{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"38660","rtpr_id":"nWkr4TZrg9","ticker":"VALMT","exchange":"Nasdaq Helsinki","all_tickers":["VALMT"],"title":"Valmet's Ash Crystallizer helps Mercer Stendal pulp mill in Germany to reduce emissions and improve performance","author":"Cision","published_at":"2026-05-19T08:00:07.064Z","article_body":"Valmet Oyj\nValmet Oyj's press release on May 19, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. EEST\n\nValmet will deliver a new ash crystallization plant for Mercer Stendal mill in\nArneburg, Germany. This investment is part of Mercer’s long-term vision to\nfurther reduce the mill’s emissions and improve its performance. Ash\ncrystallization plant contributes to this target by helping to close the\nmill’s chemical circulation, reducing the need for make-up chemicals, and by\nhelping to extend the recovery boiler maintenance intervals to 24 months and\nbeyond.\n\n \n\n“Since the mill started up in 2004, we have systematically invested in\nimproving its performance and sustainability. Our sustainability efforts are\nguided by the Mercer vision and values and our long-standing philosophy of\nresponsible business practices that encompass sustainability, safety,\nfinancial responsibility, and strong leadership. The new ash crystallization\nplant will help us to further improve both operational and environmental\nperformance. We chose Valmet to deliver this project based on both their\ntechnical expertise and our previous joint projects,” says Dr. Martin\nZenker, Mill Manager, Mercer Stendal.\n\n \n\nThe ash crystallization plant will recover valuable sodium salts and remove\nnon-process elements, primarily chloride and potassium, from the mill’s\nliquor cycle. This reduces plugging and corrosion in the mill’s recovery\nboiler which enables longer intervals between maintenance shutdowns,\nincreasing recovery boiler’s long-term availability. Removing these\nnon-process elements with Valmet’s Ash Crystallizer design eliminates the\nneed for ash dumping, which in turn reduces wastewater and lowers costs\nthrough decreased make-up chemical demand. This solution delivers clear\nenvironmental benefits by reducing associated emissions.\n\n \n\n“We are committed to advancing circularity and resource efficiency.\nDelivering a new ash crystallization solution to an existing mill is very much\nin line with these targets and brings several operational and environmental\nbenefits. This project showcases that the ash crystallization solution is not\nonly suitable for new large mills but also brings significant benefits to\nexisting mills. We truly value our cooperation with Mercer and the Stendal\nmill in finding long-term solutions to optimize the mill’s performance,”\nsays Claus Jensen-Holm, Director, White Liquor and Evaporation, Pulp Mills at\nValmet.  \n\n \n\nThe order was included in Valmet’s orders received in the first quarter of\n2026. The value of the order will not be disclosed. The new crystallization\nplant is scheduled to be started up during the fourth quarter of 2027.\n\n \n\n\nMercer Stendal mill in Arneburg, Germany was started up in 2004 and today has\na capacity of 740,000 tonnes per year of bleached softwood kraft pulp.\n\n \n\nTechnical information about the delivery\n\nThe Valmet Ash Crystallizer\n(https://www.valmet.com/pulp/chemical-recovery/recovery-boilers/Ash-treatment/) plant\nwill have capacity to process 140 tonnes of ash per day. Valmet’s delivery\ncovers the complete plant with extensive delivery scope including electrical\nand instrumentation systems (E&I), steel structures, and erection. Valmet also\ndelivers an expansion of the existing mill-wide Valmet DNA automation system.\nThe new plant will be integrated into existing mill operations, mainly to the\nevaporation plant.\n\n \n\nInformation about the customer Mercer and Mercer Stendal\n\nMercer Stendal is part of North American Mercer International Group, a forest\nproducts company with operations in Germany, Canada, and the United States. In\nStendal, Mercer operates one of Europe’s most modern pulp mills and\nimplements a biorefinery concept where wood is used extensively for pulp,\nbioenergy, and biochemicals, such as tall oil, turpentine, and methanol.