Metso Paper to supply another paper machine rebuild to ITC Bhadrachalam, India

Published Oct 30, 2006 11.00.00 +2 GMT

Metso Paper will supply ITC Limited Paperboards & Specialty Papers Division in India with a paper machine rebuild. The pre-owned machine will be imported and relocated at ITC's Bhadrachalam mill in Andhra Pradesh state. The "Calypso PM 6" fine paper machine, which will increase the mill's production capacity with 100,000 t/y, is scheduled to start up during the first half of 2008. The value of the Metso order is in the range of EUR 15 million.

The modernization will consist of a SymFormer MB unit, a new SymPress B press section, dryer section runnability components and new surface treatment equipment for finalizing the paper quality.

The 5.3-m-wide PM 6 will produce uncoated and coated woodfree printing and writing grades. Machinery upgrades will have a design speed of up to 1,000 m/min.

Using appropriate technology, ITC and Metso have worked closely together to develop the Bhadrachalam mill's production capacity to a new level. The latest co-operation projects include an ozone bleaching stage to the existing Metso-supplied fiber line, as well as a totally new fiber line. Both projects are due to start up in fall 2007. In addition, Metso will supply a modernization and a new reel for the Bhadrachalam PM 4 board machine in spring 2007.

ITC Limited is one of India's foremost private sector companies with a turnover of USD 3.5 billion. The company's Paperboards & Specialty Papers Division is one of the largest manufacturers of packaging and graphic boards in South Asia. The Bhadrachalam mill, which is the country's largest single location mill, produces close to 280,000 t/y of paper and board.

Metso is a global engineering corporation with 2005 net sales of approximately EUR 4.2 billion. Metso's 22,000 employees in more than 50 countries serve customers in the pulp and paper industry, rock and minerals processing, the energy industry and select other industries. www.metso.com.

For further information, please contact: Pertti Ojala Vice President, Sales Metso Paper Tel. +358 400 493 308 pertti.ojala@metso.com

Mauro Almici Sales Manager Metso Paper Como Tel. +39 335 613 6337 mauro.almici@metso.com