Valmet will supply an automation system update and expansion for Gasum's project at the Metsä Tissue Mänttä mill in Finland. As part of the project, the mill will replace liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) with Gasum's low-emission liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the burners of the drying processes on its tissue machines.

The order is included in Valmet's fourth quarter 2018 orders received. The system renewal will be delivered in June 2019.

Valmet's automation system will be used to control the burners of the drying processes and manage a gas terminal that will be connected to Valmet's data collection application. The delivery will standardize and optimize the tissue drying process and quality management.

Valmet will supply an automation system update and expansion to Metsä Tissue Mänttä mill in Finland. The automation system will be used to control the burners of the drying processes and manage Gasum's gas terminal. Photo: Metsä Group

"Valmet's flexible approach and familiarization with Metsä Tissue enabled us to offer a turnkey delivery to the customer," says Tommy Mattila, Sales and Marketing Director, Gasum.

"Valmet will enhance the Metsä Tissue mill's fuel switch to LNG, which is a safe form of energy with low emissions. At the same time, both Gasum and Metsä Tissue gain access to the latest software updates," remarks Juhani Tuomaala, Sales Manager, Automation, Valmet.

Information about Valmet's delivery

Valmet will update and expand the Valmet DNA automation system on the tissue machines to modernize burner controls and the drying process management. Valmet's delivery includes automation controls with DNA Modbus links to the burner and gas terminal PLCs as well as necessary DNA I/O expansions on the tissue machine automation systems. The delivery also includes DNA software updates and expansions in the process air systems and drying power control systems of the tissue machines.

Gasum will carry out the modifications needed for the fuel switch as well as all equipment installation.

Information about the customers Gasum and Metsä Tissue

Gasum is a Nordic energy company and the number one expert in the gas sector in Finland. Together with its partners, it promotes development towards a carbon-neutral future on land and at sea. www.gasum.com 

Metsä Tissue is a leading tissue paper products supplier to households and professionals in Europe and the world's leading supplier of baking and cooking papers. With production units in five countries, Metsä Tissue employs a total of about 2,800 people, and its sales in 2017 amounted to EUR 1.0 billion. Metsä Tissue is part of Metsä Group. www.metsatissue.com

Valmet is the leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. We aim to become the global champion in serving our customers.

Valmet's strong technology offering includes pulp mills, tissue, board and paper production lines, as well as power plants for bioenergy production. Our advanced services and automation solutions improve the reliability and performance of our customers' processes and enhance the effective utilization of raw materials and energy.

Valmet's net sales in 2017 were approximately EUR 3.1 billion. Our more than 12,000 professionals around the world work close to our customers and are committed to moving our customers' performance forward - every day. Valmet's head office is in Espoo, Finland, and its shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki.

The future of the global freight and logistics industry will be shaped during a 3-day conference in London starting 9th July. The 6th Annual International Physical Internet Conference (IPIC) aims to provide an open forum for researchers, industry representatives, government officials and citizens to explore leading edge freight transport and logistics concepts, methodologies, projects, technological advancements and start-up initiatives. 

The Physical Internet concept takes freight and logistics services and aims to make them as accessible and connected as information and services are over internet. This represents a huge opportunity for the sector to improve efficiency and sustainability through connected, interoperable and shared used of resources and assets on a massive scale, whilst supporting the massive challenge of decarbonization.

Conference topics include inter-connected logistics, cross-chain control, synchromodal transportation, open logistics networks, systems & technologies for interconnected logistics, supply chain coordination & collaboration, and urban freight transport and logistics. Through these areas IPIC will touch on exciting new areas such as automated transport, robotics, artificial intelligence, internet of things and blockchain.

IPIC provides a unique opportunity to learn and discuss the latest results of innovative projects and industry initiatives in the field. Participants from all over the world, including researchers, industrial and international institutions, local authorities and standardization committees will share practices, solutions and challenges.

