Displaying items by tag: abb

Lorentzen & Wettre, and ABB Company, have announced a new FSD (Forming Section Drainage) Sensor for paper and board machines. This new sensor measures the amount of water at any desired position in the forming section. The measurement results make it possible to gain control of drainage and ply bonding.

the mounting_lw_opt

With L&W FSD Sensor it is possible to optimize the wet end chemistry of the stock, which will enable better runnability and increase paper quality.

Normal use is in single point measurements between step foils or vacuum boxes. It is common to measure before or after the couch roll, to be able to estimate moisture content in the paper, before it leaves the wire. In multi-layer Fourdrinier machines all layers are easily monitored, providing a better overall picture to improve multiple ply bonding. The instrument provides for control of foils adjustments, vacuum, refining and the use of retention chemicals.

The main advantages of controlling drainage is reduced energy consumption, reduced number of web breaks, reduced emissions, reduced usage of chemicals and reduced wear and maintenance. These are benefits that lead to lower costs, better runnability and increased paper quality. Further L&W FSD Sensor uses high frequency technology instead of radioactivity and therefore requires no special permit to be used.

“With this new sensor in combination with our other portable instruments, it is possible to monitor the drainage profile all the way from headbox to couch”, says Mr Lars Kånge, Product Manager, Lorentzen & Wettre.

Published in Featured Products
Tagged under

Performance-based maintenance agreement will ensure increased mill equipment reliability and energy efficiency

ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has been awarded a five-year Maintenance Improvement Agreement by Sappi to manage and improve all maintenance activities at their Nijmegen abb newfine paper mill in the Netherlands.

Under the performance-based agreement, ABB will manage all maintenance operations to improve overall productivity and equipment reliability at the mill, and retain and further develop all existing maintenance staff and management. ABB will also help the mill to reduce its energy consumption while achieving these production efficiencies.

“This Maintenance Improvement Agreement highlights ABB’s capabilities in providing comprehensive service solutions for the industrial sector. Our innovative approach to performance-based services ensures improved production and equipment performance, energy efficiency and reliability for the entire facility,”said Veli-Matti Reinikkala, head of ABB’s Process Automation division. 

Sappi’s Nijmegen mill is a producer of coated fine paper located in the middle of its core market. At the Nijmegen Mill, Sappi aims to generate the economic returns necessary to maintain a sustainable business while they minimize their impact on the environment, encourage the development of people and contribute to the communities in which they operate.

“We are confident that together with ABB we will achieve an improvement in paper machine performance reliability and efficiency that, in turn, enables us to better and predictably serve our customers with great product. Equally important, we aim to provide a work environment that allows growth and achievement for our people.” says Wayne Thomas, Mill Director at Sappi Nijmegen.

Under the agreement, ABB also will focus on process optimization and equipment lifecycle management at the site, as well as manage all maintenance related third-party subcontractors and suppliers. 

With more than 100 Full Service® agreements with customers in Pulp & Paper, Mining, Metals, Chemicals and other industries globally, ABB best practices and expertise improves the performance, reliability and energy efficiency of production assets, increasing plant efficiency and optimizing total maintenance cost while reducing environmental impact.

Published in European News
Tagged under

Offering customized fully integrated automation systems for China’s papermaking machines, narrowing the gap between China’s papermaking machines and internationally advanced machines, and helping to achieve efficient and high quality production

abbs-quality-control-system-and-web-inpection-system-will-help-improve-product-quality

 

ABB, a Fortune 500 company, signed a contract with China’s leading pulp and paper maker Minfeng Special Paper Co., Ltd. (Minfeng) to supply a fully integrated automation system for its domestically-made papermaking machine that produces Glassine paper . The system shall help the production line achieve full process control, from making paper pulp to producing finished rolls of paper, along with quality control.

