High hopes for Finland’s cellulose sector
A research project launched by the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Aalto University and Tampere University of Technology aims to create new business models and ecosystems in the country by focusing on cellulose products.
The joint research project is called Design Driven Value Chains in the World of Cellulose (DWoC). The objective is to develop cellulose-based products that are suitable for technical textiles and other consumer products.
It is believed that state-of-the-art cellulose processing technologies could generate a production value of up to €3 billion ($4.1 billion) for Finland's textile, forestry and mechanical engineering industries, as well as in new business sectors.
Professor Pirjo Kääriäinen from Aalto University's Department of Design said: “The research project provides an opportunity to use design methods to turn cellulose raw material into products, services and business. Designers contribute to the project by introducing an experimental method of creating prototypes, as well as the ability to visualise something that doesn't yet exist. This allows us to take consumer perspective into account at different stages of the programme.”
It is hoped that by developing new methods, researchers will be able to significantly shorten lead times and manufacturing costs. Projects are currently underway to replace wet spinning with extrusion technology in a bid to develop fabric manufacturing methods in which several stages of weaving and knitting are replaced without losing the key characteristics of the textile, such as the way it hangs.
"In the future, combining different methods will enable [the] production of individual fibre structures and textile products, even by using 3D printing technology," says Professor Ali Harlin from VTT.
According to the researchers, there is capacity for approximately five or six million tonnes of cellulose fibre to be manufactured in Finland. They claim that this could potentially replace more than 20% of globally produced cotton, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 120 to 150 million tonnes and releasing enough farmland to grow food for between 18 and 25 million people.
