Reliable transport chain between mill and port

"The haulage company will be an important part of the chain required to keep production at the mill running, so it is a responsibility we take very seriously," says Lotta Åkre, Commercial Manager at SCA Logistics.

The agreement covers the transport of approximately 400,000 tonnes of kraftliner per year from the paper mill to the Port of Piteå at Haraholmen, where the products are then loaded onto SCA’s own RoRo vessels. On the return journey to the mill, the trucks will transport approximately 100,000 tonnes of recovered fibre per year.

"This is a new set-up, as we are now calling at the Port of Piteå. Previously, the rolls and recovered fibre were transported by rail between Umeå and Piteå," says Lotta.

The Munksund paper mill has very limited storage capacity for finished products, which means that the rolls need to be transported onwards continuously.

"A disruption to the transport flow could affect production at the mill. That is why it is essential that we have a highly robust set-up," says Lotta.

Purpose-built trailers

SCA chose Kaj Johansson Åkeri as its partner, a company with which SCA already has an established working relationship.

The haulage company has ordered three new trucks and four purpose-built trailers adapted to handle the different roll dimensions. The fourth trailer provides additional capacity and can also serve as a backup solution in the event of a breakdown. The vehicles will be delivered in stages from early 2027 onwards, and until then, four standard trucks will be used.

Collaboration, daily coordination meetings and service agreements

"We have great respect for the responsibility this assignment entails and have prepared very carefully. Collaboration will be key to ensuring that everything runs smoothly. This applies within our own company, in our cooperation with SCA and with Shorelink, which will be responsible for loading and unloading," says Stefan Johansson, CEO of Kaj Johansson Group, and continues:

"There are also many other pieces that need to come together to build a safe and reliable system, including daily coordination meetings with all parties involved. We have also signed comprehensive service agreements and have close relationships with local workshops that can quickly service and repair the trucks if anything happens. In addition, there is a fleet of timber-chip trucks that can provide additional support if more capacity is needed."

Transport operations will begin at the end of September/beginning of October.

Photo: Per-Anders Sjöquist.