\nToday, after several large optimization projects, Mercer Stendal's annual\nproduction capacity of kraft pulp is 740,000 tonnes. The biomass power plant\nat the site is one of the largest of its kind in Germany with an output of 148\nmegawatts. The mill produces enough green energy to meet its internal needs as\nwell as provides green energy to the electricity grid.\n\n \n\n \n\nVALMET  \n\nCorporate Communications \n\nFurther information:\nPontus Johansson, Product Sales Manager, White Liquor & Evaporation\nTechnology, Pulp, Energy and Circularity, Valmet, tel. +46 76 639 7252\n\nBernhard Trunk, Product Sales Manager, Central Europe & UK, Pulp, Energy and\nCircularity, Valmet, tel. +49 173 308 0559\n \n\n \n\nValmet is a global technology leader in serving process industries. We work\nwith our customers throughout the lifecycle, delivering cutting-edge\ntechnologies and services, as well as mission-critical automation and flow\ncontrol solutions. Backed by more than 225 years of industrial experience and\na global team of 18,500 professionals close to customers, we are uniquely\npositioned to transform industries toward a regenerative tomorrow.\n\n \n\nIn 2025, Valmet’s net sales totaled approximately EUR 5.2 billion. Our head\noffice is in Espoo, Finland, and we have experts in approximately 40 countries\naround the world. Valmet’s shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.\n\n \n\nFollow us on valmet.com (https://www.valmet.com) | X\n(https://x.com/valmetglobal) | LinkedIn\n(https://www.linkedin.com/company/valmet/) | Facebook\n(https://www.facebook.com/valmetcorporation) | YouTube\n(https://www.youtube.com/c/Valmet/featured) | Instagram\n(https://www.instagram.com/valmetglobal) | Instagram (IR)\n(https://www.instagram.com/valmet_sijoituskohteena)\n\n \n\n \n\nProcessing of personal data  \n(https://www.valmet.com/legal-privacy/processing-of-personal-data/)\n\n\n \n\nhttps://news.cision.com/valmet-oyj/r/valmet-s-ash-crystallizer-helps-mercer-stendal-pulp-mill-in-germany-to-reduce-emissions-and-improve-%2Cc4350004\n\nhttps://news.cision.com/valmet-oyj/i/mercer-stendal-mill-in-arneburg--germany-%2Cc3538547\n\n\n\n(c) Copyright Waymaker BIT News - Cision 2026","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nWkr4TZrg9","title":"Valmet's Ash Crystallizer helps Mercer Stendal pulp mill in Germany to reduce emissions and improve performance","author":"Cision","ticker":"VALMT","created":"2026-05-19T08:00:07.064Z","tickers":["VALMT"],"exchange":"Nasdaq Helsinki","article_body":"Valmet Oyj\nValmet Oyj's press release on May 19, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. EEST\n\nValmet will deliver a new ash crystallization plant for Mercer Stendal mill in\nArneburg, Germany. This investment is part of Mercer’s long-term vision to\nfurther reduce the mill’s emissions and improve its performance. Ash\ncrystallization plant contributes to this target by helping to close the\nmill’s chemical circulation, reducing the need for make-up chemicals, and by\nhelping to extend the recovery boiler maintenance intervals to 24 months and\nbeyond.\n\n \n\n“Since the mill started up in 2004, we have systematically invested in\nimproving its performance and sustainability. Our sustainability efforts are\nguided by the Mercer vision and values and our long-standing philosophy of\nresponsible business practices that encompass sustainability, safety,\nfinancial responsibility, and strong leadership. The new ash crystallization\nplant will help us to further improve both operational and environmental\nperformance. We chose Valmet to deliver this project based on both their\ntechnical expertise and our previous joint projects,” says Dr. Martin\nZenker, Mill Manager, Mercer Stendal.\n\n \n\nThe ash crystallization plant will recover valuable sodium salts and remove\nnon-process elements, primarily chloride and potassium, from the mill’s\nliquor cycle. This reduces plugging and corrosion in the mill’s recovery\nboiler which enables longer intervals between maintenance shutdowns,\nincreasing recovery boiler’s long-term availability. Removing these\nnon-process elements with Valmet’s Ash Crystallizer design eliminates the\nneed for ash dumping, which in turn reduces wastewater and lowers costs\nthrough decreased make-up chemical demand. This solution delivers clear\nenvironmental benefits by reducing associated emissions.\n\n \n\n“We are committed to advancing circularity and resource efficiency.