Displaying items by tag: finland

Finland's June industrial output soared 14.5 percent compared with a year earlier, boosted by a nearly 31-percent gain in its forestry and paper sector, official data showed Tuesday.

Compared to May, Finland's industrial output jumped 2.1 percent, according to figures from Statistic Finland adjusted for seasonal variations.

In May, the Nordic country saw its industrial production grow 13.2 percent on a year-on-year basis and 1.9 percent compared to April, the agency said, pointing out that "apart from a downswing in February, seasonally adjusted output has been rising since October."

Export-reliant Finland, which was hard-hit by the global financial crisis as demand for its key products -- paper and mobile telephones -- plunged, saw growth in all its main industries in June.

Output rose most in the forestry industry, up 30.9 percent compared to June 2009, and in the metals sector, up 14.5 percent, Statistics Finland said.

The electricity and electronics sectors, including the world's leading mobile phone maker Nokia, meanwhile saw slower growth of just 0.8 percent compared to the same month in 2009, it added.

Finland, which suffered more from the financial crisis than its Scandinavian neighbours, has shown signs of recovery but slipped back into recession in the first quarter, with the latest government estimates foreseeing only modest 1.5-percent growth for all of 2010.

Source: Swedishwire

The forest industry company Oy Metsä-Botnia Ab was the first in the world to implement a uniform group-level flue gas emission monitoring and reporting solution for pulp production. Metso provided the monitoring and reporting solution for the company’s Botnia pulp mill group, based on the metsoDNAinformation system platform.

Metso’s emission monitoring and reporting applications are widely used in other large combustion plants and Botnia Group’s reporting system is based on these practices, and on mill-specific environmental permits and EU directives and standards. The set-up was specially tailored for pulp production. The applications can either be an integrated part of Metso´s own metsoDNA CR automation platform or a stand-alone solution.

Each Botnia mill has its own data collection server, where emission data is collected and processed. Mill servers are connected to the main server at the Äänekoski mill in Finland. This arrangement enables any Botnia mill to review and compare their operation with the results of another mill via a web-based browser display.

The experience so far shows that the set-up makes it possible to respond quickly to any problems the mill might have and to benchmark operations against other Botnia mills. The solution enables uniform monitoring and reporting online, as well as short- and long-term emission reporting within the Botnia Group and to the authorities. Furthermore, it even enables proactive emission management and forecasting.

Energy efficiency is also considered crucial and therefore Botnia is planning to connect the monitoring of the current mill-specific measurement systems to the same common portal. This would offer the same advantages for group-wide energy efficiency monitoring and reporting.

For further information, please contact: Tiina Stenvik, Product Manager, Automation business line,
tel. +358 20 483 8013

(UPM, Joroinen, 9 June 2010 at 10:00) – UPM’s tree nursery in Joroinen, Finland, celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. The tree nursery will keep an open house for visitors between 29 July and 1 August from 10 am to 4 pm daily.

Founded in 1980, UPM's tree nursery annually produces 14 to 15 million spruce seedlings and forest planting material for the company’s own forests and its customers. UPM's tree nursery produces healthy, high-quality tree seedlings suitable for different areas. All plants are of Finnish origin.

The tree nursery employs 30 people specialised in producing tree seedlings. “Modern plant production technologies combined with skilled staff enable the best possible start for a new forest”, says manager Anne Immonen.

“In a good plant, both the stem and the root are of high quality. A healthy plant, successful handling during transportation and storing as well as good soil preparation are all necessary in order to create a productive forest. A careful planting of the tree seedlings is very important”, Immonen points out.

Two thirds of forest regeneration is done by planting tree seedlings. Tree species is chosen based on the soil type. Trees are planted at specific spots within a certain distance from one another. In addition to manual planting done by forest workers mechanical planting is increasingly used.

For further information please contact:
Ms Anne Immonen, UPM, Manager, Joroinen Tree Nursery, tel. +358 204 16 0951

UPM Forest, Northern Europe
UPM’s Northern Forest Supply Chain is responsible for sourcing wood in Finland, Russia, the Baltic countries, Belarus and Scandinavia. UPM’s Forestry Business, Northern Europe, is in charge of the company’s own forests and forest services offered to customers. In Finland, UPM owns 915 hectares of forest and has its own tree nursery. Most of the wood used in UPM’s Finnish factories is sourced from private forests. UPM offers private forest owners versatile and competitive high-quality forest services. UPM’s forest-related products also include high-class Bonvesta forest estates.

