International technology Group ANDRITZ has received an order from Arkhbum Tissue Group LLC to supply a tissue machine PrimeLineTM W6-XT, including stock preparation, automation, and electrification, for its mill in Vorsino (Kaluga region), Russia, for the production of high-quality facial, toilet, napkin, and kitchen towel grades made of 100% virgin pulp. Start-up is scheduled for the third quarter of 2019.

The new PrimeLineTM W6-XT tissue machine has a design speed of 2,100 meters per minute and a paper width of 5.6 meters. The combination of a 16 ft. steel Yankee and the latest PrimePress XT shoe press technology enables a high drying capacity and achieves remarkable cost savings and operational flexibility compared to systems operated with conventional presses and cast Yankee dryers.

Photo: ANDRITZ

Additionally, the drying section of the machine is equipped with a ReEvaporation system to reduce drying energy costs even further. The system uses the waste heat in the hood exhaust to recover steam from the condensate stream, thereby reducing the amount of fresh steam required.

The scope of supply also includes stock preparation with an approach flow system. The centerpiece of the line is the ANDRITZ Papillon refiner that treats fibers gently in the cylindrical refining zone in order to achieve superior fiber properties at low energy consumption. The approach flow system features the ANDRITZ ShortFlow concept, which allows a minimized number of equipment items and very low storage volume as well as fast grade/color changes at the tissue machine. ANDRITZ also provides process pumps, piping, and instrumentation as well as on-site services.

“Our new tissue machine is equipped with a new PrimePress XT shoe press, which provides high productivity and product quality, together with an ANDRITZ Papillon refiner and ShortFlow system. These technical and technological characteristics will significantly reduce the consumption of water and steam in the production process and also minimize costs in general,” says Irina Galakhova, Executive Director, Arkhbum Tissue Group LLC.

The laminating line is now able to produce either laminate paper rolls or sheets depending on customer’s demand.  

With the objective of improving the performance of one of their laminating lines and their Pasaban KDD 1500 paper sheeter, Pasaban Upgrades service carried out two different projects.  

On the one hand, a new configuration for the laminating line was designed by adding two new pieces of equipment; a rotary unwinder and a rewind stand. On the other hand, an electrical upgrade of the sheeter was carried out, adapting it to work both OFFLINE and INLINE with the laminator.  

Both the rotary unwind stand and the rewinding station installed on the laminator allow automatic splicing at maximum speed, capable of reaching 200 m/min. The two systems have electrical motors and everything is controlled by a high-performance PLC.  

Regarding the sheeter upgrade, it was necessary to carry out improvements to the electrical system for which Pasaban drives and PLCs were used.  

Currently, after the changes have been made, the sheeter can be fed by either its unwinders or by the laminator working INLINE. The sheeter is prepared to cutting in register on printed mark.  

These solutions have enabled or customer to adapt the performance of their equipment to their specific needs, giving option to several configurations.  

The project although complex due to space problems, it has been satisfactory and both the customer and ourselves are satisfied with the final result.  

For more information regarding our Upgrades service, click here

 International Paper Company (NYSE: IP) have just confirmed that the company will not make an offer for Smurfit Kappa Group plc ('Smurfit Kappa'), given the lack of engagement by Smurfit Kappa's Board of Directors and Management.

In February 2018, International Paper provided representatives of Smurfit Kappa's Board of Directors with a proposal to acquire the company. Following discussions with shareholders of both companies, IP put forward a revised proposal on March 26, 2018. IP believes the revised proposal was highly attractive and formed a sound basis for engagement, which the company viewed as essential to determining the full value potential of the combination.

"While we continue to believe in the strategic and financial potential of this combination, our commitment was to proceed in a disciplined manner that would create value for both sets of shareholders," said Mark Sutton, Chairman and CEO of International Paper. "Moving forward, we remain focused on executing our strategy and are excited about our outlook. We have many levers to create shareholder value and will be responsible stewards of our shareholders' capital," added Sutton.

As a result of this announcement, International Paper is bound by the restrictions set out in Rule 2.8 of the Irish Takeover Rules. International Paper reserves the right within the next 12 months to set aside this announcement where so permitted under Rule 2.8 (including Rule 2.8(c)(ii)).

