Valmet's investor website won first place in the 'Best investor website' contest, in the category of the Large Cap companies. The contest was arranged by The Finnish Foundation for Share Promotion and the Finnish Society of Financial Analysts. In the contest, the Finnish websites of the companies in Helsinki Stock Exchange were evaluated. Wärtsilä won second place and Kone third place in the Large Cap category.
 
There were three categories based on the market value of the companies in the contest: Large Cap, Mid Cap and Small Cap. The members of the jury, led by Professor Jarmo Leppiniemi, represented different user groups searching for information for their investment decisions on investor websites. This year the evaluation focused on, among others, usability of the site, description of the field of business and introduction of growth strategy and profitability drivers.
 
"We are thankful for this recognition. Valmet's investor website is only 16 months old and we are improving it constantly. We are seeking for new ways to equally share information that interests investors. One example of this is our IR blog, in which interesting and current topics for investors are presented. In addition, our target is to offer more background information in video format", says Hanna-Maria Heikkinen, Vice President, Investor Relations.
 
Valmet's investor website can be visited at the following address: http://www.valmet.com/investors.
 
Further information, please contact:
Hanna-Maria Heikkinen, VP, Investor Relations, Valmet, tel. +358 10 672 0007
 
Valmet is the leading global developer and supplier of technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. Valmet's vision is to become the global champion in serving its customers.
 
Valmet's services cover everything from maintenance outsourcing to mill and plant improvements and spare parts. The strong technology offering includes pulp mills, tissue, board and paper production lines, as well as power plants for bio-energy production. Valmet's advanced automation solutions range from single measurements to mill wide turnkey automation projects.
 
Valmet's net sales in 2014 were approximately EUR 2.5 billion. Our 12,000 professionals around the world work close to our customers and are committed to moving our customers' performance forward - every day. Valmet's head office is in Espoo, Finland and its shares are listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Ltd.
 
Read more www.valmet.com , www.twitter.com/valmetglobal

Kemira has been awarded a start-up contract in the Woops project of Stora Enso Varkaus mill in Finland. During the project the current fine paper machine will be converted into kraft liner production. The machine conversion will take place in August-September 2015, and the start-up of the rebuilt machine is scheduled for Q4/2015.

The rebuilt machine will have a production capacity of 390 000 Mt/a of high quality kraft liner. Kemira supplies the machine with retention and drainage chemistries, sizing agents and various process chemicals.

”This deal is a good example of our focus to supply process chemicals for growing packaging board production globally”, says Harri Eronen, VP, Sales & Technical Service, Paper EMEA. “Due to our strong application knowhow, large reference base and experience in packaging boards Kemira is well positioned to serve the packaging industry.”

In addition to start-up chemicals, Kemira provides relevant expertise and knowledge to support Stora Enso Varkaus mill to reach the desired quality and productivity targets of the new board grade.

“Woops is an important project for Kemira, and we will work closely together with Stora Enso Varkaus mill to solve any challenges of the conversion as well as to ensure optimal performance of the machine”, says Kimmo Strengell, Marketing Manager, Paper, EMEA. “We have unique expertise in applying chemicals and supporting board producers to constantly improve their operational efficiency and product quality.”

Kemira is a global chemicals company serving customers in water-intensive industries. We provide expertise, application know-how and chemicals that improve our customers’ water, energy and raw material efficiency. Our focus is on pulp & paper, oil & gas, mining and water treatment.

More information:

Harri Eronen, VP, Sales & Technical Service, Paper, EMEA
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
+49 171 802 8790

Kimmo Strengell, Marketing Manager, Paper, EMEA
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+358 50 351 6993

www.kemira.com

Minerals Technologies Inc. has announced that it has signed an agreement with the Sun Paper Group to construct a 100,000 metric ton precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) satellite plant for paper filling at Sun's pulp and paper operations in Shandong Province, China. The facility will support a new paper machine that is scheduled to start up in the fourth quarter of 2015.

