Metsä-Botnia starts up Joutseno's new fibre line

The new fibre line of Metsä-Botnia´s Joutseno Pulp mill was started up
according to schedule on May 15th 2001. By the beginning of June, the mill was
operating in normal order and production was at record levels. 

The Euro 250 million PULP 2000 project completes the modernisation and capacity
increase of the Joutseno mill. The new recovery line was taken into operation
in 1998. At this stage, continuity of good pulp quality is the most important
goal beside stabilisation of operation and increase of production. 

New mill, latest technology

Once the new fibre line has reached its design capacity of 600 000 tpy, the
full capacity of the recovery line can be taken into use. 

The new mill represents the latest pulping technology. The fibre line was in
effect rebuilt entirely. The cooker choice was Kvaerner Pulping's Compact
Cooking method, suited for production of reinforcement pulp. The rest of the
fibre line equipment was delivered by Ahlstrom Machinery. The delivery cover
brown stock washing, oxygen delignification, screening and bleaching equipment.
Valmet Chemical Pulping carried out the modernisation and capacity increase of
the drying machine. The drying capacity wads raised to 2 200 tpd, corresponding
to the capacity of the new fibre line. 

The technology used in the new fibre line also significantly reduces the
environmental loading by the mill. As a result of the reduced effluent volume
per ton of pulp, the capacity of Joutseno's existing effluent treatment
facilities is sufficient to handle the combined load of the pulp mill and the
new M-real CTMP plant on the same mill site. A new effluent pumping station and
neutralisation basin were added, however. 

The process control system of the whole mill is now centralised in one control
room situated between the pulp mill and the recovery island. Local control
rooms are needed for the wood handling department and the drying machine.
Process control systems were supplied by Metso Automation. 

Strong pulp

Customers manufacturing magazine paper appreciate Joutseno pulp. Joutseno
Pulps's reinforcement pulp grades are Pine 85, Pine ECF, Pine ARM. The strength
characteristics of pulp are the combined result of wood raw-material, and the
equipment and process combination of the fibre line. 

The Joutseno mill uses as raw material pine and spruce pulp wood as well as
pine and spruce sawmill chips. The new fibre line raises the wood raw material
consumption of the mill to 3.5 million cubic metres per year. 

Metsä-Botnia's other pulp mills are situated in Kaskinen, Kemi, Äänekoski and
Rauma. Metsä-Botnia also has a liner mill in Kemi. Metsä-Botnia is the second
largest European producer of sulphate pulp with a production capacity of 2.7
million tonnes. The share of market pulp is 500 000 tonnes. 

For more information, please contact:
Seppo Pursiainen, +358 1046 65213
Risto Joronen, +358 1046 65211