Valmet will supply Burgo Ardennes with a batch cooking plant for its pulp mill in Virton, Belgium. The order is included in Valmet's second quarter of 2018 orders received. The value of the order will not be disclosed. The start-up of the cooking plant is planned for the beginning of 2020.

"The new cooking plant will improve pulp characteristics and utilize wood raw material in a more efficient way. Additionally, we will improve local environment around the mill, mainly the odor, and reduce the energy consumption within the process area," says Michel Hartman, Mill manager at Burgo Ardennes mill in Virton.

"Valmet continues to bring valuable solutions to our pulp customers. This delivery shows once again the strength of our cooking technology portfolio," says Patrik Lidbäck, Sales Manager, Pulp and Energy Valmet.

Burgo Ardennes pulp mill, Burgo Group

Details about Valmet's delivery

Valmet's scope of supply includes a new batch cooking plant with auxiliaries, such as platforms, piping and instrumentation. The installation of the supplied equipment, the commissioning and start-up services are also included.

About the customer Burgo Ardennes

Burgo Group is one of Europe's leading producers of coated and specialty papers. The Burgo Ardennes mill has been producing pulp since 1964, and since 1994 been a part of Burgo S.p.A. The production capacity is 380,000 tons per year of pulp, which is used for the mill's own paper production while the remaining part is sold on the pulp market.

International technology Group ANDRITZ has received an order from UPM Nordland Papier, Germany, to rebuild paper machine #2 (PM2) in Dörpen, Germany, to produce release/glassine papers. With the rebuild of PM2, the UPM group will increase the capacity of release paper production by an additional 110,000 t/a. Start-up after the rebuild is scheduled for the final quarter of 2019.

The complex rebuild with demanding technological requirements, not only for the equipment but also for the process and product quality, was prepared in close cooperation between UPM and ANDRITZ. Apart from the rebuild of PM2, the ANDRITZ scope of supply also includes modification of the stock preparation system, approach flow and broke system.

The modification of the stock preparation system includes ModuScreen CP police screens for the short and long fiber lines and two refiners TwinFlo TF-S34 for the long fiber line. For the approach flow system, ANDRITZ will deliver a new Short Flow deaeration silo including vacuum system, new headbox screens ModuScreen HBE for the HC and LC lines, and fan pumps. In addition to these items, a two-stage broke screening system with ModuScreen F, a thickening drum PRS2060, and a deflaker DFL3 are included in the scope of supply. For broke conversion, ANDRITZ will deliver an HC pulper FibreSolve FSH6 and an additional deflaker DFL3.

All sections of the paper machine will be modified. One of the key components is the ANDRITZ PrimeFlow SW dilution water headbox. The PrimeForm and PrimeForm HB hybrid formers include new dewatering elements that are considered to provide maximum flexibility for dewatering and also improve sheet formation.

The key component in the press section is a new PrimePress X shoe press with a PrimeSteam VIB steam blow-box for profiling in order to achieve the required dryness. The first dryer group will be rebuilt as a single tier with new PrimeRun Jet and PrimeRun D stabilizer boxes. Ropeless tail threading will be added to the pre-dryer and after-dryer sections.

Between the dryer sections, a new PrimeFilm film press will be installed including contactless, high-intensity drying. Furthermore, the after-dryer section will be equipped with a new PM hood and a new dry broke pulper. At the end of PM2, a complete new re-moisturizing system – PrimeSpray VIB – for both paper sides is included in the scope of supply. Finally, the moisturized paper will be wound using a complete new PrimeReel CenterDrive reeling system.

The entire field instrumentation wiring and piping are also part of the delivery. Furthermore, the scope of supply includes the complete detailed engineering, full equipment installation, start-up, commissioning, and training for all the equipment.

It is with great satisfaction that A.Celli Nonwovens confirms its position as an important partner in this regard, currently with 10 major projects worldwide.

The first half of 2018 has seen real success for A.Celli Nonwovens.

As many as ten plants have now been delivered to customers in Europe, the Americas and some areas of the Middle East.

These ten new production lines include Master Roll winders (most of which with cutting in line), Rewinders and Spooling plants. These have all been fully designed by A.Celli Nonwovens for the use of ATB (Air Through Bonded) products based on natural and synthetic fibres.

