Metso Moving Paper Machines to China

Mondi Group's fine paper machine in Szolnok, Hungary, will be relocated to the Anqing mill of Anhui Huatai Forest Pulp & Paper in Anhui province. Metso's delivery will also include a modernization of the machine control system as well as mill engineering services. The start-up of the relocated machine is scheduled for the first half of 2011.

Qiqihar Paper Mill's newsprint machine in Heilongjiang province will be relocated to Guangdong Huatai Paper in Xinhui, Guangdong province. The start-up of the relocated line is scheduled for the end of this year.

Anhui Huatai Forest Pulp & Paper Co. and Guangdong Huatai Paper Co. are part of Shandong Huatai Paper Stock Co. Shandong Huatai Paper produces newsprint, uncoated fine paper, coated art paper and tissue with an annual capacity exceeding 1.8 million metric tons.

As a result of structural changes in the global pulp and paper industry, paper producers in Europe and North America have cut production capacity and closed machines and entire mills. Some of the closed machines have technical operating life remaining, and some of them are relocated to the growing Asian markets, especially to China and India.