Within the scope of rationalisation measures in the sawmill division as well as in the procurement of roundwood, UPM-Kymmene intends to shut down its cutting line designed to process small-diameter pine lumber at the Kaukas sawmill during the course of 2021. The closure will affect around 60 of the current 120 full-time employees at the mill. According to a statement issued by UPM at the beginning of February, corresponding negotiations with trade unions have been initiated.
Kaukas is currently the group’s largest sawmill and has a production capacity of 510,000m³/annum across two cutting lines. No details were provided concerning the capacity of the small-diameter timber line. 90% of production is exported, with central Europe, Asia and the MENA region as the main sales markets. The other UPM sawmills are Alholma (285,000m³), Korkeakoski (350,000m³) and Seikku (390,000m³).
