Metso to deliver the first commercial LignoBoost plant to Domtar in North America

Published Dec 15, 2011 13.00.00 +2 GMT

Metso will supply the world’s first commercial installation of LignoBoost technology to Domtar in North America. The equipment will be intergrated with the Plymouth North Carolina pulp mill. The LignoBoost process separates and collects lignin from pulping liquor. This order is an important breakthrough for Metso’s patented LignoBoost technology and provides the Plymouth NC mill with numerous benefits. The value of the order is not disclosed.

Separation of a portion of the mill’s total lignin production off-loads the recovery boiler and allows an increase in pulp production capacity. The lignin recovered will be used for internal and external applications.

“This project is a potential game changer for the Pulp & Paper industry because it will allow pulp mills to have a new more profitable value stream from a product that was traditionally burned in a recovery boiler,” says Gene Christiansen, General Manager – Business Development Innovations at Metso’s Power Business Line for North America in Charlotte, NC.

The LignoBoost project is based on the 24 ton per day demonstration plant in Bäckhammar in Sweden. The Bäckhammar plant is owned and operated by Innventia since 2006. In 2008 Metso acquired the LignoBoost Technology from Innventia and the companies have since then been working together on the commercialization of the process.

The LignoBoost plant will be in commercial operation in early 2013.The order is included in the Energy and Environmental Technology’s fourth quarter 2011 orders received.

Domtar Corporation (NYSE: UFS) (TSX: UFS) is the largest integrated manufacturer and marketer of uncoated freesheet paper in North America and the second largest in the world based on production capacity, and is also a manufacturer of papergrade, fluff and specialty pulp. The Company designs, manufactures, markets and distributes a wide range of business, commercial printing and publishing as well as converting and specialty papers including recognized brands such as Cougar®, Lynx® Opaque Ultra, Husky® Opaque Offset, First Choice® and Domtar EarthChoice® Office Paper, part of a family of environmentally and socially responsible papers. Domtar also produces a complete line of incontinence care products and distributes washcloths marketed primarily under the Attends® brand name. Domtar owns and operates ArivaTM, an extensive network of strategically located paper distribution facilities. The Company employs approximately 8,800 people. To learn more, visit www.domtar.com.

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 29,000 employees in more than 50 countries. www.metso.com

For further information, please contact:

Gene Christiansen, General Manager North America, Power business line, Metso, tel. +1704 414 3413

Anders L Larsson, Marketing and Sales Manager LignoBoost, Power business line, Metso, tel. +46 70 588 54 77