HELSINKI, Finland, April 12, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- Metso Corporation (NYSE:MX).
Metso Paper has received orders in Portugal, Sweden and India for pulp screening and washing technology, which reduces the environmental effects of pulp production. The orders are part of Metso Paper's strengthening rebuild business, and reflect the concentration of pulp industry investments on modernizing the production process. The orders are valued in total at approx. EUR 15 million and will be delivered in 2001.
Portucel Industrial S.A. has ordered new wash presses for the washing lines producing eucalyptus pulp at their Cacia mill in Portugal. The new presses will replace the old vacuum washers and improve the pulp washing result, while at the same time reducing the consumption of bleaching chemicals in the process and the volume of effluents.
A new screen room and brown stock washing system will be supplied for a sack-paper-grade pulp production line at Billerud Skaerblacka AB in Sweden. The investment will enable the increase of production capacity without increasing environmental effects. The turnkey delivery also includes medium-consistency pumps, a control system to be delivered by Metso Automation, and a process simulator. The rebuilt line will be started up in November 2001.
West Coast Paper Dandeli in India has ordered a screening and washing line. The design capacity of the eucalyptus and bamboo pulp line is 350 tons per day. The order will be the first totally press-based pulping line in India. The delivery also includes erection and start-up, with the latter due near the end of 2001.
Metso Corporation is a global supplier of process industry machinery and systems. Corporation's fiber and paper technology business area, Metso Paper, is the world's leading supplier of technology, systems and equipment for the pulp, paper, converting, and panelboard industries. Metso's other core businesses are divided between Metso Minerals (rock and mineral processing) and Metso Automation (automation and control technology). In 2000, the net sales of Metso Corporation were EUR 3.9 billion, and the personnel totaled approximately 22,000. Metso Corporation is listed on the Helsinki and New York Stock Exchanges.