Metso Paper to supply environmentally sound pulp bleaching systems to Japan and Spain

Published Sept 2, 2005 11.00.00 +2 GMT

Metso Paper will supply ZeTrac high-consistency ozone bleaching systems to Daio Paper Corporation in Japan and Sniace Group in Spain. The total value of the orders is approximately EUR 30 million. Start-ups of the new bleaching lines are scheduled for April 2006 in Japan and for February 2007 in Spain.

The new technology to be installed will convert the existing bleaching processes into environmentally more sustainable. Metso Paper's ozone technology enables a considerable reduction in both the amount of effluent and fresh water consumption. In addition to main process machinery, Metso Paper will provide engineering and site services.

The modernization of Daio Paper's bleaching process

In Japan, Metso Paper will modernize Daio Paper's Mishima mill's pulp bleaching process. The mill produces daily 1,600 tons of elemental chlorine-free (ECF) bleached pulp from hardwood for its own integrated paper machines. After the modernization, the bleaching sequence will be O-A-Ze-D-D, or alternatively O-A-Ze-P-D. Besides the ozone bleaching reactors and auxiliary equipment, Metso Paper will deliver TwinRoll wash presses for pulp washing and pressing to a consistency required for the bleaching process.

Daio Paper Corporation produces annually 2 million tons of paper and one million ton of pulp.

Sniace's Torrelavega mill goes totally chlorine-free

Metso Paper will modify Sniace's Torrelavega mill's pulp bleaching system. The mill's daily production will increase from 180 tons to 240 tons of dissolving sulfite pulp from Eucalyptus globulus and kongo species. The existing C-E-H-H bleaching will be replaced by a totally chlorine-free Z-E-P bleaching system featuring ZeTrac HC-ozone technology. The new process will enable a major part of the effluent to be recovered and used for lignin production. In addition, the operation cost of the new bleaching process will be approximately 50% lower.

Sniace Group currently produces annually 60,000 tonnes of dissolving pulp. 40% of the production is processed into viscose within the Sniace Group, and the rest is mainly exported. By investing in the new bleach plant and adding one new pulp digester, the annual pulp production will increase to 79,000 tons.

Metso is a global technology corporation serving customers in the pulp and paper industry, rock and minerals processing, the energy industry and selected other industries. In 2004, the net sales of Metso Corporation were approx. EUR 4 billion, and it has some 22,000 employees in more than 50 countries. Metso's shares are listed on the Helsinki and New York Stock Exchanges.

For further information, please contact: Seppo Hiljanen, Senior Vice President, Chemical Pulping, Metso Paper, tel. +358 20 482 9881, seppo.hiljanen@metso.com

Lars Sjödin, Vice President, Chemical Pulping, Metso Paper, Sundsvall, Sweden, tel. +46 60 16 51 85, lars.sjodin@metso.com