Metso Paper to rebuild Norske Skog’s PMs in Austria and Norway

Published June 10, 2003 14.00.00 +2 GMT

Metso Paper will supply Norske Skog with rebuilds of their paper machines in Bruck, Austria, and Halden, Norway. Total value of the orders is around EUR 22 million.

The Bruck mill’s PM 4 LWC paper machine will receive a wet end rebuild. The modernization, which will improve paper quality and increase production, will be carried out by late March 2004. The project includes a dilution-controlled OptiFlo headbox and an OptiFormer wire section.

The on-line-coating paper machine was originally supplied by Beloit in 1989 and has wire a width of 7.15 m. The design speed for new parts is 1700 m/min. Basis weight range for base paper will be 32-60 gsm, for the coated product 51-100 gsm.

Norske Skog Bruck selected Metso Paper thanks to their proven technology, good references and good cooperation with Norske Skog Corporation and the Bruck mill. The mill, located in Bruck an der Mur, some two hours’ drive southwest from Vienna, has two paper machines producing approx. 360,000 tonnes of publication papers per year. The mill joined Norske Skog group in 1996.

In Halden Saugbrugs’ PM 6 SC paper machine will be modernized with a production improvement operation consisting of a dilution-controlled OptiFlo headbox and changes to the dryer section. The rebuilt machine will come on stream in March 2004. PM 6, which has a wire width of 9.4 m, was originally supplied by Valmet in 1993. The Saugbrugs mill was founded in 1859 and became part of Norske Skog in 1989. With a capacity of 550,000 tonnes from three machines the mill is one of the world’s largest and most modern manufacturers of SC magazine paper.

Norske Skog, established in 1962, is the world’s second largest producer of publication paper, with 23 wholly and partly owned mills in 15 countries on five continents. Norske Skog has a 13% share of the global market for newsprint and magazine paper. Since 2000 the company has become a leading global player, with activities in Asia, North America, South America and Australia as well. The Company is now virtually 100% concentrated on publication paper. Operating revenue in 2002 was NOK 23.5 billion.

More information: Ilpo J. Ollila, Vice President, Sales, tel. +358 20 482 6005