Displaying items by tag: södra

Södra estimates that damage to Södra's members' properties during Storm Egon was approximately 1.5 million forest cubic metres, corresponding to a total of about 3 million forest cubic metres in Götaland. This figure is significantly lower than anticipated given the high wind speeds registered. Södra believes that the extent of the damage may have been limited by the favourable direction of the wind, by the fact that earlier storms had already felled sensitive forest stands and that forest management practices have been better adapted to the risk of storms.

Södra has carried out an inventory on the storm damage at 267 reference properties that are well dispersed across Götaland. On the basis of this inventory, the assessment is that the storm damage corresponds to approximately 1.5 million forest cubic metres on Södra's members' properties, which corresponds to a total of about 3 million forest cubic metres in Götaland. The damage mainly comprises scattered areas of wind-felled trees and exposed areas, for example, on the edges of forests.

2015 02 03 091959

The map shows the extent of Storm Egon in Södra's forestry operations areas.

Storm damage has been recorded throughout Götaland with the extent varying widely among the properties, although the worst damage was caused in the Västra Götaland and Jönköping counties around the Vänern and Vättern lakes.

The extent of the damage was considerably less than that caused by Cyclone Per (2007), which felled 16 million forest cubic metres in Götaland, despite the fact that the wind speeds recorded for both storms were roughly the same. Cyclone Gudrun (2005) felled some 75 million forest cubic metres.

In the aftermath of Cyclone Gudrun, forestry began to adapt its forest management practices to reduce the risk of future storm damage.

"At Södra, we have amended our forest management instructions. Now, trees are thinned when they are at a lower height and final harvesting takes place earlier in spruce-dominated stands," says Göran Örlander, Head of Forest Management at Södra.

"In recent years, we have also had an increase in the number of storms that have felled storm-sensitive forest stands and that have made the remaining forests more resilient to storms," says Örlander.

Inventory and safety
Södra urges its members to take an inventory of the damage to their properties as soon as possible and to contact their forestry inspector.

There is a significant risk that there will be a spruce bark beetle infestation in the summer throughout the area hit by the storm. To ensure the protection of the forest and safeguard the value of the wood, it is therefore important to process the storm-felled wood as soon as possible.

Södra, which has just over 50,000 owners and members who jointly own about half of the forest land in Southern Sweden, is appealing to all forest owners to take the utmost care when processing the wood felled in the storm.

"Always put safety first! Start by taking an inventory and planning. Use mainly professional assistance and machinery when undertaking major work. Refrain from doing the work yourself if you don't have the experience or know-how, and never work alone," says Örlander.

For further information, please Contact: 
Göran Örlander, Head of Forest Management
tel: +46 470 893 62
Håkan Larsson, President of the Södra Skog business area
tel: +46 470 159 81
Annica Gerentz, Director of Communications,
tel: +46 470 894 81
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Monday, 12 January 2015 20:25

Södra surveys the aftermath of the storm Egon

sod logoThe damage caused to forests by the storm Egon, which swept over Southern Sweden on 10-11 January, is currently considered to be less than anticipated, despite the high wind speeds recorded. Intensive efforts to survey the extent of the damage to Södra's members' properties are currently under way.

According to initial estimates, the extent of the damage in the aftermath of Egon is significantly less than, for example, the storms Gudrun and Per, which occurred in 2005 and 2007, respectively, damaging 75 and 16 million cubic metres, respectively, in Götaland.

Intensive efforts to carefully assess the extent of the storm Egon are currently under way. To estimate the damaged wood volume, a large number of reference properties that are geographically dispersed across Södra's forestry operations areas are being analysed. Södra will present information regarding the damaged wood volume when these figures have been compiled.

The damage that has been identified to date is primarily dispersed windfalls and small concentrations of windthrown trees in exposed locations, for example, on the edge of forests. Damage to forests has been noted throughout much of Södra's forestry operations areas, albeit mainly concentrated to Västra Götaland and Jönköping counties around the Vänern and Vättern lakes.

Södra recommends members affected by the storm to first take an inventory of the damage to their properties and contact their forestry inspector. Södra urges all forest owners to always prioritise safety and to be extremely careful when processing storm-felled wood.

