HELSINKI, Finland, Aug. 31, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- Metso Automation has agreed that it will acquire the business activities of Pulpexpert Oy, a designer and supplier of on-line/laboratory multi measurement analyzers for the pulp and paper industry. The acquisition will broaden Metso Automation's analyzer product line and strengthen its position as the leading analyzer supplier to the pulp and paper industry.
Pulpexpert's product range includes automatic pulp quality analyzers and measurement robots as well as automatic paper quality analyzers and analyzers for pulp sheets. These products complement Metso Automation's products, and will allow Metso Automation to better serve customers with complete packages. This is in accordance with the Metso Future Care concept, the purpose of which is to maintain the competitiveness of customers' processes throughout their whole life cycles. After this acquisition, Metso Automation's product offering covers the whole operations chain for on-line measurements with closed loop control and lab backup.
Pulpexpert Oy was established in 1990. The company's head office and factory are located in Varkaus, Finland. Pulpexpert Oy has six offices and numerous cooperative partners worldwide. In 2000, the company's net sales were EUR 5.6 million. Company employs 36 persons.
Metso Corporation (NYSE:MX) is a global supplier of process industry machinery and systems. The corporation's automation and control technology business area, Metso Automation, develops and supplies process automation and flow control solutions for the pulp and paper, refining, petrochemical, chemical and energy industries. Metso's other core businesses are divided between Metso Minerals (rock and mineral processing) and Metso Paper (fiber and paper 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.