Helsinki, Finland, 10 December 2009 -- Metso has concluded the employee negotiations regarding the Fiber business line´s units in Sundsvall, Karlstad, and Hagfors, Sweden, on 09 December 2009. As a result of the negotiation process initiated on 30 September 2009, reductions in personnel of 150 at Sundsvall, 64 at Karlstad, and 25 Hagfors/Solna will be made.

The reductions will commence immediately, according to legal terms of notice. Originally, the reduction notice applied to 168 persons in Sundsvall, 94 in Karlstad, and 26 in Hagfors.

The reductions are part of the process to streamline the Fiber business line’s (FBL) operations and cost structure to improve its competitiveness in a changing business environment.

Metso's FBL units in Sundsvall, Karlstad, and Hagfors supply chemical and mechanical pulp industry customers with machinery and equipment, and aftermarket and expert services.

Currently, approximately 900 persons are employed in Fiber business line in Sweden.

Metso (www.metso.com) is a global supplier of sustainable technology and services for mining, construction, power generation, automation, recycling, and the pulp and paper industries. The company has about 26,500 employees in more than 50 countries.