To find out more, please Contact:
Håkan Larsson, President of the Södra Skog business area, tfn: +46 705 894 510
Göran Örlander, Head of Forest Management, Södra Skog, tel: +46 470 893 62
Annica Gerentz, Director of Communications, Södra, tel: +46 703 984 209

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In January 2005, Cyclone Gudrun swept over Götaland in southern Sweden, felling about 200 million trees, or 75 million cubic metres of wood, in the process. Now, 10 years later, the forest's balance has been restored. "Replanting has continued apace and forest regeneration of the storm clearings has been satisfactory," explained Göran Örlander, Head of Forest Management at Södra.

2015-01-07 090039 sod for wind

On the night between 8-9 January 2005, Cyclone Gudrun swept across southern Sweden. Wind speeds of up to 33 m/s were registered in Småland, causing enormous damage to Södra members' forest estates. At the storm's peak, 415,000 households were without electricity and several communities were cut off.

"It was only after we had spent a few days performing an inventory that we fully understood the extent of the damage to our members' forests. Many of us were shocked to discover the huge losses sustained by the forest in the storm and, at Södra, this entailed an entirely new way of working to help our members recover," remarked Örlander.

Following intensive and large-scale efforts to process the trees felled by the cyclone, Södra simultaneously stored more than 10 million cubic metres of storm-felled timber at terminals and mills and on roadways. The last of the terminal stocks of storm-felled timber were collected from the Asige terminal in Halland in late November 2009. And two days before Christmas Eve in 2009, the last of the logs that were felled in the storm were sawn at Södra's Värö sawmill.

"In hindsight, we can conclude that the damage was not as bad as we first feared," added Örlander. "We were enormously lucky in terms of the weather. It was also significant that insect populations were low in early 2005, which meant that the felled trees were not damaged. We can also see that the young forests are growing well in the clearings that we have replanted."

Among Södra's members, an estimated 40 million cubic metres of timber were blown over, which was equivalent to about four annual harvests at the time.

To find out more, please contact:
Göran Örlander, Head of Forest Management
Tel: +46 470 89 362

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2014-12-04 063946Laila Rogestedt has been appointed Head of Innovation and New Business at Södra. She will assume her position on 1 March, when she will also become a member of Group Senior Management reporting to the President and CEO Lars Idermark.

Laila Rogestedt has a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from Chalmers University of Technology, with a degree in Polymer Technology, and has held various positions in the international chemicals group Borealis since 1991. She is currently responsible for the Borealis Innovation Centre in Stenungsund, and for product and technology development in polyethylene plastic. She has also held various functions in such areas as production, investment projects, HR and marketing. Prior to joining Borealis, she worked with materials development at Volvo Cars.

"I am delighted that Södra has recruited Laila Rogestedt. Innovation and New Business are strategic future areas for Södra - in our work with product and process care for the existing pulp market, but also in the development of new products from wood," said CEO Lars Idermark.

"In a rapidly changing world with major global challenges - resource supply and climate change to name but a few - it is critical that innovation is high on the agenda of successful companies. Against this background, and with Södra's key role and clear ambition, I look forward to making a contribution to this effort," commented Rogestedt.

Rogestedt succeeds Karin Emilsson who, as previously announced, will be leaving Södra. Södra Innovation and New Business is located at Värö in southern Sweden in the same area as Södra's pulp mill.

For further information, please Contact:

Lars Idermark, President and CEO
tfn: +46 (0) 470-894 35
Laila Rogestedt, incoming Senior Vice President Innovation and New Business at Södra
tfn: +46 (0) 766-378 138
Annica Gerentz, Senior Vice President Corporate Communications
tfn: +46 (0) 470-894 81

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Friday, 21 November 2014 09:05

Renewed PEFC- certification for Södra

sod logoSödra has been granted renewed forestry and chain of custody certification under the PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) for the next five years. An external audit has been performed and nearly 60 properties were inspected in 2014. The audit encompasses social, environmental and production-related issues.

PEFCTM certification provides assurance that forest management activities are conducted in accordance with the requirements stipulated in the PEFC's forestry standard and that the timber can be traced back to the original forest where it grew. PEFC-certified raw material is a sought-after commodity by many customers active in the areas of pulp, sawn timber and interior wood products.

