METSO TO SUPPLY A PULP DRYING LINE MODERNISATION TO METSÄ-BOTNIA’S JOUTSENO PULP MILL

Metso’s fiber and paper business area Valmet will supply a pulp drying line modernisation worth almost EUR 12 million to Oy Metsä-Botnia Ab’s Joutseno Pulp Mill, Finland. The equipment will be delivered during the first quarter of 2001.

The order is part of a project started by Oy Metsä-Botnia Ab to build up a new pulp line at its Joutseno Pulp Mill which will raise the mill’s annual capacity in stages to 600,000 of softwood reinforcement pulp.

The order calls for modernisation of the existing pulp drying line and comprises all major equipment, erection, start-up and training assistance. The project will raise the line’s capacity from 1350 tons/day up to 2200 tons/day. This is the highest design level for a single drying line in the world.

The existing pulp drying line was also delivered by Valmet and started up in 1991. Start-up of the new drying line is scheduled for spring 2001.

Metso Corporation's fiber and paper technology business area Valmet is a world leading supplier of technologies, systems and equipment for the pulp, paper, converting and panelboard industries. In 1999, the business area's net sales totaled EUR 1.7 billion and it had about 10,600 employees.

Metso Corporation which is a global supplier of machinery and equipment for the process industry, was created through the merger of Rauma and Valmet Corporation on July 1, 1999. Metso's business areas are fiber and paper technology, automation and control technology, and machinery. The net sales of Metso Corporation was EUR 3.4 billion in 1999 and personnel totaled approximately 23,000. Metso Corporation is listed on the Helsinki Exchanges and New York Stock Exchange.