"We are extremely pleased to be broadening our relationship with such a prominent papermaker as the Sun Paper Group," said Joseph C. Muscari, chairman and chief executive officer, who was in Shandong Province for the signing of the agreement with Sun Paper's Chairman, Li Hongxin. "This agreement marks the third project Minerals Technologies has with Sun Paper, and we look forward to further developing a long-term association committed to improvement through technological innovation."

The agreement with Sun Paper, the largest privately owned paper company in China, also includes a technology partnership to foster the adoption of Minerals Technologies FulFill® PCC portfolio of high filler technologies. Sun Paper will evaluate at least two technologies in the FulFill® portfolio--E-325 and FulFill® F. The E-325 technology increases the PCC fill rate in paper by three to five percentage points. FulFill® F, formerly known as Filler-Fiber, dramatically increases PCC fill rates and has demonstrated in commercial trials to increase the level of PCC in paper by as much as 50 percent. PCC provides brightness, opacity and bulk in paper while replacing higher cost fiber.

Minerals Technologies is currently building a 100,000 metric ton satellite plant at Sun Paper that will provide coating grade PCC. That facility will begin operation by mid-year. Sun Paper has also adopted MTI's NewYield(TM) Integrated Process Technology that converts a paper and pulp mill waste stream into a functional pigment for filling paper. NewYield(TM) process technology eliminates the cost of environmental disposal and remediation of certain waste streams to papermakers. The facility, which will also be operational in the third quarter, will produce 60,000 tons of filler pigment from Sun's waste stream.

PCC is a specialty pigment for filling and coating high-quality paper. By substituting Minerals Technologies' PCC for more expensive wood fiber, customers are able to produce brighter, higher quality paper at lower cost. In 1986, Minerals Technologies originated the satellite concept for making and delivering PCC on-site at paper mills and the concept was a major factor in revolutionizing papermaking in North America. Today, the company has 60 satellite plants in operation or under construction around the world and continues to lead the industry with consistent quality and technical innovation.

New York-based Minerals Technologies Inc. is a resource- and technology-based growth company that develops, produces and markets worldwide a broad range of specialty mineral, mineral-based and synthetic mineral products and related systems and services. MTI serves the paper, foundry, steel, environmental, energy, polymer and consumer products industries. The company reported sales of $1.725 billion in 2014.

Mr. Vesa Simola (M.Sc. (Eng), age 47) has been appointed Area President of Valmet's EMEA area as of 1 August, 2015. He will be a member of Valmet's Executive Team and report to President and CEO Pasi Laine.

Vesa Simola joins Valmet from Stora Enso, where he is currently employed as Senior Vice President, Consumer Board Division.  During his career Vesa has gained international experience in general management covering sales, production, R&D and supply chain by working in a global paper company.  He has vast experience of managing international customer relationships, leading organizations, generating sales and driving profitability.

Mr. Hannu Mälkiä, the current EMEA Area President has decided to retire in June 2015.

"It is a pleasure to welcome Vesa Simola to our Executive Team to increase customer-centricity and develop our EMEA operations further. Vesa has a strong and versatile experience in leading international sales in one of our most important customer segments.  I also want to thank Hannu Mälkiä for his long and successful career at Valmet and for his dedication in moving Valmet forward by serving our customers," says Pasi Laine, President and CEO of Valmet.

Vesa Simola has been appointed EMEA Area President as of August 1, 2015. Prior to that he was employed as Senior Vice President of the Consumer Board Division at Stora Enso (2012-2015). Mr. Simola has worked in many different management positions at Stora Enso:  Senior Vice President, Liquid and Food Service Board Business Unit 2008-2012, Vice President, Food Service Boards and Fresh Liquid Packaging Boards 2006-2008, Sales Manager/ Director, Liquid Packaging Board 1999-2006,  and Production Manager, Tainionkoski Mill 1998-1999. Mr. Simola worked as Production Manager, Heinola Fluting Mill at Enso Oy 1995-1998 and as R&D Engineer at Keräyskuitu Oy 1993-1995. Mr. Simola holds a Master of Science degree in Engineering.