This is clear confirmation that the A.Celli Group is gaining favour among producers for its supply of high performance rollers and cutters which meet the quality specifications and most exacting needs of the market, while ensuring the highest levels of productivity.

A.Celli Nonwovens is in fact able to offer a complete range of Master Roll winders, rewinders and automatic packaging systems with advanced solutions tailored to the customer’s needs and the dictates of Industry 4.0 . The product range also includes reel packing, palletisation and handling systems and multifunctional lines incorporating laminating  and  printing systems.

A new operator interface for Valmet's successful paper testing system Paper Lab opens new opportunities for users by making automated paper testing more accessible, faster and even easier to use with minimum training. Paper Lab is suitable for testing all grades of paper and board with a wide selection of industry standard paper quality tests.

The new interface makes entering sample data quick and easy with an integrated barcode reader with graphic and dynamic display pages guiding the user through every step of the testing process. Commissioning is simplified with faster customized configuration and very little training is required to take advantage of Paper Lab's comprehensive testing capabilities. The new interface is also available as an upgrade for current Paper Lab users. Those supplied prior to 2009 require the newer measurement frame but retain the ability to utilize most of their existing test modules.

"Valmet Paper Lab is under continuous development but will always combine the latest technology and be compatible with most measurement modules. New users as well as those upgrading older systems will benefit from the widest selection of testing modules, as well as faster and easier testing in addition to better connectivity to LIMS, DCS, QCS, and information/enterprise wide systems," says Tuomo Kälkäjä, Business Manager, Paper Testing.

Based on the Valmet Analyzer Client, the new Paper Lab operator interface is Linux based, offering lower lifetime costs, improved security and open source freedom from 3^rd party licensing. Better diagnostics and a live view of testing operations improve the user experience and builds operator confidence whether used in laboratory or on the machine floor.

Valmet Paper Lab is a modular and scalable automated paper testing system for grades of paper and board. With the widest selection of industry standard tests on the market, reporting can detail over 400 properties. The testing system is based on more than 30 years of automated paper testing experience with almost 300 units delivered to paper and board mills around the world. The new Paper Lab provides an easy to learn and intuitive tool for paper property testing which together with Valmet Industrial Internet remote support can take automated laboratory to a new level of performance.

PMP (Paper Machinery Producer) is pleased to announce that Al Pospischil has joined their team as a Regional Sales Manager in the Southeast, USA. Al brings over 35 years of experience to the PMP team and will help represent PMP’s products in mills in the Carolinas, Georgia and Virginia and Northern Florida.

About PMP:

PMP – PMP is a global provider of tissue, paper & board technology and has been supporting the pulp and paper industry for over 160 years, executing projects on 6 continents, in 34 countries. The Company has its headquarters in Jelenia Góra, Poland and has 6 facilities in 4 countries (Poland, USA, China, Italy). PMP is a recognized international player in both the paper & tissue industry. Learn more about PMP at: www.pmpgroup.com

The Paper Recycling Association of South Africa (PRASA) has announced the 2017 paper recycling rates. Last year the paper recycling industry along with conscientious consumers and thousands of collectors kept 1,3 million tonnes of paper and paper, boxes and liquid packaging out of landfill. This would fill 1,539 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

This tonnage represents 70% of the 1,8 million tonnes of paper available for recovery, which excludes books and archived records, and unrecyclable paper like toilet tissue.

“We are delighted with our latest statistics as it shows us that people are recycling more,” says Ursula Henneberry, PRASA operations director. In 2015, the association set a target of 70% by the year 2020, and this has been achieved three years early.

In the past six years alone, more than seven million tonnes of paper and paper packaging have been recovered for recycling. If baled, this amount would cover the surface of 1,273 soccer fields, one metre deep. “The unsung heroes are our country’s recycling collectors along with industry players who operate collection and drop-off schemes as well as buy back centres,” notes Henneberry. 

“While our recovery rate has increased, there has been a drop in local consumption particularly in printing and writing grades, so much so that a newsprint paper machine was closed down last year,” remarks Jane Molony, executive director of the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (PAMSA). This has resulted in a slight drop in the actual tonnage from 1,4 million tonnes to 1,3 million tonnes.

