Metso to establish new Technology Center in Oulu

Published Aug 28, 2001 20.49.00 +2 GMT

Metso Paper will establish a new Technology Center in Oulu, Finland, in order to concentrate the development and manufacture of composite spreader rolls for fiber and paper making in one location. Composite spreader rolls represent the latest technology in the spreading of the paper web. Demand for such rolls is expected to grow rapidly, especially for fast paper machines.

The Technology Center will employ 30-40 people and will be opened in the winter of 2003. At the same time, the production methods and range of the paper machine roll cover unit located in Oulu will be renewed. The Technology Center will be part of the Metso Future Care concept, the purpose of which is to maintain the competitiveness of customers’ processes throughout their whole life cycles.

Through the new Center, operations can be concentrated in one location, which will make it possible not only to utilize synergy benefits, but also to accelerate product development and the process of turning new developments into finished products. The Center will deliver composite spreader rolls for Metso Paper’s new machine deliveries and for use as replacement rolls in all machine types. In addition, it will provide a complete spreader roll maintenance service. Metso Paper currently develops and manufactures spreader rolls at Oulu, Nokia and Järvenpää, Finland.

Metso Paper launched its first composite leading rolls in 1994 and spreader rolls in 1998. New composite technology allows the integration of data transfer methods in the roll structures, and the exploitation of remote diagnostics.

The Technology Center will be a part of the Metso Paper Service business group, which employs 3,000 people in 41 service centers around the globe.

For additional information, please contact: Jarmo Karvinen, President, Metso Paper Service, Nordic countries, tel. +358 40 572 4543