UPM leads the integration of bio and forest industries into a new, sustainable and innovation-driven future. Our products are made of renewable raw materials and are recyclable. UPM consists of three Business Groups: Energy and pulp, Paper, and Engineered materials. The Group employs around 23,000 people and it has production facilities in 15 countries. In 2009, UPM's sales amounted to EUR 7.7 billion. UPM's shares are listed on the Helsinki stock exchange.

Larox Flowsys has launched a new series of pumps to supplement its hose pump family. Known also for its heavy duty pinch and knife gate valves Larox Flowsys introduced the new pump at the international PulPaper 2010 Exhibition in Helsinki, Finland on June the first. Larox Progressive Cavity pumps are engineered for the most demanding industrial slurry and paste pumping applications.

The Larox Flowsys progressive cavity pump was conceived by utilizing Larox Flowsys’ extensive experience in progress cavity pump service and the its extensive experience as a peristaltic pump provider. Larox Flowsys is the industry benchmark for abrasive, corrosive or demanding pumping applications.

Larox Flowsys launches now three PC Pumps: 

- series C is designed for demanding duties in different applications for example in pulp & paper, mining & minerals and chemical industries
- series D pumps are meant for dosing
- series E is a very compact solution, especially targeted to environmental  applications such as waste water

More new products are to be introduced soon.

Patented Technology

- Our new pump has innovative and patented features making its efficiency significantly greater compared to conventional progressive cavity pumps, says Mr. Ismo Hämäläinen, Director of Pump Products at Larox Flowsys. - It is very easy to install, saves power and maintenance time and offers longer servicing intervals, he continues, better pumping availability at an expanded temperature range.

The precise Evenwall 3D-technology with 2-lobe rotor geometry offers rigid and tighter pumping unit compared to conventional progressive cavity pumps. – This makes it possible to use a smaller interference between the rotor and the stator, says Hämäläinen. By reducing friction between rotor and stator allows for a much lower starting torque and significantly higher efficiency.

The pump’s suction connection direction can be adjusted step less. The pump construction is shorter which facilitates easy installation in any new and existing pump installations. The most common failure in pumps is caused by shaft sealing problems. By utilizing the one of a kind patented shaft invention the mechanical shaft seal can be replaced quickly without dismantling the entire pump or its drive shaft and coupling.

Global service, local reach

Larox Flowsys Group has more than 90 employees and the number is growing. Headquarted in Lappeenranta, Finland Larox Flowsys Group has subsidiaries in Linthicum, Maryland USA and in Anjanlankoski, Finland.  As more than 90% of the company's net sales come from global exports, the reliable and fast customer service is guaranteed by an international sales and service network, covering over 55 countries.

More about Larox PC pump – pls contact Mr. Ismo Hämäläinen, Director, Pump Products, Larox Flowsys, tel: +358 50 564 2317, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Marjatta Kupias
Vice President, Marketing
Larox Flowsys Oy
Tel. +358 400 858 205
Fax: +358 201 113 300
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Metso announced on October 27, 2009 the decision to invest in special valves production in Finland. Today, the foundation stone on the new Metso industrial valves factory will be laid in Vantaa.
 
              

The Finnish production of Metso’s industrial valves and personnel in automation and power generation in the Helsinki region, all together 800 people, will move to new factory and to adjoined office building at the beginning of 2011. Metso’s industrial valves factory has operated in Roihupelto, Helsinki nearly 50 years.

Pasi Laine, President, Energy and Environmental Technology, Metso says that in Finland Metso has strong know-how in product development and manufacturing in special valves intended for demanding applications, for example in oil and gas industries and in power generation. ’’The new facility will enable us to bring more efficiency to the production process for these technologically advanced industrial products and will improve the prerequisites for further developing quality and delivery capability.’’

’’In Metso’s power generation solutions, for example in biomass power plants, our automation know-how and valves are in key role. So it is natural that these professionals work under same roof in the future,’’ he continues.