"We are proud of the work that all of our members and employees put in to maintain a high level of quality in forest management activities, in terms of both production and the environment. This certification represents acknowledgement of the progress we are making," said Håkan Larsson, President, Södra Skog.

As part of its commitment to comply with the requirements of the certification scheme, Södra's members have set aside an average of 8 per cent of their forest land area for nature conservation purposes. This is equivalent to about 200,000 football pitches. Furthermore, in conjunction with harvesting operations in production forests, consideration is given to various nature conservation values, such as dead wood, old trees and valuable microhabitats.

To obtain certification, it is also necessary to meet social requirements in relation to, for example, employment terms and conditions, work environment and outdoor life.

Between them, Södra's members own 22,000 smallholdings totalling 1.7 million hectares of forest land. Södra has offered them the opportunity to gain PEFC acceditation since 2000.

Södra has also offered FSC® certification since 2009 and holds one of the world's largest group certificates.

To find out more, please contact:

Håkan Larsson, President, Södra Skog, Tel: +46 70 589 45 10
Tomas Rahm, Environmental Manager, Södra Skog, +46 470 893 33

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sod logoSödra will invest more than SEK 100 million in its pulp mill in Mönsterås. The investment will result in more efficient energy utilisation and enhanced productivity at the mill.

The Mönsterås pulp mill is Södra's largest with total annual production of 750,000 tonnes of softwood and hardwood pulp. Mönsterås is Södra's oldest mill, founded in 1958, but is also one of the most modern of its kind in the world as a result of successive investments. This latest investment, now approved, relates to the expansion of the evaporation plant.

Södra is undergoing an intensive expansion period and the investment that is now being announced is a further step in improving production, assuring and enhancing the already-high quality of its pulps and optimising energy utilisation.

Södra's largest ongoing investment is the expansion of the pulp mill in Värö totalling in excess of SEK 4 billion. The project will increase annual production at the mill from 450,000 tonnes to 700,000 tonnes. In addition, an investment of SEK 700 million is being made in Mörrum to increase pulp production. A new chip plant will be constructed and one of the two pulp lines will be upgraded.

For further information, please Contact:

Gunilla Saltin, President of the Södra Cell business area, tel: +46 470 855 91
Carsten Wieger, Mill Manager Södra Cell Mönsterås, tel: +46 499 152 64
Annica Gerentz, Director of Communications Södra, tel: +46 470 894 81

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Friday, 17 October 2014 10:40

Södra commences expansion of Mörrum

sod logoThe expansion of Södra Cell Mörrum has started. On 16 October, Södra's CEO Lars Idermark, together with representatives from NCC and Valmet, turned the first soil in the project.

Earlier this year, Södra's Board of Directors decided to invest approximately SEK 700 million to increase pulp production at Södra Cell Mörrum. A new chip plant will be constructed and one of the two pulp lines will be modified.

"This is another investment that will strengthen our market position and competitiveness in market pulp. The expansion of our pulp production represents an integral part of our Group strategy and is a prerequisite for developing our business," said Idermark.

The existing facility in Mörrum currently produces 380,000 tonnes annually. The investment is expected to increase production to about 425,000 tonnes per year.

The investment includes a new chip plant and two separate wood room lines, one for softwood chips and one for hardwood chip production, and conversion of the softwood pulp line, where the existing washing facility will be replaced.

The new wood room facilities are scheduled to go into operation in December 2015 and the softwood pulp line in March 2016.

Södra Cell Mörrum currently produces high-quality pulp and is the only Södra mill to produce textile pulp, which is a rapidly growing product area. The Södra Cell business area represents one of the largest softwood pulp producers in the world and operates three pulp mills in Sweden: Mörrum, Mönsterås and Värö.

To find out more, please contact:
Stefan Sandberg, Mill Manager, Södra Cell Mörrum, tel: +46 454 555 50
Annica Gerentz, Director of Communications, Södra, tel: +46 470 894 81

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sod logoSödra's earnings to date this year (accumulated January-August) improved to SEK 1,012 million (loss: 786) and amounted to SEK 509 million (loss: 687) for the second four-month period. The earnings improvement was primarily attributable to increased demand and higher prices for finished goods.

"Demand and orders for Södra's products improved during the second four-month period and the Group reported a positive performance and improved profitability. All of the Södra Group's business areas continued to improve their earnings. The improvement is mainly the result of a more favourable market in addition to the Group's own productivity enhancing measures and continued efficiency gains," says Södra's President and CEO Lars Idermark.