Valmet Corporation is the leading global developer and supplier of technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. Valmet's vision is to become the global champion in serving its customers.

Valmet's services cover everything from maintenance outsourcing to mill and plant improvements and spare parts. The strong technology offering includes pulp mills, tissue, board and paper production lines, as well as power plants for bio-energy production. Valmet's advanced automation solutions range from single measurements to mill wide turnkey automation projects.

Valmet's net sales in 2014 were approximately EUR 2.5 billion. Our 12,000 professionals around the world work close to our customers and are committed to moving our customers' performance forward - every day. Valmet's head office is in Espoo, Finland and its shares are listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Ltd. 

Read more www.valmet.com, www.twitter.com/valmetglobal

Innventia will release its third Global Outlook Report in 2016: "A Cellulose-Based Society". The report will examine trends and driving forces affecting the role of the forest industry in a future featuring innovative renewable materials based on cellulose that are used with brand new business models.

Innventia is now starting the "A Cellulose-Based Society" project. We believe that a circular bioeconomy in the society of the future will be largely based on cellulose. Cellulose is nature's most common building block. It is the biggest constituent part in the cell walls of plants, and is also present in certain bacteria, fungi, algae and aquatic organisms. The forest industry has long been working with resource-effective processes for the large-scale manufacture of products that form the basis of today's society. Paper is part of everyone's everyday lives, in the form of packaging materials and tissue paper, and as a means of support for interaction between people, learning, creativity and innovation. Long before the advent of industrial papermaking, people from all cultures were using cellulose as a construction material and to heat their homes.

The issue of climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our time, and significant research resources are therefore being invested in replacing old fossil materials with renewable alternatives. The need for a shift towards a more sustainable society is becoming ever clearer, and demand for bio-based innovations is experiencing strong growth.

The route to the future needs to be mapped, showing both the opportunities and the challenges faced by society along the way. In the cellulose-based economy, cellulose is the key molecule in the processing chain. But the chain also includes responsible forestry and making use of side streams such as refining lignin and hemicellulose in all their forms.

The project will create a road map for the new cellulose-based bioeconomy, by investigating and describing current trends and driving forces, interviewing experts and consumers, and speaking with players and partners globally. The results will be presented in an Innventia Global Outlook report in 2016.

"The entire bioeconomy revolves around the fantastic properties and opportunities of cellulose," says Birgitta Sundblad, President of Innventia. "Now we need to take advantage of these opportunities. The road map we're drawing up will be a great help along the way."

For more information, please contact
Marco Lucisano, project manager for A Cellulose-Based Society,
tel. +46 (0)768 767285, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

International technology Group ANDRITZ has successfully started up the second tissue machine with steel Yankee supplied to Shandong Sun Paper, China. After completing commissioning work in less than three weeks, full production operations began immediately and saleable tissue was produced continuously.

Commissioning of the second ANDRITZ tissue machine with steel Yankee at Shandong Sun Paper, China, took less than three weeks – continuous production of saleable tissue then began immediately.Photo ANDRITZ

The PrimeLineTM W8 machine (PM28) at the Yanzhou mill, Shandong Province, has a design speed of 2,000 m/min and a width of 5.62 m. The Yankee, manufactured entirely of steel, has a diameter of 18 feet.

The turnkey supply included the complete stock preparation plant and the automation system as well as a re-evaporation heat recovery system that recycles energy – in the form of steam – to the production process. In combination with the steel Yankee, this enables very energy-efficient and safe production.

Following successful start-up of PM27 in July last year, Sun Paper is now operating two ANDRITZ tissue machines.

For further information, please contact:

Oliver Pokorny

Head of Corporate Communications

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.andritz.com

The ANDRITZ GROUP 

ANDRITZ is a globally leading supplier of plants, equipment, and services for hydropower stations, the pulp and paper industry, the metalworking and steel industries, and for solid/liquid separation in the municipal and industrial sectors. The publicly listed technology Group is headquartered in Graz, Austria, and has a staff of almost 25,000 employees. ANDRITZ operates over 250 sites worldwide.

