TimberNews 4.02-engelsk - SCA Forest Products AB

Leading Munksundtowards higher profitabilitySince March this year, Anders Petersson,the 35-year-old forester from Örnsköldsvik,has been Product Manager at the SCA sawmillin Munksund. He joined the companyfrom a similar position at the Stora Ensosawmill in Kopparfors.How would you describe your newworkplace?“Munksund is a remarkably modernsawmill that has undergone veryrapid development during a shortperiod of time.”What are your principal tasks?“I am responsible for sales and itis also my job to try to direct theplant towards profitable productsand markets.”At the moment, what are your mostimportant markets?“We are concentrating heavily onScandinavia and are also active inthe UK, Italy, Japan and Morocco.“What can you tell us about thedifferent markets?“In Scandinavia, we are targetingmajor industrial customers. TheUK market has increased dramatically,and in Italy we have beenincreasingly focusing on windowmanufacturers in recent years.In Japan properties of Nordicpine are highly valued, but thedimensions required there arevery different from those we areused to delivering. That meanswe must be flexible. We believethat the Japanese market hasgreat potential and we shouldreinforce our presence there.”Are there any other markets youwould like to penetrate?“We are not planning any radicalchanges at the moment. However,we may be supplementing internationalactivity with some othermarkets such as South-east Asiaand the United States. We also aimto restructure volumes withinexisting markets.”Munksund saws pine productsexclusively. Has this any particulareffect?“It simplifies production, storageand timber flow. It is also easierto focus on the products when youwork with a single type of timber.”Talking of products, where does thesawn pine from Munksund end up?“The North-Swedish pine is ideal forwindows and furniture. However,the North-Swedish pine is alsosuitable for pine board for the DIYtrade and flooring manufacture.”All SCA sawmills are now independentprofit centres. What is theworking relationship like betweenthe separate mills?“Good, I think. Especially since SCAand Scaninge sawmills started towork more closely with each other.I have regular contact with ourpine sawmills in Bollsta and Holmsund.We discuss mutual issuesopenly and help each other whenevernecessary.”What about the future of Munksund?“In order to make full use of thecapacity of the new grading mill,we are considering investing innew technology that will make itpossible to sort selected qualitiesat an early stage and kiln appropriateproducts. A new planningsystem should also make it easierto plan production and deliveries.”Anders Petersson, Product Manager atMunksund sawmill with his two Pointers,Taiga and Dalwhinnie.Photo: Per PetterssonFinally, what do you want from theapproaching winter?“Plenty of snow so that I can goskiing in the mountains and gohunting with my two Pointers.”Mats Wigardttimbernews | 10