“This decline is however in line with international trends,” adds Molony. The average annual per person consumption in South Africa has dropped from around 50kg in 2011 to close to 40kg in 2017. Some of this reduction is attributable to cost saving, electronic media substitution and the country’s weak economic growth. 

The paper packaging industry does not need another tax

Commenting on the Section 28 notice¹ (published on 6 December 2017) calling for Industry Waste Management Plans, PAMSA asserts that the private sector consistently invests in voluntary waste management initiatives without it being mandatory. “We would prefer not to have mandatory taxes as these will increase the price of packaging. And our economy and already cash-strapped consumers cannot afford additional costs,” explains Molony.

In addition the objectives of the notice will not be met through more taxes but rather through strengthening existing partnerships between industry, municipalities, the Department of Environmental Affairs and other public institutions. It is through partnerships with the likes of the Fibre Processessing and Manufacturing (FP&M) SETA that PRASA have trained over 6,000 recycling collectors and entrepreneurs since 2010. PRASA has also worked with the FP&M SETA and the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations to formalise the qualifications that these entrepeneurs receive.

According to Statistics SA, there has been a substantial increase of jobs in the paper recycling sector from 2016 to 2017, which has been buoyed by robust demand from paper mills.

Robust local beneficiation

The sector has the capacity to process all the waste paper it collects and less than 5% was exported in 2017. As a result, South Africa is less vulnerable to the vagaries of the international waste paper market and although China’s moratorium on waste paper imports did have some impact, it was neglible compared with the likes of that in the USA and the UK.

“As an industry, we embark on numerous awareness drives, promoting better separation-at-source to reduce the contamination of waste paper and provide a better quality fibre for paper manufacturers,” Molony concludes.

¹ A notice in terms of section 28 of the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No 59 of 2008) (Notice) was published on 6 December 2017.  Each packaging waste stream will have to submit an Industry Waste Management Plan (IndWMP) to the Minister by September 2018. According to the Notice, the Waste Bureau will oversee these plans and a tax will be collected by SARS to implement the IndWMPs.

Partnership marks Barry-Wehmiller’s first acquisition in Asia

BW Papersystems, a Barry-Wehmiller company and capital equipment supplier for the paper industry, has acquired Dongguan K&H Machinery Co. Ltd. The transaction closed on May 31, 2018.

K&H manufactures complete corrugators to create corrugated sheets; some of its well-known products include the N.C. Slitter Scorer and the Positive Pressure Singlefacer. With operations in Dongguan, China, and Taiwan, K&H has sold products in Asia, Central and South America, and Europe for the past 30 years.

For decades, BW Papersystems and K&H have often worked together on solution-driven projects for customers throughout China. Now, the two companies will join efforts to better serve the industry and increase their global market presence. BW Papersystems is pleased to welcome 145 team members to the company as a result of this collaboration.

“We have partnered with K&H for a long time,” said Neal McConnellogue, President of BW Papersystems. “By merging the two companies, BW Papersystems will step into our broader vision and open ourselves to new customer opportunities.”

Added Eddie Mun, newly appointed Managing Director of K&H in Dongguan: “K&H equipment, combined with the technology of our MarquipWardUnited brand, will meet the increasing demand for automation in Asia.”

“I look forward to continuing K&H’s and BW Papersystems’ progress in the global corrugated market,” said Wu Kuan Hsiung, President and Board Chairman of K&H, who will continue to consult on innovation and business matters, as the K&H and MarquipWardUnited product lines merge equipment and technology.

Tim Sullivan, Barry-Wehmiller Group President, Paper and Converting, noted: “With this being Barry-Wehmiller’s first acquisition in Asia, we are fortunate and honored to be partnering with K&H and Mr. Wu, and are excited by the opportunity to accelerate our growth.”

K&H is BW Papersystems’ 11th acquisition focusing on capital equipment in the paper industries, and is Barry-Wehmiller’s 105th acquisition.

“Reflecting on this historic partnership, I am thrilled about the opportunity to combine the talents and gifts of our teams in a new way,” said Bob Chapman, Barry-Wehmiller Chairman and CEO. “This acquisition provides us not only with a great opportunity to expand our presence in the market but also to grow our people-centric culture with our new team members.”