Helsinki, Finland, 09 September 2008 -- Metso will establish its third service center in China. The center, which will be located in Zibo, Shandong Province, will provide machinery maintenance and process development services to the pulp and paper making industry in northern China. Metso’s investment in the new center will amount to more than EUR 10 million.

The new greenfield service center will be operational in 2009. In the beginning, the center will employ 40 service professionals.

The Shandong center will feature a fully equipped roll service workshop providing rolls and roll covers and mechanical roll maintenance for all makes and sizes of pulp and paper machines. In addition, the center will offer a full scope of spare part and mill site services. The Shandong center also will have the facilities to manufacture ceramic roll covers.

The establishment of the new Shandong service center is a continuation of Metso's commitment to serve the Chinese pulp and paper industry locally. In line with this commitment, Metso has been steadily strengthening its local service operations in China. Metso has also two other service centers in China: Wuxi service center in Jiangsu Province and Guangzhou Service Center in Guangdong, which will start its operation in November 2008.

Metso is a global engineering and technology corporation with 2007 net sales of over EUR 6 billion. Its more than 27,000 employees in approximately 50 countries serve customers in the pulp and paper industry, rock and minerals processing, the energy industry, and selected other industries.

www.metso.com