Metso to rebuild cartonboard machines at M-real’s Kyro and Äänekoski mills in Finland

HELSINKI, June 10, 2011 (Press Release) - Metso will rebuild two board machines for M-real in Finland: the BM 1 cartonboard machine at the Kyro mill and the BM 1 cartonboard machine at the Äänekoski mill. The start-up of the rebuilt Kyro BM 1 machine is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2011 and that of the rebuilt Äänekoski BM 1 machine for the second quarter of 2012. The combined value of the orders is over EUR 15 million.

Metso's delivery to the Kyro mill will include a rebuild of the press, dryer and coating sections. In a coating drying rebuild, new energy-efficient high-drying-capacity PowerDry Plus air dryers will be added both to increase drying capacity and to replace old gas infrared dryers. The Kyro BM 1 produces folding boxboard in the basis weight range of 200 to 370 g/m2. After the rebuild, the annual board capacity of the Kyro mill will increase to approximately 190,000 tonnes.

Metso's delivery to the Äänekoski mill will include a rebuild of the headbox, the coating section and the reel including an automatic parent roll transfer system to the new winder. A new ValFlo headbox and a new WinDrum two-drum winder will aim at capacity increase. The Äänekoski BM 1 produces folding boxboard in the basis weight range of 185 to 360 g/m2. After the rebuild, the annual board capacity of the Äänekoski mill will increase to approximately 240,000 tonnes.

M-real is Europe's leading primary fiber paperboard producer and a major paper supplier. The company's customers include brand owners, carton printers, converters, publishers, printing houses, merchants and office product suppliers. In 2010, the company's sales totaled EUR 2.6 billion, and it has approximately 4,500 employees. M-real is part of the Metsäliitto Group.