Finnish firms expand and innovate worldwide

First up is UPM Raflatac, the Finnish supplier of self-adhesive label materials, which has expanded its presence and offering in North America by acquiring the assets of Seattle-based Converters Express. With the acquisition, UPM Raflatac will open a terminal in the Seattle area that will expand its customer reach and improves its service capabilities for the Northwestern US label market, especially in the wine and craft beverage segments.

Next in line is Valmet, which will deliver the world’s first continuous steam explosion system, Biotrack, for the production of black pellet at FICAP’s pellet plant in the region of Champagne-Ardenne in France. The start-up of the pellet plant is planned for 2020, and it will produce both black and white pellets. The black pellets will be used as a substitute for fossil fuels, mainly by district heating network operators and coal-fired power plants. The value of the order has not been disclosed.

Finally to Neste, which has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Alaska Airlines for co-operation on the airline’s goal to ‘fly greener’. Neste is a leading producer of renewable jet fuels, while Alaska Airlines is a pioneer in testing renewable fuel on commercial flights, with ambitious CO2 emission reduction targets. The scope of the collaboration covers increased fuel efficiency and the use of innovative flight technology by Alaska Airlines, as well as laying the groundwork for the wider adoption of renewable fuels in the aviation industry.