Demand and market for UPM's wood plastic composite are growing; UPM to build a wood plastic composite mill in Germany


UPM-Kymmene Corporation   Investor News   April 11, 2008  at 09:00              

UPM is expanding its wood plastic composite production by building a new mill in
Karlsruhe, Germany. This new production unit is aimed at responding to the fast 
market growth and increasing demand for wood plastic composite in Central       
Europe. The mill is scheduled to start production by the end of this year. It   
will offer employment to about 50 people. The investment value is approximately 
EUR12 million.                                                                  

The new mill will manufacture UPM ProFi Deck decking boards mainly for the      
growing Central European market.                                                

UPM ProFi wood plastic composite products are manufactured from surplus paper   
and plastic left over from the production of self-adhesive label materials. The 
first commercialised ProFi product is UPM ProFi Deck. Production in Lahti,      
Finland, started a year ago. In recent years, UPM has strongly developed new    
business opportunities, one of which is UPM ProFi.                              

"A mill in the middle of Europe strengthens our position in the fast growing    
markets, now that the demand for materials suitable for outdoor building has    
considerably increased in Central Europe. Furthermore, the Karlsruhe mill can   
effectively utilise the residue materials from nearby self-adhesive label       
industries. Also the surplus material from UPM Raflatac's mill located in Nancy,
France, can be utilised by the German mill," explains Director Markku Koivisto, 
who is responsible for the UPM ProFi business.                                  

For further information, please contact:                                        
Director Markku Koivisto, UPM ProFi business, tel. +358 40 861 2852 (excl. from 
14:00 to 14:30)                                                                 

UPM ProFi business develops, manufactures, markets and sells high-quality wood  
plastic composite products mainly for building and construction. UPM ProFi is a 
durable and recyclable material, made mainly from surplus paper and plastic left
over from the production of self-adhesive label materials. After use, the       
products can be recycled into energy. Further information and photographs:      
www.upmprofi.comUPM-Kymmene Corporation                                         
Pirkko Harrela                                                                  
Executive Vice President, Corporate Communications                              

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OMX Nordic Exchange Helsinki                                                    
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www.upm-kymmene.com                                                             


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