When a log arrives at a sawmill, its journey has already been carefully planned before the first cut is made. Customer requirements guide the bucking of logs in the forest into the required combinations of lengths and diameter classes, while ensuring that all suitable sawlog material is recovered for sawing. Each log is measured and sawn individually to maximise the yield of products needed by customers. At the same time, side streams are directed into productive use as part of Metsä Fibre’s wider value chain. The principle is simple: nothing in the wood should go to waste.
Metsä Fibre’s vision for its sawn timber business for 2026–2030 is to create sustainable value through Nordic wood. Delivering this vision requires a strong focus on customer value, continuous renewal and profitable business operations.
Every part of the wood has a purpose
Making full use of wood supports both business profitability and resource efficiency. The majority of the high-grade wood raw material procured by Metsä Fibre is converted into quality sawn timber.
The chips, sawdust and bark generated during the sawing process are also used as valuable raw materials. Wood chips are used in pulp production, while sawdust is utilised in products such as pellets or for energy generation. Bark, in turn, serves as a renewable source of energy. In this way, the value of the wood resource is utilised as efficiently as possible.
Technology helps capture more value from every log
Efficient use of wood is more than making use of side streams. Increasingly, the focus is on maximising the value obtained from every individual log.
Digitalisation, data and artificial intelligence now play a significant role in this work. In Metsä Fibre’s sawn timber business strategy, leveraging technology is one of five strategic programmes, aimed at improving productivity and optimising the use of raw materials with even greater precision.
"When we can make the most efficient use of every log and direct it to the best possible end use, we improve both our competitiveness and the value we create for our customers", says Henrik Söderström, SVP, Sawn timber business at Metsä Fibre.
Creating sustainable value for the future
Metsä Fibre’s sawn timber business aims to strengthen its competitiveness and profitability in all market conditions. This is achieved by developing its product and customer portfolio, improving operational performance, harnessing digitalisation, and investing in responsible leadership and skills development.
"Together with our customers, we seek solutions that create genuine and sustainable added value for both parties. The quality of our products and our online marketplace are examples of areas where we consistently receive positive customer feedback", Söderström says.
The efficient use of wood remains at the heart of this work. By maximising the value of every log, benefits are created not only for customers and forest owners, but also across the entire Metsä Group value chain.
