Metso Paper supplies Billerud Gruvön with wet-end rebuild to improve paper quality and optimize raw material consumption

Published June 6, 2007 10.00.00 +2 GMT

Metso Paper will supply the Billerud Gruvön mill in Sweden with a wet-end rebuild to improve paper quality and optimize the raw material expenses for its PM 2 White Liner & White Craft production. The rebuild, which will take place in spring 2008, includes a new ValFlo headbox with dilution control, a new top fourdrinier, and a modification of the base fourdrinier including a new couch roll. The value of the order will not be disclosed.

Christian Persson, Production Manager of the Gruvön mill's PM 2, says: "The target for the rebuild of the Billerud Gruvön PM 2 is to improve formation, basis weight and moisture profile, as well as fiber orientation. The rebuild also gives us the possibility to reduce the need for short fiber. The wet-end rebuild project is a continuation of the good co-operation experienced with Metso Paper throughout the years."

The PM 2, originally started up in 1931, currently has an operating speed of 500 m/min, and a wire width of 4,900 mm. The basis weight range is 70-152 g/m2 before the rebuild and will be 60-140 g/m2 after the rebuild. Earlier, Metso Paper supplied the Billerud Gruvön PM 2 with a port-a-bar beam arrangement for its former section, dryer section modifications and, in 1996, a larger press section rebuild.

Billerud Corporation is a leading producer of packaging paper and market pulp in Europe. The company has net sales of SEK 7 billion (approx. EUR 750 million) and 2,400 employees in 11 countries. Its three integrated pulp and paper mills and one paper mill have a combined annual production capacity of 1.4 million tonnes. All of the mills have ISO 9001 quality certification and ISO 14001 environmental certification. The Gruvön mill also applies EMAS, BRC/IOP, PEFC, FSC, Energy management and System/PFE.

Metso is a global engineering and technology corporation with 2006 net sales of approximately EUR 5 billion. Its 25,500 employees in more than 50 countries serve customers in the pulp and paper industry, rock and minerals processing, the energy industry and selected other industries. www.metso.com

For more information, please contact: Carl-Henrik Bengelsdorff, Vice President Sales Karlstad, Sweden Tel. +46 705 17 10 09 carl-henrik.bengelsdorff@metso.com

Jari Siitonen, Vice President Sales Jyväskylä, Finland Tel. +358 40 765 7406 jari.siitonen@metso.com