\nDelivering a new ash crystallization solution to an existing mill is very much\nin line with these targets and brings several operational and environmental\nbenefits. This project showcases that the ash crystallization solution is not\nonly suitable for new large mills but also brings significant benefits to\nexisting mills. We truly value our cooperation with Mercer and the Stendal\nmill in finding long-term solutions to optimize the mill’s performance,”\nsays Claus Jensen-Holm, Director, White Liquor and Evaporation, Pulp Mills at\nValmet.  \n\n \n\nThe order was included in Valmet’s orders received in the first quarter of\n2026. The value of the order will not be disclosed. The new crystallization\nplant is scheduled to be started up during the fourth quarter of 2027.\n\n \n\n\nMercer Stendal mill in Arneburg, Germany was started up in 2004 and today has\na capacity of 740,000 tonnes per year of bleached softwood kraft pulp.\n\n \n\nTechnical information about the delivery\n\nThe Valmet Ash Crystallizer\n(https://www.valmet.com/pulp/chemical-recovery/recovery-boilers/Ash-treatment/) plant\nwill have capacity to process 140 tonnes of ash per day. Valmet’s delivery\ncovers the complete plant with extensive delivery scope including electrical\nand instrumentation systems (E&I), steel structures, and erection. Valmet also\ndelivers an expansion of the existing mill-wide Valmet DNA automation system.\nThe new plant will be integrated into existing mill operations, mainly to the\nevaporation plant.\n\n \n\nInformation about the customer Mercer and Mercer Stendal\n\nMercer Stendal is part of North American Mercer International Group, a forest\nproducts company with operations in Germany, Canada, and the United States. In\nStendal, Mercer operates one of Europe’s most modern pulp mills and\nimplements a biorefinery concept where wood is used extensively for pulp,\nbioenergy, and biochemicals, such as tall oil, turpentine, and methanol.\nToday, after several large optimization projects, Mercer Stendal's annual\nproduction capacity of kraft pulp is 740,000 tonnes. The biomass power plant\nat the site is one of the largest of its kind in Germany with an output of 148\nmegawatts. The mill produces enough green energy to meet its internal needs as\nwell as provides green energy to the electricity grid.\n\n \n\n \n\nVALMET  \n\nCorporate Communications \n\nFurther information:\nPontus Johansson, Product Sales Manager, White Liquor & Evaporation\nTechnology, Pulp, Energy and Circularity, Valmet, tel. +46 76 639 7252\n\nBernhard Trunk, Product Sales Manager, Central Europe & UK, Pulp, Energy and\nCircularity, Valmet, tel. +49 173 308 0559\n \n\n \n\nValmet is a global technology leader in serving process industries. We work\nwith our customers throughout the lifecycle, delivering cutting-edge\ntechnologies and services, as well as mission-critical automation and flow\ncontrol solutions. Backed by more than 225 years of industrial experience and\na global team of 18,500 professionals close to customers, we are uniquely\npositioned to transform industries toward a regenerative tomorrow.\n\n \n\nIn 2025, Valmet’s net sales totaled approximately EUR 5.2 billion. Our head\noffice is in Espoo, Finland, and we have experts in approximately 40 countries\naround the world. Valmet’s shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.\n\n \n\nFollow us on valmet.com (https://www.valmet.com) | X\n(https://x.com/valmetglobal) | LinkedIn\n(https://www.linkedin.com/company/valmet/) | Facebook\n(https://www.facebook.com/valmetcorporation) | YouTube\n(https://www.youtube.com/c/Valmet/featured) | Instagram\n(https://www.instagram.com/valmetglobal) | Instagram (IR)\n(https://www.instagram.com/valmet_sijoituskohteena)\n\n \n\n \n\nProcessing of personal data  \n(https://www.valmet.com/legal-privacy/processing-of-personal-data/)\n\n\n \n\nhttps://news.cision.com/valmet-oyj/r/valmet-s-ash-crystallizer-helps-mercer-stendal-pulp-mill-in-germany-to-reduce-emissions-and-improve-%2Cc4350004\n\nhttps://news.cision.com/valmet-oyj/i/mercer-stendal-mill-in-arneburg--germany-%2Cc3538547\n\n\n\n(c) Copyright Waymaker BIT News - Cision 2026"},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-05-19T08:00:07.12217442Z","server_sent_at_ms":1779177607122},"received_at":"2026-05-19T08:00:07.238Z","source_url":"https://news.cision.com/valmet-oyj/r/valmet-s-ash-crystallizer-helps-mercer-stendal-pulp-mill-in-germany-to-reduce-emissions-and-improve-%2Cc4350004"},"analysis":{"id":"28099","press_release_id":"38660","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Industrial Machinery","sector":"Industrials"},"redFlags":[],"eventType":"operations_update","narrative":"Valmet announced it will deliver a new ash crystallization plant to Mercer Stendal’s pulp mill in Arneburg, Germany.