood mill, where the new practices have been in place since the beginning of 2022. In Pellos, the role is the same, but the raw material is coarse spruce logs, which are also soaked. In addition to using renewable fuel, Adolf Lahti’s machines are lighter, so fuel consumption is lower. The technology is also modern. The Caterpillar 988 hybrid loader on site in Savonlinna uses its own internal combustion engine, which uses an electric motor, further reducing fuel consumption. The log stackers also represent the best emission class in the industry. The new machine types have a lower risk of hydraulic leakage. They are also quieter, which is important when working 24/7 in a sensitive environment on the shores of Lake Saimaa.
Responsible machinery procurement is a multi-million investment that requires a lot from both the customer and the supplier. UPM Kymmene and Adolf Lahti work together on a large scale and over the long term, which enables completely new innovations.
