Spinnova has initiated trial runs at the Woodspin demo factory in Jyväskylä, Finland.
Focused on output quality and process optimization, the Finnish fiber firm said the trials are a crucial step toward restarting production and scaling technology to an industrial level. This phase, Spinnova said, marks the shift from piloting to consistent, high-quality manufacturing.
“Our aim is to proceed with the ramp-up of the demo facility step by step,” Spinnova CEO Janne Poranen said in a statement. “The upcoming trial runs are an important step towards starting actual production.”
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Spinnova acquired full ownership of the Woodspin and Suzano Finland demo factories last October. Building on this acquisition, the company’s latest actions aim to support its 2026 production plans.
Other than the company’s consortium, those plans chiefly comprise scaling the Scandinavian supplier’s technology: A purely mechanical conversion that turns wood pulp into a spun fiber without the dissolving steps used in traditional viscose production. Inspired by spider silk, the patented process produces fiber with 98 percent less water than cotton, no wastewater and high biodegradability.
The trial runs will begin at the demo factory with a specific focus on improving efficiency. However, most of the company’s tested technological solutions have proven effective at a smaller pilot scale. To that end, the initiative should serve as the bridge from progress toward production.
“With the trial runs now starting, we aim to validate the technological solutions tested at a smaller pilot scale to improve production efficiency and fiber quality,” Poranen said. “This is a key phase in delivering Spinnova fiber to customers and scaling our technology to an industrial level, which is the direction we are heading.”
The demo development arrives at a complicated moment for Spinnova.
Some 18 months ago, Suzano halted funding for the Woodspin joint venture and pulled back from plans to scale up the collaboration. The October 2025 move underscored the fiscal strain and shifting factors weighing on next-generation ventures. It also followed a turbulent stretch for Spinnova, which saw revenue fall 54 percent in 2025 and recorded a significant impairment tied to the terminated venture.
Broader demand for emerging materials, meanwhile, remains uneven despite growing regulatory pressure.