ANDRITZ PULP & PAPER

The business area is a leading global supplier of equipment, systems, and services for the production and processing of all types of pulps, paper, tissue, and cardboard. The technologies cover the processing of logs, annual fibers, and waste paper; the production of chemical pulp, mechanical pulp, and recycled fibers; the recovery and reuse of chemicals; the preparation of paper machine furnish; the production of paper, tissue, and board; the calendering and coating of paper; as well as treatment of reject materials and sludge. The service range includes modernization, rebuilds, spare and wear parts, service and maintenance, as well as machine transfer and second-hand equipment. Biomass, steam, and recovery boilers, as well as gasification plants for power generation, flue gas cleaning plants, production equipment for biofuel (second generation), biomass torrefaction equipment, plants for the production of nonwovens, dissolving pulp, plastic films, and panelboards (MDF), and recycling plants are also allocated to the business area.

Xerium Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:XRM), a leading global provider of industrial consumable products and services announced that it’s 100% owned subsidiary Xerium Asia Pacific (Shanghai) Limited (“Xerium Asia Pacific”) recently qualified to do business as a Regional Operation Center in the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, joining a select group of qualifying companies. This is beneficial to Xerium from multiple angles, including (1) improving financial flexibility by more effectively managing its global cash and liquidity, (2) gaining the ability to access regional financial markets, and (3) reducing order lead times as a result of its strong customs rating and expedited customs clearance.

Furthermore, Xerium’s Asian headquarters will move to China, enabling it to consolidate Asian corporate functions through a shared service facility, which will simplify local customer relationships and generate cost savings. Harold Bevis, Xerium’s President and CEO, commented, “I am encouraged by this latest milestone and how this is another example of how our ongoing strategic initiatives will continue to optimize Xerium’s cost structure and capitalize on the transforming regional market dynamics.”

ABOUT XERIUM

Xerium Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:XRM) is a leading global provider of industrial consumable products and services. Xerium utilizes a broad portfolio of patented and proprietary technologies to provide customers with tailored solutions and products integral to production, all designed to optimize performance and reduce operational costs. Xerium has 26 manufacturing facilities in 12 countries, 2 new plants under construction in 2 countries and employs approximately 3,100 employees.

Sold in April 2014 and installed a few months later, the new pope reel for the Tissue Machine at Kimberly-Clark Romagnano Sesia has met all production expectations and also underscored the partnership between the two companies. A.Celli Paper has demonstrated not only its level of technology and quality as a supplier, but also its professionalism and dedication to excellence.

The customer has stated its satisfaction with the product and with the post-sales service guaranteed by the A.Celli staff that meets their demands thanks to the technical support offered to answer the diverse needs of a production scenario.

“We are very pleased”, states K-C Romagnano. “A.Celli was an optimal choice. Together, we developed the project since the very beginning and perfected it step after step. We scheduled tests at A.Celli’s Lucca plant and only after these in-depth trials was the pope reel shipped for installation at Romagnano Sesia.”A.Celli has demonstrated top level professionalism, confirming its abilities throughout every phase of the project, but it distinguished itself in the eyes of the customer above all during assembly of the new pope reel. “Our satisfaction was further confirmed by the strict respect of the amount of machine downtime imposed by us as well as expertise with which the A.Celli team has performed this delicate and complicated rebuild, in complete agreement with the stringent safety criteria adopted by the K-C Group”.

The replacement operation of the pope reel immediately gave positive results in terms of process: the tissue machine enhanced its performance, showed a clear improvement in paper turn-up efficiency and winding consistency and, consequently, a better finished product.

A successful technical intervention confirmed by optimal results!