Net revenue for the first eight months of the year increased to SEK 11,429 million (11,137), primarily the result of increased volumes and higher prices. Net revenue for the second four-month period amounted to SEK 5,591 million (5,599).

Operating profit for the first eight months of the year amounted to SEK 1,012 million (loss: 786). The accumulated result includes a positive effect of SEK 173 million from the sale of equipment from Södra Cell Tofte AS. Earnings in the preceding year were charged with restructuring costs for the discontinuation of Södra Cell Tofte AS. Consolidated operating profit for the second four-month period amounted to SEK 509 million (loss: 687) and all business areas displayed a continued positive earnings trend.

Profit after finance income and expenses improved to SEK 953 million (loss: 801) for the first eight months of the year and amounted to SEK 476 million (loss: 702) for the second four-month period.


1 May - 31 August 2014

  • Net revenue SEK 5,591 million (5,599)
  • Operating profit SEK 509 million (loss: 687)
  • Profit after finance income and expenses SEK 476 million (loss: 702)
  • Cash flow after investments SEK 260 million (396)

1 January - 31 August 2014

  • Net revenue SEK 11,429 million (11,137)
  • Operating profit SEK 1,012 million (loss: 786)
  • Profit after finance income and expenses SEK 953 million (loss: 801)
  • Cash flow after investments SEK 775 million (278)


>>Read more: The interim report

To find out more, please contact:
Lars Idermark, President and CEO
tel: +46 470 894 35

Carina Olson, CFO
tel: +46 470 892 62

Annica Gerentz, Director of Communications
tel: +46 470 894 81

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On 15 May, Södra's two truck rigs with a maximum weight of 74 tonnes officially entered service. They are now rolling fully loaded.

2014-09-16 201625 sodra truck

Shortly after entering service, a dispensation was received for one of the rigs, a timber truck with a five-axle trailer. Dispensation for the wood-chip truck was not granted until 10 September and, during the waiting period, the truck operated as a 60-tonne truck. Now both rigs are in full production and both are included in the Forestry Research Institute of Sweden's ETT - Modular System for Timber Transport project named One More Stack.

"We are relieved to finally get started. It will be interesting to follow how much more we will be able to transport for different products and what this will mean in terms of fewer journeys and lowered emissions," says Åsa Forss, Transport Manager at Södra.

Södra is one of the stakeholders in the Forestry Research Institute of Sweden's project for larger and heavier timber transportation vehicles. The project is evaluating a number of vehicles in practical operation, where areas include environmental impact (fuel consumption and emissions), road safety and costs. Two primary types of longer and/or heavier vehicles are being evaluated:

. ETT rigs, (One More Stack) with a length of 30 metres (max. 32 metres) and a maximum weight of 90 tonnes
. ST rigs (Bigger Stacks) with a normal length of (max. 25.25 metres) and a maximum weight of 74 tonnes.

To find out more, please Contact:
Håkan Larsson, President, Södra Skog, tel: +46 70 589 45 10
Annica Gerentz, Director of Communications, Södra, tel: +46 470 894 81
Åsa Forss, Transport Manager Södra, tel: +46 470 856 41

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Thursday, 28 August 2014 09:30

Karin Emilsson to leave Södra

sod logoKarin Emilsson, Director of Technology at Södra, has decided to leave the company after 27 years. During her time at the Group, Karin has held a variety of positions at Södra Cell in Mönsterås and Värö, as well as more recently within Research and Development (R&D).

Karin Emilsson has been Director of Technology for Södra since 2008, with innovation and sustainability as part of her remit.

" I've spent a great deal of my life at Södra and have recently been focusing on innovation issues. I've has a fantastic time at Södra, where I've worked closely with my team and the business areas to both retain existing business and identify new opportunities. Now I plan to get more deeply involved in innovation aspects and work with green business startups," Emilsson explained.

" Karin has been a great asset to Södra and we'd like to thank her for her many valuable years of service, and wish her the very best of luck in her future endeavours," commented Lars Idermark, Södra's President and CEO.

Karin will be leaving the Group at the end of the year. The recruitment process to find her successor is now underway.

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