Metso Panelboard will supply a complete HDF (High Density Fiberboard) production line to Homanit Co. Ltd in Yichun, Jiangxi province, China. The value of the order is not disclosed. The deliveries will begin in August 2004, and the production line will start up in April 2005.
Metso Panelboard's delivery will consist of equipment for log debarking, chip preparation, fiber production, drying, sifting and forming, continuous pressing, press outfeed, sanding and cut-to-size sawing as well as an intermediate storage system, an energy plant and process automation for the complete line. Metso Panelboard will also be responsible for the engineering services of the new line.
The production line will use pine as its raw material. Its annual production capacity will be approximately 200,000 cubic meters. The HDF will mainly be used in flooring applications.
Homanit Co. Ltd is a joint venture company, owned by Robin Group in Singapore, Homanit GmbH in Germany, as well as Chinese parties. Robin Group's subsidiary, Robin Resources (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd is a leading MDF producer in Malaysia. Homanit GmbH is a well-known producer of thin HDF and MDF. In addition to the Chinese joint venture, Homanit has plants in Germany and the USA.
Metso Corporation is a global supplier of process industry machinery and systems, as well as know-how and aftermarket 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 2002, the net sales of Metso Corporation were EUR 4.7 billion and the personnel totaled approximately 28,500. Metso Corporation is listed on the Helsinki and New York Stock Exchanges.
For additional information, please contact:
Thomas Olofsson, Vice President and General Manager, Fiberboard Division,
Metso Panelboard, tel. +46 60 16 50 92
Åke Sundbergh, General Manager, Marketing and Sales, Fiberboard Division, Metso Panelboard tel. +46 60 16 54 53