Kimberly-Clark facilities in Romagnano Sesia 

The Kimberly-Clark facilities in Romagnano Sesia, located in the province of Novara, is K-C’s Italian production site and one of the most important facilities in Europe for tissue production. The Romagnano plant, founded in 1973, employs about 300 people and produces Tissue paper for the Scottex® and Kleenex® brands. The Italian market is considered strategic for Kimberly-Clark, who has made strong investments aimed at strengthening the company’s position. In 2001, it invested in the installation of a production plant that employed proprietary Kimberly-Clark technology for the production of the new Scottex® brand toilet paper, which allowed this product to significantly increment its bulk and softness. Kimberly-Clark is present on the Italian market also with the brands Kleenex® (handkerchiefs), Scottonelle® (toilet rolls) and Huggies® (baby diapers), as well as with the Scottex® brand, famous for its toilet rolls advertised by the Labrador puppy, kitchen towels, table napkins and handkerchiefs.

A.Celli Paper S.p.A.

A.Celli Paper S.p.A., an international company headquartered in Lucca, has been involved in the global paper machinery market for over 70 years, offering top of the range machinery and system solutions for complete turn-key plants from stock preparation to roll handling and packaging. A.Celli’s proven expertise in the construction and rebuilding of Tissue Machines, with daily production capacities of up to 260 tonnes, and rewinders for tissue, paper and cardboard differentiates the company for the high automation level on its machinery and its personnel’s technical knowledge and skills during installation and start-up, guaranteeing customers complete and expert support throughout the production process. Reliable, 24/7 post-sales assistance service and MySp@res®, the new solution for identifying, localizing and requesting on-line spare parts estimates, complete the company’s offer.

Metso is opening a new valve and field device service center in Querétaro, Mexico. The new service center offers the latest technology and know-how to carry out high-quality maintenance and repair work on Metso and third-party devices, such as valves, actuators and pumps. The service center's primary customer base consists of customers in the oil and gas, pulp and paper, and mining industries.

At the moment, Metso has 10 valve service centers and authorized repair facilities throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. Of Metso's more than 90 service centers globally, over 40 of them serve flow control customers. In 2014, 60% of Metso's orders received came from the services business.

"Metso's installed base in Mexico has been growing over the years, so we want to strengthen our valve and field device service capability for the petrochemical, energy, oil and gas, mining, and pulp and paper industries. The new center is strategically located in an industrial area in Central Mexico within easy reach of the 35 largest customers served by our service and repair business," says Cliff Smith, Vice President, Services, Flow Control, North America market area.  

The facility will have ample storage capacity to keep an inventory of the most commonly required valve package components needed for emergency and scheduled repair and maintenance services. In addition to repair, spare parts, and refurbishment, the service center offers upgrades, training programs, field support and diagnostic services.

The service center personnel will be spending more time working directly with customers to help them better utilize the intelligence that is already present in Metso's flow control technology  currently installed in the plant. By taking advantage of these intelligent capabilities, customers can make more accurate and timely predictions of maintenance requirements as well as improve uptime and reduce operating costs.

"Our new facility will accommodate additional equipment and will enable us to expand our staff of factory-certified technicians to keep pace with the demand for Metso-authorized service, which carries the same warranty as new Metso flow control products. The new and modern service center also puts us in a better position to stage, test and repair large numbers of valves to meet our customers' high-volume, fast-turnaround repair and service needs during scheduled plant shutdowns," summarizes Smith.

Leading flow control technology for improved safety and sustainability

Metso has a long track record of delivering engineered performance and reliability to the oil and gas, pulp and paper, and power customers through its leading product brands - Neles®, Jamesbury® and Mapag® - and has delivered millions of valves, control valves, and on-off valves globally over the last 90 years. Additionally, Metso has become one of the leading suppliers of intelligent valve controllers. 

Metso's extensive flow control services offering covers business solutions and services that optimize equipment use and cost of ownership. Metso's valve technology centers and valve production facilities are located in Finland, the United States, Germany, China, South Korea, India and Brazil.

Metso is a leading process performance provider, with customers in the mining, oil and gas, and aggregates industries. Metso's cutting-edge services and solutions improve the availability and reliability in minerals processing and flow control, providing sustainable process and profit improvements. Metso is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki, Finland. In 2014, Metso's net sales totaled EUR 3.7 billion. Metso employs approximately 16,000 industry experts in more than 50 countries. Expect results.
 www.metso.com  www.twitter.com/metsogroup