With the System 800xA, ABB seamlessly integrates the Distributed Control System(DCS), Quality Control System(QCS), Web Imaging Systems (WIS) into this domestically-made papermaking machine to achieve equipment sharing between sub-systems and centralized intelligent control of the sub-systems as well as reduced investment in equipment, improved product quality and decreased manpower and material resource usage.

“Compared to systems that are not integrated, fully integrated automation systems have simplified design, an excellent degree of visualization and outstanding level of intelligence, and provide engineers with added convenience during operation while helping enterprises to significantly cut manpower and equipment maintenance costs,” said Lin ShuMing, head of ABB Pulp & Paper in North Asia, “Like Minfeng, more and more paper makers are starting to use ABB’s fully integrated automation systems in their domestically-made papermaking machines for the production of plasterboard surface paper, special paper, wrapping paper and other types of paper.”

ABB once successfully cooperated with Shanxi Qiangwei Paper Co., Ltd. (Qiangwei) for a 300,000 ton / yr plasterboard surface paper project. ABB has customized its fully integrated automation systems for Minfeng and Qiangwei to meet the needs of domestically-made papermaking machines in terms of operational characteristics and individualized production lines. With extensive experience and advanced technology, ABB’s systems can improve product quality, increase output of finished products and ensure production line operations remain stable, have low levels of resource consumption and maintain high levels of efficiency.

ABB has maintained a strong business in providing fully integrated automation systems for many years due to its customized services for paper makers. Through its cooperation with domestic and international paper makers such as UPM-Kymmene and Hengan for large papermaking projects using advanced international papermaking equipment produced by Voith, Metso, etc., ABB has accumulated a great deal of successful experience in this business area. Minfeng equipped its two Voith machines that produce high grade cigarette paper and writing paper with ABB’s fully integrated automation systems in 1999 and 2002 respectively.

Nowadays, more and more paper makers have realized that unpredictable machine breakdowns can lead to huge losses and many including Hua Run Paper Co., Ltd. and Nine Dragons Paper (Holdings) Limited’s Leshan subsidiary have already begun using ABB’s fully integrated automation systems in their domestically-made papermaking machines. In 2011, Changtai Paper ordered two fully integrated automation systems from ABB for use in two domestically-made papermaking machines at its new plant that produce plasterboard surface paper and linerboard.

ABB also provides annual support services to paper makers. Under such services, ABB’s professional engineers can analyze production lines while the machines are shut down for only a very short period of time, and provide paper makers with comprehensive and preventive suggestions on maintenance, thereby helping to ensure production lines are stably and efficiently operated, and the service life of equipment is extended.

China’s papermaking industry has grown continuously over the past 10 years. ABB established its pulp and paper team in China as early as 1994 and went on to successively establish business branches in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou with its industry-leading workforce and services. In November 2010, ABB established its QCS and WIS factory in Shanghai – the global manufacturing base for its pulp and paper business. By the end of 2011, ABB had successfully completed up to 300 large-scale projects within China’s papermaking industry and had maintained long term partnerships with many leading domestic and international paper makers such as Hengan, Nine Dragons Paper, Lee & Man Paper and Huatai Group.

Published in Asian News
Tagged under

ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has won a $60 million contract from Shell Gas Iraq B.V. to build a new power plant in southern Iraq.

The power plant will be operated by the Basrah Gas Company, a joint venture company to be set up as part of the Iraq, South Gas Project, following signature of the main project agreements in November 2011. The project includes the rehabilitation of the existing facilities and addition of new facilities. ABB’s optimized technical solution and ability to execute the project on a tight schedule were both important factors that contributed to its success in winning this order.

“This project will ensure a stable and reliable power supply to support existing and future infrastructure,” said Veli-Matti Reinikkala, head of ABB’s Process Automation division. “ABB’s capability to fully execute all aspects of this complex project will help provide the Basrah Gas Company with the electricity it needs to successfully power its complete production process.”

The Khor Al Zubair project is part of an EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contract to build a power plant with a total capacity of 50 megawatt (MW), which will feed electricity to the facilities of the Basrah Gas Company. 

