Consumables
Rami Karhu joins Metsä Spring to lead concept design work for a commercial Kuura textile fibre plant
Monday 24. July 2023 - With his extensive background working with cellulose derivatives and bringing projects from idea to full-scale production, Karhu will lead a team to assess requirements and create a plan for taking Kuura textile fibre project to full production.
Metsä Spring, Metsä Groups innovation company, has announced that M.Sc. (Eng) Rami Karhu will be joining the company as its first Manager, Plant Engineering. He will start his work at Metsä Springs Kuura demo plant in Äänekoski on 7th of August, where he will lead the team developing plans for scaling it to full industrial production. The resulting proposal for a production concept will form a central part of the basis for Metsä Groups future assessment of the possibilities for Kuura to become a new, fully operating business within the group.
With an extensive background in chemical engineering and process design, Karhu has previously held various positions in market-leading companies like CP Kelco and engineering company Elomatic. In recent years, he has been the lead project manager at Nouryon Äänekoski carboxymethyl cellulose plant and responsible for taking the companys new development projects from the idea stage to full production.
“I joined Metsä Spring because I wanted to push myself outside my comfort zone. Metsä Springs mandate is to find completely new ways to use wood materials and create completely new and unique production processes. The opportunity to be part of creating something as ground-breaking as the Kuura textile fibre from the demo stage to potential full-scale production was one I could not let go,” says Karhu.
Metsä Groups Kuura textile fibre project has been active since 2014. It is currently in the demo phase, with semi-industrial production ongoing at the unique demo plant in Äänekoski, Finland.
“We are very excited to get Rami on board. His vast experience working with cellulose and pulp, and his expertise in taking new ideas to full industrial production, is exactly what we were looking for. In the beginning, Rami will focus on the Kuura textile fibre project, but as several of our projects are moving towards similar design requirements, we see him as a critical addition to our team,” says Niklas von Weymarn, CEO of Metsä Spring.
In addition to the Kuura textile fibre project, Metsä Spring is operating the Muoto packaging product project, as well as being a minority owner of several startups also moving towards commercial production, including Innomost, Montinutra, Fiberwood, and Woodio.