HELSINKI, Finland, Nov. 27, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- Metso Paper (NYSE:MX)is to establish a new service technology center at Jarvenpaa, Finland. When opened in January 2003, it will provide new facilities for 150 service employees. The center will allow Metso Paper to more effectively service paper finishing equipment, improve the development and commercialization of products, and facilitate customer training. The center is part of the development work in accordance with the Metso Future Care concept, aimed at maintaining the competitiveness of customer processes throughout their life cycles.
The new 3,300 m(2) building will include premises for a remote diagnostics center and for specialists in paper machinery finishing equipment maintenance. The remote diagnostics center will apply the latest technology and will consist of a control room and adjoining support functions. The services provided by the remote diagnostics center would include condition monitoring and maintenance systems, together with production management and process information systems. Metso has already opened remote diagnostics centers at Jyvaskyla and Tampere, Finland, to serve the needs of the pulp and paper industry.
The Service Technology Center will be part of the Metso Paper Service product group, which employs 3,000 persons in 41 service centers around the world.
Metso Corporation is a global supplier of process industry machinery and systems. 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 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.
Metso completed its offer for Svedala Industri AB on September 14, 2001. Svedala is a global supplier of products and services for rock and mineral processes. Metso's and Svedala's combined net sales were approximately EUR 5,400 million in 2000 and the number of personnel is approximately 32,000.