ABB will be responsible for the overall project management, engineering, procurement, construction, supervision, commissioning and start-up services, as well as performance. The plant is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2013.

ABB’s scope of supply for the plant includes process control systems, fire and gas, and emergency shutdown systems, power management systems, step-up and distribution transformers, medium- and low-voltage power equipment, and site utilities such as the diesel generator, flare control and compressed air system. Shell Gas Iraq B.V. is a wholly owned Shell Company participating in the Iraq South Gas project, and will be the Shell shareholder (44%) in the Basrah Gas Company. 

The other shareholders in the Basrah Gas Company will be the Iraqi South Gas Company (51%) and Diamond Gas Iraq B.V. a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation (5%).

Published in Energy News
Tagged under

ABB, the leading power and automation technology group has been awarded a large Electrification and Instrumentation (E&I) and Distributed Control System (DCS) order by Sappi Southern Africa.

ABB will engineer, procure and supply equipment for Sappi’s Ngodwana mill in Nelspruit, South Africa. This scope forms part of Sappi’s Project Go Cell, which entails the expansion of the current mill for the production of chemical cellulose.  This order follows ABB’s successful implementation of Sappi Saiccor’s Amakhulu project in 2007.

Among the products to be supplied are Medium Voltage switchgear, Low Voltage MCCs incorporating intelligent motor controls, Profibus intelligent instrumentation, Variable Speed Drives and ABB’s state of the art 800xA control system.  These products will support the mill’s goals of increased efficiency and lower energy consumption.

Due to the size and complexity of the project and to meet Sappi’s project deadline, ABB will have an international team of Pulp and Paper composite plant experts from South Africa, Finland and Singapore work on this project. The project team will ensure the seamless installation and completion of the electrification and automation equipment in Sappi’s required timeframes (plant production is expected to begin in 2013).

Sappi Southern Africa is a global leader in the production of chemical cellulose, which is used in the production of a wide range of consumer products such as clothing, plastics, food and pharmaceutical products. 

“ABB South Africa’s contribution to the expansion and modernization of Sappi Ngodwana is a proud achievement for ABB and a further testament of our capabilities in the Pulp and Paper for this giant player in the industry”, said Carlos Pone, CEO of ABB South Africa.  “The project teams from the two companies will develop synergies and capabilities to benefit processes in the production of chemical cellulose at Sappi.”

Published in Press Releases
Tagged under
Tuesday, 31 January 2012 00:16

ABB Launches Next Generation Weight xP Actuators

High-speed positioning gives papermakers faster grade changes and faster recovery from process upset

abb newpic

ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, recently introduced the new Weight xP extended profiling actuators. These state-of-the-art actuators help customers to achieve the lowest possible Cross Direction variability and to reduce cost.

The new Weight xP actuators, the latest generation of ABB’s popular xP profilers, help papermakers meet even the most exacting product specifications. With robust design, proven components and unique technologies, Weight xP delivers precision and reliability.

“With the new Weight xP’s technology, mills can achieve faster recovery from grade changes and process upsets that they need to keep productivity at high levels,” says Steven St. Jarre, Head of Sales & Marketing for ABB Quality Control Systems.

The Weight xP family of actuators includes the Slice xP, Dilution xP and Coat Weight xP systems which are designed based on ABB’s experience in applying actuators on more than 25 different manufacturers of headboxes and coaters.

The actuators feature patented and patent-pending technology that eliminate the dependence on a physical position sensor, and allow the actuators to achieve their new position in one continuous and fast movement, reducing the time needed to make control actions.

In addition, the patented power management scheme allows simultaneous movement of actuators at all times even during flush cycles, global setpoint changes, or even if one power supply has failed, providing papermakers with the ultimate in reliability.

Slice xP, Coat Weight xP and Dilution xP each offer advanced diagnostics for easy troubleshooting and increased system availability, as well as built-in monitoring of over 60 different parameters, to predict an impending actuator failure long before it occurs.

