Jan 15, 2009. /Lesprom.com/. Metso plans to carry out a personnel reduction of approximately 70 employees at its Paper and Fiber Technology units in USA and Canada, the company said in a statement received by Lesprom Network. The measures are caused by the weakening of the North American market situation, which has led to the reduction of the workload in service and customer projects. The reductions become effective during 1Q 2009. The reduction affects employees in tasks related to production, procurement, product & project management, engineering, as well as sales and general administration. Metso Group employs currently altogether approximately 4000 people in North America, approximately 1,100 of them work in the Paper and Fiber Technology.