Finland

On May 7, Umicore signed a second 10-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Gasum, a Finland-based energy company, to source renewable electricity for its site in Kokkola, Finland. The Kokkola facility is where Umicore refines cobalt and produces precursor cathode active materials for electric vehicle batteries.

Under the agreement, Gasum will supply Umicore with approximately 35 GWh of certified renewable electricity annually until 2035, from a non-subsidized onshore wind farm located in Finland, which commenced operations in December 2023.

Based on Umicore press release

On May 6, Valmet Automotive announced that it has started operating a flexible welding robot cell at its Innovation Center in Uusikaupunki, eliminating the need for traditional fixtures. The company has also implemented a virtual welding system for training body shop experts.

Based on Valmet Automotive social media updates

On May 3, Nokian Tyre announced that in 2023, productivity and efficiency reached record levels while the amount of waste decreased significantly. 

Its production volume grew by 150% in 2020–2023. It is now close to the highest volume ever produced at the Nokia factory. Heavy Tires’ production also set a productivity record last year, and its capacity has gradually increased and will continue to grow.

Less than 3.5% of the production of passenger car tires ended up as waste at the Nokia factory, marking a 35% improvement during the last three years. In Heavy Tires, approximately 2% of production ended up as waste.

Based on Nokian Tyre press release