Woodspin production facility

Woodspin’s new fibre production facility was completed in October 2022 in the Eteläportti industrial area south of Jyväskylä. The property is owned and developed by Jykia.

The new plant produces SPINNOVA® textile fibre from wood-based cellulose for the textile industry. The fibre is ecological and manufactured without dissolving or harmful chemicals. The same property also houses Spinnova’s headquarters and Suzano Finland Oy’s MFC plant. Suzano is the world’s largest producer of wood pulp.

Wood prominently featured in a modern production facility

Wood and its sustainable use are central to the company’s operations, which is why ecological choices were also reflected in the building’s surface materials. Wood and other natural materials were used extensively. The role of wood was defined early on as a key element of the building’s identity.

The completed property comprises approximately 11,500 square metres, including around 9,500 square metres of production halls and roughly 2,000 square metres of office and laboratory space.

A lifecycle-wise factory that utilises waste heat

The energy-efficient factory is an example of a lifecycle-wise building that operates on renewable energy and recovered waste heat. In addition, energy generated during the production process is directed back into the district heating network. According to Spinnova’s CEO, Kim Poulsen, the project is unique on a global scale.

“Together with the local energy company, we developed a concept that allows waste heat to be utilised, significantly reducing the factory’s carbon dioxide emissions. The fact that the facility was completed a month ahead of schedule in a challenging and unstable global situation is an excellent achievement. From a construction perspective, the production and laboratory spaces are particularly demanding,” says Poulsen.

Successful collaboration and responsiveness to client needs

According to Poulsen, SRV not only kept to the schedule but also met the budget and delivered energy-efficient, functional spaces for Woodspin.

“Whenever something is done for the first time in the world, changes inevitably arise along the way. We were fortunate to have a reliable partner for this project. We have only positive things to say about SRV’s ability to listen. The final result reflects our needs, and SRV responded flexibly to our change requests and maintained continuous dialogue on alternative solutions.”

The construction of technically demanding spaces and a winter with heavy snowfall posed challenges during the project. Despite this, the implementation was successful — something also recognised by Jykia.

“The entire Jyväskylä region benefits greatly from having industrial operations and industrial jobs in Eteläportti. The Woodspin factory is a major investment and a source of pride for Jykia. We have been extremely satisfied with SRV’s professional approach, and we were pleased that the project was completed ahead of schedule,” says Seija Takanen, CEO of Jykia.