Helsinki, Finland, 12 September 2006 -- Metso Paper will supply Guangzhou Paper in Guangdong province, China, with a close to 400,000 tons/year printing paper production line. Start-up is scheduled for the end of 2007. The total value of the order is well over EUR 100 million.

The single-supplier delivery will include a complete 10.2-m wide (wire), 2000 m/min (design) OptiConcept paper machine, a parent reel cart, two winders, and a roll wrapping machine, together with related stock preparation equipment, wet end chemical preparation and air systems.

Metso Automation will supply an extensive automation package, including machine, process and quality controls, systems for runnability and condition monitoring, and a system for web runnability monitoring.

Guangzhou Paper is one of China's oldest and most respected newsprint makers. It is also the site of Metso Paper's first paper machine delivery to the People's Republic of China, 50 years ago. Currently the company operates five newsprint machines with a combined capacity of 470,000 tons/year. The Metso-supplied OptiConcept PM 1 was successfully started in May 2006. Recently, Guangzhou Paper placed an order with Metso Paper for an extensive rebuild of the mill's PM 8.

Metso is a global engineering and technology corporation with 2005 net sales of approximately EUR 4.2 billion. Its 22,000 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