M-real Simpele BM3 rebuilt for even better quality with Metso's latest technology

Published Mar 7, 2005 14.00.00 +2 GMT

M-real will rebuild its top-grade folding boxboard machine for even better quality and increased production. Over 25 million EUR of Metso's latest board making technology will be installed to M-real's Simpele mill. The start-up of the upgraded machine will be in spring 2006.

The Simpele mill BM3 produces folding boxboard in the basis-weight range of 200-400 g/m². The maximum speed of the 4.1m wide board line will be increased to 600 m/min, and the capacity will increase from 170,000 t/a to 215,000 t/a. The visual uniformity and printability, as well as the stiffness of the final product will improve. M-real and Metso Paper will continue cooperation in the development of the board making line also after the start-up.

The board machine will get new generation headboxes for all three plies including dilution control for the filler ply. The wire section of bottom ply will be extended. A new ValSizer size press with OptiDoser machine circulation will replace the existing pond sizer. Modification of the drying section after sizer and coating section dryers, new intermediate calender, and OptiReel M reeler will also be part of the delivery. Also a modification of the refining systems will be included.

The existing roll finishing will be replaced with OptiStream solution including a WinBelt winder, a StreamLine Onesider wrapping machine and an extensive roll handling system. OptiStream integrates the finishing operations and information management into one seamless process enabling one team to control both the winder and the wrapping machine.

M-real Corporation is a European paper and paperboard company with nearly 16,500 employees. It provides wood fibre-based solutions for consumer packaging, communications and advertising end-uses. M-real's turnover in 2004 was EUR 5.5 billion. The company is headquartered in Finland and listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange.

The Simpele mill is part of M-real's Consumer Packaging Business Area and one of M-real´s core production units. The mill is situated in Simpele, South Carelia in south-east Finland, and it has two machines - board and paper. The board machine produces folding boxboards – Simcote and Simwhite – for end uses such as food packaging and graphical applications. The paper machine produces one-side coated papers. Examples of these products are Simcastor Plus and Simkraft, which are papers for food packaging and other flexible packaging, wet-glue la belling and self-adhesive laminates.

For further information, please contact: Kari Kalliala, President, Board Business Line, Metso Paper, tel. +358 40 540 8335