The new facility is continuation in the line of investment decisions to develop Metso’s services globally. Just previous week Metso’s new technology center was inaugurated in Shanghai. ‘’These are positive messages to our personnel and to our customers: We are constantly improving our service level to our partners in oil, gas, process and pulp and paper industries,’’ Pasi Laine comments.
The builder of the new Vantaa factory is Sponda Plc, real estate investment company. Metso will lease about 23,000 m2 of production facilities under a long-term agreement with Sponda which is also leasing to Metso some 12,000 square metres of office and warehouse premises in the office building next to the new building. The relocation is estimated to result in one-time costs of about EUR 4 million.

Metso’s Energy and Environmental Technology segment employs about 2,300 in Finland. In total Metso has more than 8,000 employees in Finland.

Further information for the press, please contact:
Pasi Laine, President, Energy and Environmental Technology, Metso, tel. +358 40 562 4339. 4-5 PM (+2 GMT)
Markku Simula, President, Flow Control, Automation business line, Metso, tel. +358 40 579 8128, 4-5 PM (+2 GMT)

Metso-acquired Tamfelt Corp. has been established as Fabrics business line within Metso’s Paper and Fiber Technology. Tamfelt was delisted from the stock exchange on May 4, 2010 after Metso had acquired all of Tamfelt shares.

The name change from Tamfelt Corp. to Metso Fabrics Corp. has been registered in the Trade Register on May 21, 2010. Metso Fabrics Corp.’s subsidiaries Tamfelt PMC Corp., Tamfelt Filtration Corp. and Tamfelt Kiinteistöt Oy continue under their present names.

Reima Kerttula, who was President and CEO of Tamfelt Corporation, has been appointed as the President of the Fabrics business line.

Metso is a global supplier of sustainable technology and services for mining, construction, power generation, automation, recycling and the pulp and paper industries. We have about 27,000 employees in more than 50 countries. www.metso.com

Further information for the press, please contact:
Reima Kerttula, President, Fabrics business line, Metso, tel. +358 40 064 8458

The rebuild of PM10 at Metsä Tissue’s Mänttä Mill was brought to conclusion ahead of schedule, with the first reels produced on 22 April 2010. The revamped machine produces toilet paper and hand towel base paper for products marketed under the Lambi, Serla and Katrin brands.

The investment to rebuild PM10 improves paper formation and enhances product quality and improves energy efficiency. The rebuild will reduce water consumption and contribute to energy savings.

Vaahto Pulp & Paper Machinery was contracted to rebuild PM10 in April 2010. The rebuild schedule was ambitious, but the project proceeded ahead of plan. The delivery included a new Crescent former, headbox and reel plus fully overhauled short circulation and press section. The runnability and speed on the paper machine and converting lines improved clearly resulting in increased efficiency.

Vaahto Group is a globally operating high technology company serving process industry in the fields of pulp and paper machinery and process machinery.

VAAHTO GROUP PLC OYJ

Anssi Klinga
CEO

Information:
Jyrki Strengell
President
Vaahto Pulp & Paper Machinery
tel. +358 400 613800

M-real Corporation, part of Metsäliitto Group, announced on 9 December 2009 plans to improve Speciality Papers business area's profitability. The main measures were stated to be the planned closures of two speciality paper machines in Reflex mill and the streamlining of the organizations in both Gohrsmühle and Reflex mills.

Negotiations to implement the planned measures started in January 2010. Negotiations have now been finalised resulting in a reduction of 220 jobs at the Gohrsmühle and Reflex mills. This represents an about 20 percent reduction of the total workforce. The implementation of personnel reduction is ongoing and it will be finalised by the end of 2010.

Annual production capacity of the Reflex mill will reduce by approximately 80 000 tonnes. The production of carbonless base papers will move to Gohrsmühle mill and the converting as well as the finishing remains in the Reflex mill. The Reflex mill will continue the production of premium fine and digital imaging papers. Product offering and supply capability of M-real Zanders will remain unchanged.

In the future, the Reflex mill will be developed based on a paper park concept. The target is to find industrial partnerships with other producers and thus create new jobs at the mill site. In Gohrsmühle the share of speciality papers of the total product portfolio will continue to increase.

