On Thursday, April 24, 2025, during the association's annual meeting held in conjunction with PI's spring seminar, three notable association awards were presented for significant contributions to the field and the Finnish Forest Products Engineers’ Association.
The prestigious Lampén Medal, awarded for distinguished, broad-based technical and scientific work in the field, was received by Doctor of Technology, Professor Tapani Vuorinen of Aalto University. Vuorinen has had a long and internationally significant career in the field of wood processing chemistry. For decades, he has played a very central role as a researcher, professor, and leader in renewing research and education in our field. In the fall of 2024, Vuorinen was honored with the title of Aalto Professor. He is widely recognized and awarded in the scientific community as a top researcher in wood chemistry and highly esteemed by his students as a teacher.
The association's merit plaque for distinguished work in the field was awarded to Liisa Sihvo and Niklas von Weymarn. Master of Science in Technology Liisa Sihvo has had a long and significant career in the forest industry, particularly in the field of information and quality management. During her career, she held various expert and leadership positions, especially at Stora Enso, from which she retired as the group's Quality Director in 2002. As the only woman in her study group in the 1960’s, Sihvo's contribution to raising the quality work of the Finnish forest industry to its current international level has been significant. Doctor of Technology Niklas von Weymarn has significantly contributed to the renewal of the forest industry as a researcher and leader. Since 2012, von Weymarn has had a significant role at Metsä Group, particularly in textile fiber research, but also in the development of many other wood-based fiber materials and generally in the innovation of new end products.
The annual meeting also recognized and thanked PI's long-term partner Leif Lindberg for over 25 years of significant work for the association and the industry's publication Puunvuoro Media (formerly Paperi ja Puu magazine).
Congratulations to the award recipients!