Valmet has officially inaugurated its new filter fabric factory in Vespasiano, Minas Gerais, Brazil. 

 

The new facility covers about 12,000 m² and is designed to produce filter fabrics for the mining, pulp and paper, chemicals, fertilizers and other process industries. Initial annual capacity is around 1.5 million square meters of filter elements, with plans to expand to about 2.5 million square meters by 2030, effectively tripling Valmet’s Brazilian production volume.

 

Total investment in the project is approximately R$ 100 million (around 15 million euros/dollars), split between R$ 60 million for construction and equipment and R$ 40 million for phased expansion between 2026 and 2030. Operations have been transferred from Valmet’s former site in the Olhos D’Água neighborhood of Belo Horizonte to the new Vespasiano unit, which incorporates modernized equipment and layout.

 

 

The inauguration was accompanied by local government coverage highlighting around 150–160 direct jobs at the site, with the potential to reach up to 250 employees as the expansion phase unfolds. The State of Minas Gerais has pointed to the project as a strategic industrial investment, having supported the company through local development and investment programs.

 

From a sustainability standpoint, the new plant features energy efficient machinery and process improvements such as the replacement of gas heated calenders with electric systems, aiming to reduce direct CO₂ emissions and overall resource consumption.

 

The inauguration completes a multi year investment cycle and sets the stage for capacity ramp up and technology upgrades over the next several years, aligning with the company’s broader manufacturing footprint strategy in the region.

 

In addition to expanding its infrastructure, this new site allows Valmet to be closer to its customers, ensuring greater agility, logistical efficiency, and responsiveness to the needs of the Latin American market.