Metso aquires technology rights

Metso and Holzmag GmbH have signed a contract according to which Metso will acquire the technology of Swiss Holzmag GmbH. The value of the transaction is not disclosed. This acquisition of technology rights strengthens Metso's position as a leading technology and service provider for the mechanical treatment of solid waste.

Metso is currently market leader in equipment for pre-shredding of all kinds of solid waste with its M&J shredders. The acquisition enables Metso to provide also fine shredding equipment for a wide range of solid waste types such as municipal and industrial solid waste, biomass, plastics, textiles, glass, aluminum & non-ferrous metals, wood. Fine shredding is the next step after pre-shredding and sorting of waste into homogenous waste streams, and is a key technology for preparing the waste going into recycling and fuel for energy of various kinds.

The acquisition also enables Metso to expand into new customer areas, such as recycling of industrial refuse/waste and preparation of refuse derived fuel for combustion or gasification. Further, the acquisition will cover equipment within briquetting and pelletizing. This adds to Metso's technology offering for producing high energy value bio products, which currently include for example bio oil and bio gas production technologies.

"This type of technology is a perfect match with our existing competencies in shredding all kinds of solid waste. It offers a good basis to expand our offering both within our existing customer relations as well as to new customer areas, such as recycling of industrial waste, and in-house recycling for many different kinds of applications such as the plastics industry. We also will gain foothold in new technologies that complement our current offering for recycling customers and power generation customers," says Dr. René Gissinger, President, Recyling business line, Metso.

''For our recycling customers Metso is now a stronger partner in equipment for fragmentizing waste. Handling solid waste is becoming more important as there is a growing need to find alternatives for landfills and reuse all available resources on a global scale. The remaining waste can also be used as a source for energy at power plants,'' Gissinger continues. He is also confident that Metso's global sales and service network combined with Holzmag's installed base enables further growth for Metso's recycling business.