Kemira Oyj has concluded an agreement with Rautaruukki Oyj on the delivery of a regeneration plant (i.e. recovery plant) for pickling acid used in pickling hot-rolled steel at Rautaruukki's Raahe Mills. "This project is a part of Kemira's growing water chemicals business and the company's first full-scale regeneration plant delivery to customer in the metal industry," says Hannu Luhtala, Vice President, Kemira Kemwater. The iron-containing hydrochloric acid formed during the process of pickling steel is treated at the regeneration plant. Kemira's task is to remove the iron from the acid, which the company then uses to make water treatment chemicals. The purified hydrochloric acid is then led back into Ruukki's hot-rolled steel strip manufacturing process. The regeneration of the acid is based on Kemira's own technology, which enables close to 100% recycling of the hydrochloric acid used in the pickling process. The advantages produced by the new regeneration plant for Ruukki will be lower operating costs. Energy consumption will decrease compared to conventional regeneration technology plus savings through reduced transportation costs. Nowadays the pickling acid is transported by road on tanker trucks from Ruukki's Raahe Mills to the Hämeenlinna Mills for treatment; in future, the acid will be treated on location in Raahe. The regeneration process due to be installed is more environmentally friendly than before; no harmful fractions are emitted into the water system nor into the atmosphere. The plant is due to go on-stream in the summer of 2007. The plant is the first acid regeneration plant built based on this technology and it is an important reference delivery for Kemira. There is demand for the new technology as metal industry investments begin to focus on the growing markets of Russia, China, and India. Steel mills are increasing their pickling capacity, switching from sulphuric acid pickling to hydrochloric acid pickling, and they will be looking for new efficient alternatives as old regeneration plants require major refurbishing investments. Thanks to recovery plants, Kemira will have at its side stream raw material to meet the needs of the rapidly growing water treatment markets. Kemira offers municipalities and industrial production plants overall services covering research, process design, and plant and chemicals deliveries, and plant operation in the water and environment sector. The delivery of the Raahe regeneration plant is the responsibility of Kemira's recently acquired subsidiary Galvatek Oy. Further details: Kemira Oyj Kemwater Business Area Hannu Luhtala, Vice President Tel. +46 (0)42 17 14 71, mobile +46 (0)737 19 14 71 ----------------------- Kemira is a chemicals group operating in four business areas: pulp and paper chemicals, water treatment chemicals, performance chemicals and paints. Kemira is a global group of leading chemical businesses with unique competitive position and a high degree of mutual synergy. In 2005, Kemira recorded revenue of around EUR 2 billion and had a payroll of 8,000 employees. Kemira operates on all continents, in 40 countries. Rautaruukki is a supplier of metal-based components, systems, and total deliveries for the building and engineering industries. The company has a broad product and service range in metal products. The company operates in 23 countries and has a staff of 12,000. Its turnover in 2005 was EUR 3.7 billion.