\n\nThe project aims to reduce emissions, close chemical circulation, and extend recovery boiler maintenance intervals to 24 months or more.\n\nThe order was already included in Valmet’s Q1 2026 orders received; the specific deal value is not disclosed. Startup is scheduled for Q4 2027.","sentiment":"neutral","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":false,"suggestedAngle":"Routine equipment win for Valmet; no new financial data disclosed."},"keyFigures":{"customDimensions":{"biomass_power_output":"148 megawatts","filer_net_sales_2025":"EUR 5.2 billion","customer_mill_capacity":"740,000 tonnes per year","ash_processing_capacity":"140 tonnes per day"}},"quotedText":"We chose Valmet to deliver this project based on both their technical expertise and our previous joint projects","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Dr. Martin Zenker","role":"Mill Manager, Mercer Stendal"},{"name":"Claus Jensen-Holm","role":"Director, White Liquor and Evaporation, Pulp Mills at Valmet"},{"name":"Pontus Johansson","role":"Product Sales Manager, Valmet"},{"name":"Bernhard Trunk","role":"Product Sales Manager, Valmet"}],"products":["Valmet Ash Crystallizer","Valmet DNA automation system"],"companies":[{"name":"Valmet Oyj","ticker":"VALMT","relationship":"filer"},{"name":"Mercer Stendal","relationship":"customer"},{"name":"Mercer International Group","relationship":"customer parent"}],"dollarAmounts":[{"amount":"EUR 5.2 billion","context":"Valmet net sales 2025"}]},"materialImpact":{"score":1,"reasoning":"This is a standard customer win announcement for a single equipment delivery. The order value is explicitly undisclosed and was already included in Q1 2026 orders received, meaning it provides no new financial guidance or surprise. It is a routine operational update for an industrial technology provider."},"tickerRelevance":{"others":[],"primary":"VALMT"},"globalImportance":15,"audienceRelevance":10,"eventTypeSecondary":[],"importanceComponents":{"tickerTier":"mid-cap","eventGravity":"routine_contract_win","sectorWeight":"low_retail_interest","financialImpact":"already_booked"}},"event_type":"operations_update","event_type_secondary":null,"sentiment":"neutral","material_impact_score":1,"narrative":"Valmet announced it will deliver a new ash crystallization plant to Mercer Stendal’s pulp mill in Arneburg, Germany.\n\nThe project aims to reduce emissions, close chemical circulation, and extend recovery boiler maintenance intervals to 24 months or more.\n\nThe order was already included in Valmet’s Q1 2026 orders received; the specific deal value is not disclosed. Startup is scheduled for Q4 2027.","key_figures":{"customDimensions":{"biomass_power_output":"148 megawatts","filer_net_sales_2025":"EUR 5.2 billion","customer_mill_capacity":"740,000 tonnes per year","ash_processing_capacity":"140 tonnes per day"}},"named_entities":{"people":[{"name":"Dr. Martin Zenker","role":"Mill Manager, Mercer Stendal"},{"name":"Claus Jensen-Holm","role":"Director, White Liquor and Evaporation, Pulp Mills at Valmet"},{"name":"Pontus Johansson","role":"Product Sales Manager, Valmet"},{"name":"Bernhard Trunk","role":"Product Sales Manager, Valmet"}],"products":["Valmet Ash Crystallizer","Valmet DNA automation system"],"companies":[{"name":"Valmet Oyj","ticker":"VALMT","relationship":"filer"},{"name":"Mercer Stendal","relationship":"customer"},{"name":"Mercer International Group","relationship":"customer parent"}],"dollarAmounts":[{"amount":"EUR 5.2 billion","context":"Valmet net sales 2025"}]},"model_name":"qwen3_6_27b_awq","prompt_hash":"sha256:727b4b9429a443af","schema_hash":"sha256:05005c02d9cffac9","created_at":"2026-05-19T08:01:04.436Z","global_importance":15,"audience_relevance":10,"importance_components":{"tickerTier":"mid-cap","eventGravity":"routine_contract_win","sectorWeight":"low_retail_interest","financialImpact":"already_booked"}},"durationMs":17591,"modelName":"george-droid-qwen-72b"}}