The period between 1965 and 1980 imposed a fundamental and probably traumatic structural change in the paper- and pulp industry where a large number of plants were closed. Well, the last page in the history book is not written yet and it seems like the number of mills that will close in the coming years have jumped up due to poor profitability.

Even very modern mills, like this one, closed after just a few years of operation after having taken very heavy investments. The number of ruins of this kind here in the Scandinavia is large indeed. Driven by a shift in timber handling, steeply increasing energy prices and new generations of technology, the sulphite mills which were predominant around say 1950 have been phased out in favor of sulphate-based mills.

This mill is nothing but an astonishing experience in concrete brutality followed by an instant death. There is nothing charming here, nothing aesthetical, nothing photogenic, just ugliness and dullness. Yet, the site is somewhat fascinating, given the very short history...

Update August 2008: Another place that has been eradicated and cleaned up. Virtually everything is gone and some additional cleaning up operations seems to be in progress.
.