Finland. Valmet Oyj

Date of agreement:09 Dec 2019
Country:Finland
Customer:Valmet Oyj
Amount in EUR:EUR 50 million
Maturity:10 years
NACE sector / loan type:Research and development

Project

The loan will finance Valmet’s R&D programme for 2019–2022.

The R&D investment programme for 2019–2022 will focus on four areas: performance and investment cost, digitalisation, resource efficiency, and new bio-based materials.

Almost half of Valmet’s R&D activities concentrate on new solutions; they may be either completely new to the markets or new offerings in the company’s existing product portfolio.

A large amount of Valmet’s technology development is carried out in cooperation with its customers and suppliers. In many cases, they are offered the possibility to conduct their pilot projects with Valmet’s pilot machines.

Valmet aims to develop technology aimed towards more sustainable production. These solutions can be for mills that produce pulp, paper and paper with minimised emissions and water consumption, and new high-value end products utilising bio-based raw materials. Valmet is also developing new ways to apply the Industrial Internet and advanced communication technologies to use indoor navigation and augmented reality in the production facilities Valmet delivers and maintains.

Headquartered in Espoo, Finland, Valmet develops and supplies technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. The company has 13,000 professionals around the world.

Fulfilment of NIB's mandate

Productivity:

Valmet is an important player, particularly in the pulp and paper cluster. Therefore, the likelihood of skills transfer in to and from companies in the NIB member region is relatively high due to its strong heavy machinery sector.

Expected productivity impact of the project:

  • Increase in R&D investments: 1.3%
  • R&D to sales ratio: 2.1
  • Share of new products of total sales: 30%
  • R&D staff (full-time equivalent): 420

Environment:

There are two strategic environmental themes in Valmet’s R&D programme for 2019–2022.

The first one is resource efficiency, the primary target being to reduce the use of raw materials, water, energy and chemicals. The second one is the technology development for the introduction and use of new bio-based materials to replace fossil-based materials.

All Valmet’s business lines have R&D activities related to resource efficiency, whereas the activities within new bio-based materials are mainly carried out for the pulp and energy as well as paper business lines.

Sustainability summary

Valmet’s R&D investments 2019–2022 are not assessed to have any significant negative environmental or social impacts. Pilot or demonstration facilities requiring environmental permits are not foreseen at this stage.

The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) provided Valmet with the best A rating in their climate programme ranking in 2018 for their actions and strategy to mitigate climate change. Valmet was also included in the Dow Jones Sustainability World and Europe indices in 2018 for the fifth consecutive year.

Press release
09.01.2020

NIB finances Valmet’s R&D programme

Press release

NIB finansierar Valmets FoU-program