HELSINKI, Finland, Feb. 7, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Metso Minerals, the rock and mineral processing business area of Metso Corporation (NYSE:MX), is continuing to restructure its United States operations in consequence of the Svedala acquisition. Manufacturing operations in Appleton and Clintonville, both in Wisconsin, are planned to be discontinued and moved partly to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and partly to Gastonia, North Carolina, with consequent personnel reductions of approximately 200 people. The merging of operations will have no effect on Metso Minerals' product offering or customer service.
Metso Minerals' North American sales and customer service center will be located in Milwaukee. Also the product development, design and manufacture of mining crushers and portable crushing units and some business area's administrative functions will be concentrated at the same location. The mineral research and test laboratory will also remain in Milwaukee. The product development, design and manufacture of portable screening units, screens and feeders will now be concentrated in Gastonia.
Metso Minerals employed approx. 11,700 persons in 60 countries at the end of 2001.
Metso Corporation is a global supplier of process industry machinery and systems, as well as know-how and aftermarket and services. The corporation's core businesses are fiber and paper technology (Metso Paper), rock and mineral processing (Metso Minerals) and automation and control technology (Metso Automation). In 2001, the net sales of Metso Corporation were EUR 4.3 billion and the personnel totaled approximately 30,000. Metso Corporation is listed on the Helsinki and New York Stock Exchanges.