Published in Featured Products
Tagged under

Contract with Nampak Corrugated to manage maintenance operations, increase productivity and energy efficiency at paper mill

ABB, the leading power and automation technology group has signed a five-year, ABB Full Service® contract with Nampak Corrugated, to manage maintenance and improve overall efficiency at the company’s Rosslyn Paper Mill in Pretoria, South Africa. Under the agreement, ABB will manage all maintenance operations at the paper mill to improve equipment efficiency andincrease production output while reducing operating costs. 62 Nampak maintenance employees transferred to ABB when the contract took effect on December 1, 2011.

Nampak is Africa’s largest packaging company, manufacturing a diverse range of paper, plastic, metal and glass packaging products. The Rosslyn mill manufactures recycled based paper for a variety of corrugated packaging products, supplied by Nampak’s Corrugated operations. abb new

Under the agreement, ABB will manage all maintenance to improve productivity and equipment reliability at the mill, and retain and develop all existing maintenance staff and management. ABB will train the staff in pulp and paper industry-specific predictive maintenance and management practices. In addition, ABB will provide process optimization, energy consulting, equipment lifecycle services at the site, as well as manage all third-party subcontractors and suppliers.

ABB Full Service agreements make business sense in terms of increasing efficiency in operations, and help to further develop skilled maintenance personnel in world-class practices,” said Veli-Matti Reinikkala, head of ABB’s Process Automation division. “These agreements provide an exceptional win-win situation for all involved, and allow the customer to focus on their core business while getting the best performance out of their process.”  

The agreement formalizes a joint vision in which ABB manages maintenance at the Rosslyn facility, while Nampak Corrugated Paper Mills strengthens its strategic focus on growing its core operations.

“We are not only looking forward to improved maintenance processes and practices, but the performance guarantees will ensure the relationship is a true partnership with the parties working closely together to improve operations, and value is added in a much wider context than pure maintenance services”, said Christiaan Burmeister, Managing Director of Nampak Corrugated.

This is ABB’s largest Full Service contract to date in South Africa.  The new contract complements more than 100 ABB Full Service relationships with customers in the paper, metals, mining, chemicals, and oil and gas industries worldwide.

Published in Press Releases
Tagged under

kemsley aerial view - jan 2007

New systems will help diversify products at DS Smith Paper’s Kemsley Mill

ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, recently won an extensive order to upgrade automation at DS Smith Paper Ltd’s Kemsley Mill in Sittingbourne, Kent, England. The new systems will help the mill produce a greater diversity of high quality paper products.

new-web-imagingThe order includes an upgrade of the mill’s PM3 automation and drives systems, including a new Quality Control System (QCS), upgraded and expanded Distributed Control System (DCS) and upgraded and expanded Drive System, as well as a new Web Imaging Solution (WIS). All of the systems will be integrated with the existing System 800xA.

The mill’s Advant QCS will be upgraded to an 800xA with two new Network Platforms and an Air Water Spray. The drives upgrade includes new ACS800 drives and AC800M Controllers. One of the existing DCS Advant Controllers will be upgraded to an AC800M and integrated into the system.

The new QCS will help improve product quality on the PM3, while it increases production and reduces costs. ABB’s System 800xA DCS will provide a solid platform for the mill’s integrated process operation. The upgraded ABB drives will deliver fast start ups and benefits over the equipment lifecycle that include increased productivity, improved quality and energy savings, while the new WIS will give the mill a state-of-the-art tool for identifying web defects and managing visual uniformity.

The Kemsley Mill is rebuilding its PM3 so it can produce highest quality linerboard and white-top liner grades.

The new systems will be ready for start-up in June 2012.

Source: ABB

Published in European News
Tagged under

ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, recently hosted 40 students from the TAPPI student chapters at Miami University and Western Michigan University at ABB Westerville in Ohio. The students left with a very positive impression of ABB and its products.

 charlie-young

On October 14, ABB staff met with the students, introduced them to ABB’s pulp and paper business, and demonstrated how the company’s products and services help papermakers.

