M-real to introduce innovative product and service offering based on customer needs

29/10/2007
Press release 29.10.2007

Following a detailed customer survey, M-real has undertaken a major review of
its products and services, with the new package - called the Galerie Customer
Program - ready for launch from January 2008.  The main changes are a simpler
choice of products, faster availability, optimised paper quality and
consistency, improved print performance services, and a menu of supply service
options priced with greater transparency. 

Gregory Gettinger, Executive Vice President of M-real's Grapjic Papers Business
Area, says: “Our research tells us that customers want paper suppliers to pay
more attention to overall supply and process efficiency.  Their key needs are
speed, flexible production solutions, consistent quality and efficiency in the
printing process.  The Galerie Customer Program concentrates on meeting these
needs and will give our customers significant benefits.” 

M-real's range of Galerie coated magazine papers has been streamlined by
selecting the best quality gloss products - Galerie Lite, Galerie Brite and
Galerie Fine - and introducing a new silk grade, Galerie Silk.   Customer
choice is simplified by the reduction of overlapping products, and faster
availability made possible by more frequent production cycles.  With fewer
changes in the production process, high product quality consistency can be
ensured. 

Further improvements to the supply service include the availability of defined
Galerie grades from express stocks on three European locations - Lübeck,
Tilbury and Antwerp - and a new e-service - GalerieNet - that provides
real-time access to the Galerie express stock items.   This will give customers
greater reliability and flexibility, allowing them to obtain additional paper
quickly in the event of last minute changes or over-usage. 

M-real's print performance services will help customers achieve improved print
quality, consistent colour and image reproduction, and higher press
performance, resulting in cost savings.  The services include consultancy in
colour management and printing efficiency, and a specialised Print Performance
Service team has been established to collaborate with printers and end users. 
M-real's colour management services have already been used by demanding
customers that include Condé Nast (Vogue), BBC Magazines, and Oriflame. 

The Galerie Customer Program will be presented to M-real's customers during
November 2007, with the streamlined product range, print performance services
and GalerieNet e-services available from January 2008.  Further elements of the
improved supply service will be introduced in the first half of 2008. 


Note to editors: M-real is one of the leading producers of paper and paperboard
in Europe.  The company's customers include publishers, printers, carton
printers, paper merchants, office suppliers and well-known consumer brand
manufacturers. 

M-real supports its customers' businesses by providing quality papers and
paperboard for consumer packaging, communications and advertising end-uses. 
Together with its customers and partners, M-real develops products and
solutions for demanding end-uses, such as magazines, art books, brochures,
direct mail, and office papers.  The company's paperboard is used for packaging
of beauty and healthcare products, cigarettes, branded food and consumer
durables. 

The company has four business areas: Consumer Packaging, Publishing, Commercial
Printing and Office Papers. 

M-real is headquartered in Finland.  The company's sales are EUR 5.6 billion,
and it employs over 13,000 people.   M-real, which is part of the Metsäliitto
Group, is listed on the OMX Nordic Exchange Helsinki.  Metsäliitto Group is the
eight largest forest industry group in the world with sales of EUR 8.5 billion. 

www.m-real.com


For further information please contact:

Gregory Gettinger
Executive Vice President, M-real Publishing
Tel. +49 40 280 823 20, GSM +49 171 491 7810
E-mail: gregory.gettinger@m-real.com

Marjo Halonen
Vice President, Marketing Communications, M-real Publishing
GSM +358 50 598 7046
E-mail: marjo.halonen@m-real.com