Mar 15, 2007. /Lesprom Network/. M-real, Metsäliitto Group's subsidiary, re-engineers its research and development activities. The responsibility for product development will be transferred to the business areas. The Technology Centers at Bergisch Gladbach in Germany and Örnsköldsvik in Sweden are planned to be closed down. Part of their operations will be centralized in Finland at the Kirkniemi Technology Center. In future, M-real's business areas will utilize the Kirkniemi Technology Center's shared resources and, if required, reinforce their personnel. "By transferring the production and development operations into the hands of the business areas, we can ensure that the steering of our R&D is more customer-focused. Centralizing the shared resources in Kirkniemi will enhance the efficiency of our operations and M'real's opportunities to provide innovative products and solutions for its customers", says Mika Joukio, executive vice president, consumer packaging. He is also in charge of M-real's R&D in the management team. The re-engineering of M-real's R&D will result in significant cost savings. Local negotiations with the personnel affected by the restructuring in Sweden and Germany will begin immediately. The estimated reduction in the number of employees is approximately 30 persons.