* major two-year programme to improve pulp quality consistency

M-real’s ultra light-weight coated and light-weight coated papers, Galerie Lite and Galerie Brite, are benefitting from a more even surface, following the completion of a two-year project at M-real’s Kirkniemi Mill, Finland. The €13.9 million investment is now delivering improvements to the quality and consistency of pulp, as well as making operations at the mill more efficient.

The MAKE project started in 2005, with upgrades to the mill's ground wood screening and filtering systems, followed by a programme to modernise the chemical mixing processes. The final stage, to install new groundwood log, shive and chemical pulp handling systems, was completed in February 2007.

"These investments have given us demonstrable improvements in consistency and efficiency", says Martti Savelainen, Mill Manager of M-real Kirkniemi. "We have used new technologies to reduce the amount of process equipment, and higher levels of automation have made quality more consistent and operations more efficient.

"We are seeing real improvements in the quality and consistency of pulp with reduced shive counts, for example - which means a smoother, more consistent print surface."

M-real also announced a further €7million investment in a new winder at the Kirkniemi Mill to meet the increasing quality standards and need for higher production efficiency set by its new wider heat-set web offset (HWSO printing presses./ins

Figure text:
"These investments have given us demonstrable improvements in consistency and efficiency", says Martti Savelainen, Mill Manager of M-real Kirkniemi.
© M-real www.m-real.com


Note to editors:

M-real is one of the leading producers of paper and paperboard in Europe. The company's customers include publishers, printers, carton printers, paper merchants, office suppliers and well-known consumer brand manufacturers.

M-real supports its customers' businesses by providing quality papers and paperboard for consumer packaging, communications and advertising end-uses. Together with its customers and partners, M-real develops products and solutions for demanding end-uses, such as magazines, art books, brochures, direct mail, and office papers. The company's paperboard is used for packaging of beauty and healthcare products, cigarettes, branded food and consumer durables.

M-real is headquartered in Finland. The company's sales are EUR 5.6 billion, and it employs over 13,000 people. M-real, which is part of the Metsäliitto Group, is listed on the OMX Helsinki Stock Exchange.

For additional information, please contact:

Marjo Halonen
Vice President Marketing Communications
Kirkniemi Mill

FI-08800 Lohja
Finland
mob. +358 50 598 70 46
e-mail: marjo.halonen@m-real.com
www.m-real.com

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