Metso to Supply Coated Board Lline to Shandong International Paper & Sun Coated Paperboard in China

Helsinki, Finland, 23 March 2007 -- Metso Paper will supply a coated board line to Shandong International Paper & Sun Coated Paperboard Co., Ltd. in China. The machine, which will have an annual capacity exceeding 400,000 metric tons, will come on stream in the second quarter of 2008 in Yanzhou, Shandong province. The value of the order is close to EUR 60 million.

The new PM 22 board line is a single-supplier delivery by Metso Paper. It is based on a novel technology concept for the production of superior coated cartonboard grades. The production line will contain a complete 3-ply coated board machine with five coating stations, enabling the production of folding boxboard, art board, and liquid packaging board grades. The line will have a wire width of 5100 mm and a design speed of 900 m/min. Quality and machine controls, basis weight, and moisture profilers are supplied by Metso Automation. A part of the delivery will be supplied by Metso Paper (China).

Metso Paper and Sun Paper Group have a long-term business relationship. Earlier, Metso Paper has supplied two board machines, one paper machine and a coating line to the Group's Yanzhou mill.

Sun Paper Group is one of the foremost paper and board producers in China with a combined production capacity of 1,500,000 metric tons per year. The Group consists of three companies: Shandong Sun Paper Co., Ltd., Shandong International Paper & Sun Coated Paperboard Co., Ltd. and International Paper & Sun Cartonboard Co., Ltd. Sun Paper Group employs more than 7000 people at its Yanzhou mill.

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