Metsä Group constructed a bioproduct mill worth 2.02 billion euros in Kemi from 2021 to 2023. It is the most significant investment in the history of Finland’s forest industry, employing up to 19 000 individuals during the construction phase. The new mill is also a substantial producer of renewable electricity, generating 2.0 terawatt-hours of renewable energy annually. Forenom housed over 2 000 people in 550 apartments during the construction of Metsä Group’s bioproduct mill in Kemi.
Accommodation needs and challenges
Metsä Group’s accommodation needs were known well in advance during the final stages of project planning, requiring housing for approximately 40 people in Kemi. The challenge was to find comfortable and furnished apartments at reasonable prices in desired locations in an area where new and high-quality housing was scarce. The town has around 20,000 residents, and few new apartment buildings or townhouses have been constructed in Kemi since the 2000s. There was a lack of readily available suitable and high-quality accommodation for Metsä Group’s workforce in the city.
Solution
Forenom leased and furnished new capacity to meet the customers’ needs. Over two years, Forenom rented over 500 new apartments in Kemi to help meet Metsä Groups’s requirements. Metsä Group had positive experiences with Forenom from a previous bioproduct mill project in Äänekoski. Additionally, Metsä Group contacted Forenom well in advance regarding their accommodation needs.
“Forenom handled the bidding phase and housing matters smoothly, allowing the Metsä Group team to focus on their core competence, which is building the factory,” says Project Personnel Manager Miko Kemiläinen.
Project Personnel Manager Miko Kemiläinen in front of the completed bioproduct mill.
“The customer’s needs were quite clear, and they were proactive enough when dealing with a relatively challenging area in terms of housing supply,” praises Account Manager Mikä Hänninen from Forenom, referring to Metsä Group’s Miko Kemiläinen.
Impact of COVID-19 on the project
In such a large project, there are naturally many subcontractors, and measures were taken to protect the construction site from COVID-19 to prevent the formation of infection chains and ensure the project progressed as planned. Safety measures, such as quarantine apartments, were implemented in the subcontracting chain, and Forenom’s flexibility and responsiveness to changing situations and needs were crucial, as noted by Metsä Group.
Smooth collaboration
“The feedback from our personnel, the actual residents, has been entirely positive,” says Miko Kemiläinen. Despite the project’s large scale, Forenom’s service met expectations, with feedback highlighting the cleanliness, comfort, and excellent locations of the apartments. The collaboration with Forenom was perceived as smooth and efficient.
“The only thing I could have wished for a few times was a solution for short-term accommodation needs, as all the hotels in the area were occasionally fully booked,” Kemiläinen reflects, offering a suggestion for improvement to Forenom.
The collaboration between Metsä Group and Forenom demonstrated that well-timed accommodation planning succeeds even in challenging conditions. Forenom’s ability to respond flexibly to changing needs and provide quality accommodation added value to Metsä Group’s project in Kemi.
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During the construction project of Metsä Group’s bioproduct mill in Kemi, Forenom accommodated over 2,000 people in approximately 550 apartments. This extensive housing service was successful thanks to excellent collaboration with local stakeholders.
When accommodation is needed for a project or business, choose Forenom’ s long-term rental apartments instead of traditional hotels. Forenom offer furnished apartments and equipped, and accommodate companies with all budgets and needs, from individual travelers to large project teams.
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