Metso to supply pressure diffuser to West Fraser in Canada

Published June 6, 2010 15.00.00 +2 GMT

Metso will supply a pressure diffuser for West Fraser's Hinton pulp mill in Alberta, Canada. The new system is scheduled to start up in the fall of 2011. The value of the order will not be disclosed.

Metso’s scope of supply includes a pressure diffuser representing the DiConn technology and engineering and field services. The pressure diffuser will be installed in the blow line of Hinton Pulp’s existing continuous cooking system. By installing the DiConn pressure diffuser concept, the Hinton Pulp operation will benefit from improved washing efficiency which in turn will result in improved pulp quality and environmental performance. With this delivery Metso will have supplied more than twenty DiConn pressure diffuser installations.

The installation of the pressure diffuser is part of an investment program where West Fraser will boost its environmental performance and contribute to a more sustainable pulp and paper industry in Canada. Steam savings gained through this project will translate into 3,580 megawatt-hours of additional energy a year - enough to power the equivalent of 2,800 homes. In addition, a key benefit of the project will be the reduced use of natural gas as clean energy production increases - lowering greenhouse gas emissions by more than 7,000 tonnes a year.

West Fraser is an integrated wood products company producing lumber, wood chips, LVL (laminated veneer lumber), MDF, plywood, pulp and newsprint. The Company has operations in western Canada and the southern United States.

Metso is a global supplier of sustainable technology and services for mining, construction, power generation, automation, recycling and the pulp and paper industries. We have about 27,000 employees in more than 50 countries. www.metso.com

For further information, please contact:

Bill Bohn, Vice President, Fiber business line, North America, Metso Tel. +1 770 263 1542