Ruukki Construction began the operations of the new packaging line at the Alajärvi plant in Finland in March 2022. The automated sandwich panel packaging line speeds up the last leg of the manufacturing process and reduces the amount of packaging waste that ends up in the hands of customers. The more efficient line will improve the reliability and quality of the product deliveries, as the construction elements will be delivered in increasingly tight packaging in the future.

At the Alajärvi plant, Ruukki manufactures steel-based wall elements that are used in the exterior and interior walls of industrial and commercial buildings. A year ago, the plant launched an investment project to automate the packaging line for mineral wool-insulated sandwich panels. The new automated packaging line was commissioned as planned in mid-March. 

“Automation will significantly speed up the packaging operation of our production line. The time spent on packaging decreased by half, and at the same time, the packages became more weatherproof. The heat-sealed ends of the new UV-plastic packaging protect the panels even better from moisture and dust. This means that the panel packages can be stored more safely on the construction site, even if there are delays,” explains Jouni Kangastupa, plant manager of Ruukki’s Alajärvi plant.

In addition to improving operational efficiency, the new line supports Ruukki's sustainability strategy.

“Ruukki aims to reduce the carbon footprint of our own operations by 25% by 2026. The new packaging line will reduce both raw material waste resulting from production downtime as well as the amount of packaging waste in the hands of customers. We are also searching for recycling possibilities for plastic packaging waste in order to further reduce the environmental impact of our products in the future,” shares Adam Korol, Senior Vice President, Head of Building Envelopes, Ruukki Construction.

Ruukki's Alajärvi plant manufactures mineral wool-insulated sandwich panels and energy panels for industrial and commercial buildings in Finland, Sweden and Norway. The plant in Southern Ostrobothnia employs about 70 people.

For more information: 

Adam Korol
SVP, Head of Building Envelopes, Ruukki Construction
adam.korol@ruukki.com