METSO TO SUPPLY A LARGE COATING LINE TO ASIA PULP AND PAPER

Metso Corporation's fiber and paper technology business area Valmet has received a major repeat order from Asia Pulp and Paper Co. Ltd (APP). APP ordered another large off-machine coating line for its Gold East Paper's Dagang mill in Jiangsu, China. The new line will come on stream in summer 2001.

The delivery includes an off-machine coater with four coating stations, two re-reelers, two multinip calenders, two winders, a rewinder, pulpers and auxiliary equipment. Instrumentation, erection, start-up supervision and training are included in the order as well.

Valmet supplied the Dagang's coating line number one which is the world's largest off-machine coating and finishing line for double-coated fine paper. The total value of the order of the line number one totaled close to EUR 120 million. After the start-up in spring 1999, Asia Pulp and Paper has decided to extend their coated paper capacity and orders a similar off-machine coating line number two.

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

Metso Corporation is a global supplier of process industry machinery and systems. In addition to fiber and paper technology, Metso's business areas are 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 the New York Stock Exchange.