Vesa Virtanen – active developer

My career began in 2000 on the production lines of the current Metsä Fibre, where I handled a variety of tasks. I worked in mechanical maintenance on both the planer and further processing operations. In 2014, I transitioned to being a process operator for Thermowood production, where we had two kilns and an in-house bioenergy power plant.

In 2015, alongside my regular job, I began pursuing a professional certification as a power plant operator. By 2017, I had obtained the qualifications to serve as a power plant supervisor, a position legally required under the Pressure Equipment Act. In that role, I ensure that periodic inspections are conducted and share relevant information with other operators.

In 2016, I transitioned, along with other long-time employees, to Lunawood following the Kaskinen Mill acquisition. In 2018, the Kaskinen plant received a new Thermowood kiln, which was a different brand than the previous ones. This sparked my curiosity, as I noticed variations in energy consumption between the different kilns. With a bit of an engineer’s mindset, I began taking notes and reflecting on possible reasons for these differences, as well as ways to reduce overall energy consumption.

Eventually, I submitted a proposal through “official channels” and was given the freedom to carry out my research, working systematically and collaborating with colleagues. Ultimately, I was able to demonstrate that we could significantly reduce energy consumption by making small changes, which could lead to substantial savings annually.

I have found that Lunawood places trust in expertise and provides room for ideas and experimentation. These factors foster a strong commitment to the company and make even ordinary workdays inspiring.