Metso to deliver first commercial LignoBoost plant to Domtar's Plymouth, NC, pulp mill; allows an increase in capacity

HELSINKI, Dec. 15, 2011 (Press Release) - Metso will supply the world's first commercial installation of LignoBoost technology to Domtar in North America. The equipment will be intergrated with the Plymouth North Carolina pulp mill. The LignoBoost process separates and collects lignin from pulping liquor. This order is an important breakthrough for Metso's patented LignoBoost technology and provides the Plymouth NC mill with numerous benefits. The value of the order is not disclosed.

Separation of a portion of the mill's total lignin production off-loads the recovery boiler and allows an increase in pulp production capacity. The lignin recovered will be used for internal and external applications.

"This project is a potential game changer for the Pulp & Paper industry because it will allow pulp mills to have a new more profitable value stream from a product that was traditionally burned in a recovery boiler," says Gene Christiansen, General Manager - Business Development Innovations at Metso's Power Business Line for North America in Charlotte, NC.

The LignoBoost project is based on the 24 ton per day demonstration plant in Bäckhammar in Sweden. The Bäckhammar plant is owned and operated by Innventia since 2006. In 2008 Metso acquired the LignoBoost Technology from Innventia and the companies have since then been working together on the commercialization of the process.

The LignoBoost plant will be in commercial operation in early 2013.The order is included in the Energy and Environmental Technology's fourth quarter 2011 orders received.