HELSINKI, Finland, Dec. 12, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- Metso Paper has received an order to supply an on-machine LWC paper making line to Yueyang Paper Group Co. Ltd. of China. The start-up of the line, to be built at Yueyang, Hunan province, is scheduled for summer 2003. The value of the order is approx. EUR 74 million (USD 65 million).
The core of the delivery is a new paper machine, which is designed for a speed of 1,600 m/min and has a trim width after winder of 6.3 meters. Main basis weight of the paper will be 60 g/m (squared) and furnish will be based mainly on domestic poplar pulp.
The delivery includes control systems to be supplied by Metso Automation.
The Yueyang mill is located by Dongting Lake, which is connected to Yangtze river, enabling convenient waterway traffic to and from Shanghai. A new highway between Yueyang and Changsha will be ready by the end of 2002. Yueyang Paper Group Co. Ltd. is currently state-owned but is considering stock exchange listing.
Earlier this year, Metso Paper received two major machine orders from China: a linerboard machine to Guangdong and an LWC paper machine to Jilin. Currently Metso Paper has a joint venture paper machine works in Xian, a sales office in Beijing, and a new Service Technology Center in Wuxi.
Metso Corporation (NYSE:MX) is a global supplier of process industry machinery and systems. Metso's core businesses are divided between Metso Paper (fiber and paper technology), Metso Minerals (rock and mineral processing) and Metso Automation (automation and control technology). 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 are approximately EUR 5,400 million (in 2000) and the amount of personnel is approximately 32,000.