Stora Enso starts up Whiting PM 64 rebuild, phase 2, in record time

Published Mar 17, 2006 11.00.00 +2 GMT

Stora Enso has successfully started up the rebuilt PM 64 at its Whiting, Wisconsin mill in the USA.

The Metso equipment on this LWC machine includes a SymPress B press section, OptiSlush press pulper, and dryer section rebuild. Also included are upgrades to the air systems, controls, threading systems and coaters.

Phase 1 of this project included a new ValReel and re-reeler rebuild, and was successfully started up in April 2005.

According to Kurt Mehlberg, Superintendent of PM 64 and Project Manager for the rebuild, “On Thursday, February 16, 2006, PM 64 put paper on the reel completing the 23-day paper-to-paper Phase 2 rebuild. This was well ahead of our 29-day scheduled downtime plan. The key rebuild partners, including Metso, did an exceptional job planning the work and safely executing the plan.”

This machine rebuild was previously announced as part of Stora Enso’s Profit Enhancement Program (PEP) that includes targeted capital investments of $250 million. Initially announced in August 2002, the plan aims to improve Stora Enso’s competitiveness significantly in North America and position the operations to become more profitable in the world’s largest paper market.

Metso is a global engineering and technology corporation with 2005 net sales of approximately EUR 4.2 billion. Its 22 000 employees in more than 50 countries serve customers in the pulp and paper industry, rock and minerals processing, the energy industry and selected other industries.

For more information please contact: Kimmo Hirvonen, Project Manager, Metso Paper Tel. +1 770/417-5451