KSBR Oy has built a new primary sedimentation tank and a pressure pipeline for wastewater at the UPM Jämsänkoski paper mill. The basin contract began last spring and was completed in August, and the pressure piping was handed over to the customer at the end of September.

– The work progressed smoothly. It was completed on schedule and in good spirits with the customer, says KSBR’s Project Manager Petteri Mäkelä.

Primary sedimentation is the first stage of wastewater treatment, in which solids are separated from wastewater before the actual biological treatment. The wastewater from the mill area is led into a round, approximately 4000-cubic-metre pre-clarification basin. The pipes, on the other hand, were installed over a length of about 3300 metres.

Turnkey delivery helped achieve the best result

KSBR and UPM agreed to make the contract a turnkey delivery.

– We were also responsible for the earthworks, which is why the coordination of the work was smooth and we stayed well on schedule, says Petteri Mäkelä.

KSBR’s special expertise is particularly evident in the prestressed structure of the basin.

– We have developed the production of round basins, and we are among the best in Finland in this. That is why this project was completed without any major challenges, Mäkelä says.

About ten employees from KSBR worked at UPM Jämsänkoski during the contract.

– A big thank you to them for their quality and attention to occupational safety.

Experience is key

According to UPM’s Project Manager Kari Mäki, KSBR’s selection of the site as the contractor was based on two things.

– KSBR has built similar basins before, and the scheduling was also realistic. In my opinion, the whole project went very well for KSBR, even though it was demanding and multi-staged. Everything we agreed on was delivered, and we stayed on schedule surprisingly well.

The contract was completed without a single occupational accident. UPM’s Pia Siirola-Kourunen, the project’s safety coordinator, emphasises that the safety of construction work is important to the Group and is strongly influenced by legislation.

– The project went very well in terms of occupational safety too. We had regular safety rounds, both KSBR’s own and shared. Cooperation and openness in safety matters were the strengths I saw in this project, she says.

– We are happy to continue to cooperate with KSBR, assures Kari Mäki.