Speciality Papers business area's operating result in the second quarter of 2010 will due to the above mentioned measures include approximately EUR 16 million non-recurring cost provisions. The expected annual profit improvement of these measures is approximately EUR 18 million fully from 2011 onwards.

For further information, please contact: Matti Mörsky, CFO, tel. +358 10 465 4913 Juha Laine, Vice President, Investor Relations and Communications, tel. +358 10 465 4335

Metso and Chinese pulp and paper industry top executives gathered together on May 18 in an industry summit focusing on the promotion of sustainable development in the industry. The event, supported by China Paper Industry Chamber of Commerce, took place in the Finland pavilion at the Shanghai World EXPO, and was followed by an awards ceremony, hosted by Metso.

"Ever increasing energy costs and emissions regulations, as well as the need to decrease fresh water usage are major considerations for the process industry around the world today. Pulp and paper industry is no exception. Investment in the development and implementation of the best available technology is the only way to boost energy and materials efficiency, and to reduce emissions and water consumption", states Ari Harmaala, President of Metso Operations in China.

The event focused on two main themes: How to solve the contradiction between shortage of raw material supply and rapid growth in investments in China, and how to produce pulp and paper in a sustainable way. Today, carbon emissions and ecological sustainability are already of high concern in China, but they are expected to grow in importance as stricter policies are being implemented.

China is the world's leading producer of paper and board with its annual production of over 80 million tons. Due to rapid investment in the industry since 1990s, China has the most modern pulp and paper making fleet in the world. Metso has played a key role in this development by having supplied about 35 percent of China's paper and board machine capacity built since 2000, thus earning its position as the market leader in China.

Since the outset of its pulp and paper operations in China in the 1950's, Metso's scope of operations has expanded to include the mining, construction, energy and recycling industries. Today, Metso employs close to 3,000 professionals in 24 local subsidiaries and sales and service outlets in China. In 2010, two new locations will be inaugurated. One of them is the technology center to be opened in Shanghai on May 28 comprising a state-of-the-art valve factory and a supply center as well as assembly and testing facilities for process automation systems. In fall 2010, Metso will open its third service center in China, in Zibo, Shandong, for the pulp and paper industry.

Metso is one of the sponsors of the Finland pavilion at the World EXPO. During the EXPO, Metso will arrange several targeted customer events focusing on clean solutions that help overcome demanding process industry challenges regarding eco-efficient operations.

Metso is a global supplier of sustainable technology and services for mining, construction, power generation, automation, recycling and the pulp and paper industries. We have about 27,000 employees in more than 50 countries. www.metso.com

Further information for the press, please contact:
Ari Harmaala, President of Metso Operations in China, tel. +86 13911792766

Source: www.metso.com

Image © Partanen & Lamusuo Partnership/Anima Vitae/Finpro

Tamfelt has been a part of Metso Corporation since December 28, 2009. During the first months of 2010, Metso and Tamfelt have been integrating their operations. The market situation in Tamfelt’s line of business continues to be challenging.

For economic and production reasons, and due to the reorganization of operations, the company has today given a negotiation proposal according to the employee negotiations act to the representatives of all personnel groups at Tamfelt Corp. and Tamfelt PMC Corp., both Tampere and Juankoski plants. The negotiations do not apply to office staff and workers at the production departments.

The employee negotiations will discuss the measures needed to adjust the operations to the present situation. Measures that can be used are temporary lay-offs, part-time work, and layoffs. The need for personnel reduction is maximum 30 people. The negotiations will be completed in June 2010.

In addition to personnel reductions, the operations will be made more efficient and cost efficiency will be improved also through other measures, in order to secure competitiveness and operations also in the future.

Tamfelt is part of Metso’s Paper and Fiber Technology segment and it employs about 900 people in Finland.

Metso is a global supplier of sustainable technology and services for mining, construction, power generation, automation, recycling and the pulp and paper industries. We have about 27,000 employees in more than 50 countries.www.metso.com

For more information, please contact:
Martti Heinola, President, Tamfelt PMC Corp., tel. +358 40 594 4254
Kimmo Pärssinen, CFO, Tamfelt Corp., tel. +358 40 505 3755