Wärtsilä strengthens its presence in South Ko...

Wärtsilä Corporation, Trade & Technical press release, 9 December
2008 at 9.30 EET

Wärtsilä's long established presence in South Korea has been further
strengthened with the inauguration today of its new service centre
and office in Eomgung, Busan. By opening these premises, Wärtsilä
will be able to centralize its business units in Korea, as Services,
Ship Power, Power Plants and Industrial Operations, together with
finance and administration, will eventually relocate to the new
office.

"Our operations in Korea have expanded exponentially. To ensure a
very high standard of services for our customers, we found it
necessary to bring together our business units under one roof," says
Tage Blomberg, Group Vice President, Wärtsilä Services. "The new
centre will also allow for further expansion and development of our
services in engine reconditioning, special measuring and analysing,
automation, and the repair of heavier components. This will enable us
to meet the very latest needs of our customers, and thereby add value
to their business."

The new facility, located close to the new port in Busan, covers a
vast area of 12,000m2 and will be fully operational by July 2009, by
which time all workshop equipment will be in place.


Strong service demand

The global demand for Wärtsilä services in the ship power sector
continues to grow. This growth is reflected in the increasing number
of personnel employed by Wärtsilä in Korea. During 2008 alone,
Wärtsilä's personnel in Korea has increased by more than 25% to about
350, with plans to further employ more than 70 people in the coming
year. Most will be located at the new Eomgung facilities.

"Of the many non-Korean companies operating in Busan, Wärtsilä is one
of the largest employers. This is a reflection of our commitment to
both Korea and to the region as a whole, and it also emphasises the
confidence we have in the competence and technical skills of the
Korean workforce," says Mr Blomberg.

Wärtsilä's involvement in Korea goes back to 1986 with the
establishment of the Wärtsilä Korea Liaison Office, which organised
License Agreements with SsangYong Heavy Industries for engine
production under licence. Wärtsilä Korea Ltd was established in 1993.
In May 2007, Wärtsilä opened its Land & Sea Academy in Busan, which
was followed in September, 2007 by a new service centre at Incheon.
The new centre now opening in Eomgung, Busan, will consolidate all of
the Korean operations to better serve our customers. The new facility
means that Wärtsilä now has four locations in the world's principal
shipbuilding country.


Pictures from the inauguration will be available at
www.wartsila.com/press later on Tuesday, 9 December 2008.


Media contact:

Ms Marit Holmlund-Sund
Senior Manager, PR and Marketing Communications
Wärtsilä Corporation
Direct tel:       [phone]
Direct fax:       [phone]
e-mail:            [e-mail]
Internet:          www.wartsila.com


Wärtsilä Corporation in brief
Wärtsilä enhances the business of its customers by providing them
with complete lifecycle power solutions. When creating better and
environmentally compatible technologies, Wärtsilä focuses on the
marine and energy markets with products and solutions as well as
services. Through innovative products and services, Wärtsilä sets out
to be the most valued business partner of all its customers. This is
achieved by the dedication of over 18,000 professionals manning 160
locations in 70 countries around the world. Wärtsilä is listed on the
Nordic Exchange in Helsinki, Finland.  www.wartsila.com


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