“Not only did all the visitors get excellent presentations about ABB's business, products, technology and services, they were also particularly impressed by ABB's teamwork,” said Shin-Chin Chen, a corporate executive engineer with ABB’s Pulp and Paper Division in Westerville. “These students will remember ABB for a long time.”

The students took part in presentations on ABB’s pulp and paper technologies, led by experienced ABB staff including Charlie Young, Steve Sturm, John Spachman, Andy Broomfield, Randy Niemeyer, Kevin Starr and Don Gillespie. The presentations covered measurement technology, actuator technology, control system technology, and project delivery and service. Åke Hellström, a retired ABB chief engineer, explained how ABB’s integrated Quality Control System helps create quality paper and demonstrated ABB’s System 800xA.

group-picture

Summing up their visit to ABB, many of the students commented that it had exceeded their expectations. Student advisors reported that the feedback they received was 100 percent positive.

Published in North American News
Tagged under

ARC study states that new projects in heavy process industries, power generation contributed to overall market growth

In the newest version of ARC Advisory Group’s “Distributed Control Systems Worldwide Outlook,” study, ABB retained its leading worldwide market position in this core automation market. According to the study, the DCS (distributed control system) market in 2010 rebounded from 2009; the overall market for DCS (distributed control system) increased by 3.3 percent, in part due to an increase of new projects in the heavy process industries.

ARC forecasts that market growth, while improved compared with 2009, will not reach peak 2008 levels until next year, and then will resume normal slow but steady growth. The increase in new projects in the heavy process industries such as oil & gas and petrochemical, as well as a resurgence in power generation projects, helped to drive global demand for DCS in 2010.

Many of the larger projects that contributed to 2010 growth were booked throughout 2009. ABB booked a number of large process industry and power generation orders, which included major greenfield projects as well as system upgrades and expansions for existing installations.

“Innovation, quality products, extensive industry knowledge and application expertise has enabled ABB to establish a large and loyal customer base,” said Barry Young, Principal Analyst at ARC and author of the report. “ABB brings together a product, system and service capability that allow them to deliver complete automation and production solutions across a broad range of industries.”

According to the study, ABB was also the regional market share leader for Latin America, Europe/Mid East/Africa (EMEA), and the worldwide leader in key global verticals including Upstream Oil & Gas, Pulp and Paper, Mining and Metals, and Cement and Glass.

The report also notes that the DCS business has continued to be primarily a services business over the past few years, with combined project, engineering and operational services accounting for more than half of total revenues. In particular, the Main Automation Contractor (MAC) approach, in which the automation vendor manages the overall project and includes a strong project execution and services component, continues to grow stronger and expand in scope.

“ABB’s deep process industry knowledge, extensive global and local resources, and world-class services organization provide the project execution capabilities needed to successfully manage complex projects as the Main Automation Contractor,” said Veli-Matti Reinikkala, head of ABB’s Process Automation division. “In addition, we offer our customers a diverse portfolio of DCS solutions to help any process perform better, from the smallest operation to large integrated operations.”

ABB’s portfolio of DCS includes its flagship System 800xA Extended Automation platform, Symphony Plus control system, Freelance process control system for small to medium process applications, as well as its prior generation systems. All ABB control systems offer a secure evolution path forward to next generation technologies to protect and enhance the control system investment over its lifetime.

Additional information on the DCS Worldwide Outlook, as well as other studies on the global automation market, is available at www.arcweb.com

Founded in 1986, ARC Advisory Group has grown to become the Thought Leader in Manufacturing and Supply Chain solutions. ARC analysts have the expert industry knowledge and first-hand experience to help clients find the best answer to complex business issues. ARC focuses on simple yet critical goals: improving clients’ return on assets, operational performance, total cost of ownership, project time-to-benefit, and shareholder value.

Published in Featured Company
Tagged under
Page 10 of 14