Fernando Liesa, Secretary General, Alliance for Logistics Innovation through Collaboration in Europe (ALICE) said:

“We’re delighted to bring one of the Europe’s largest freight and logistics events, IPIC to the UK.  Freight and Logistics impact on almost all aspects of our modern interconnected lives and changes in the political landscape of Europe will only make novel approaches which increase efficiency, sustainability and improve collaboration more important. The novel approach of the Physical Internet has the potential to revolutionise the sector and this event will aim to forge the future with our colleagues in the UK.” 

The conference will take place from the 9th to 11th July and will be hosted by the Transport Systems Catapult on behalf of the ALICE and the Department for Transport. To find out more and book tickets go to https://www.pi.events/.

The Joinville, Santa Catarina, site honored with the prestigious award for 2018

Fabio Perini Brazil, a branch of Fabio Perini S.P.A., a leading global supplier of machinery and services for tissue converting and packaging, gained a place of honor in the authoritative ranking of US Institute “Great Place to Work® Certified” which since the ‘90s has been implementing the worldwide ranking of the best places of work all over the globe. Fabio Perini Brazil gained 11^th place in the regional ranking of mid-range companies.

The mission of the Great Place to Work Institute is evaluating companies’ working conditions and management of service suppliers. Through employee and employers’ surveys, the people management, the workplace and the employees’ confidence are evaluated, and a ranking is elaborated on the basis of indicators of credibility, respect, impartiality, pride to belong.

Silvana Dellacqua – Human Resources Manager of Fabio Perini – pointed out the company’s utmost attention towards human relations and resource development: “We keep investing in technical training and language support, in order to promote more effective communications among employees, and over the years we have developed an efficient network of relationships among different teams. In addition, the existing communications channels allow our employees to contribute their suggestions to enhance collaboration, therefore stimulating people’s interest and involvement.”

“I wish to congratulate everybody for this achievement – commented Dineo Silverio, Company President for Brazil and South America - People are what makes the difference in growing a business. A high level of internal satisfaction reflects itself automatically in the satisfaction of the customers in our market. Employee management is a strategic factor for the evolution of our business, because the satisfaction to be working for a company translates into greater efficiency and better quality of the final product”.

This important milestone confirms the high quality of Fabio Perini S.p.A., which enters with full rights in the international community of the “Great place to work” certified companies.

Metso announced on October 26, 2018 its decision to invest in a new greenfield valve technology center in Jiaxing, China. The groundbreaking ceremony for the new plant took place today. The new technology center will start operations in spring 2020 and will serve the local and global markets.

"This is an exciting day for both Metso and our valve customers in various process industries globally - we are investing in improving service and delivery capabilities for them. China is an extremely significant market for our valve business, and the new technology center will have a strong role," says Kevin Tinsley, Senior Vice President for Valve Operations at Metso.

The new location is designed to be a workplace for a total of 400 valve technology professionals, and the focus is on producing high-volume standard products and parts for all Metso's valve plants. Metso's technology center in the Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone in Shanghai is continuing its operations, with a focus on highly engineered products.

Metso has valve technology or production centers in locations around the world: in China, North America, Brazil, Germany, Finland, South Korea, and India.

Metso employs more than 1,100 people at seven locations in China, serving all customer industries.

Metso is a world-leading industrial company offering equipment and services for the sustainable processing and flow of natural resources in the mining, aggregates, recycling and process industries. With our unique knowledge and innovative solutions, we help our customers improve their operational efficiency, reduce risks and increase profitability. Metso is listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki in Finland and had sales of about EUR 2.7 billion in 2017. Metso employs over 12,000 people in more than 50 countries. metso.com

SCA’s Christmas gift to the company’s employees in 2018 was a donation of SEK 1.5m to three recipients. Cancer Research Foundation Northern Sweden received the largest donation.

SCA’s employees decided how the donation was to be divided between the three recipients by voting for the three alternatives on the company’s intranet. As a result, Cancer Research Foundation Northern Sweden will receive SEK 880,000, the WWF’s Save the Baltic Sea project will receive SEK 316,000 and Médecins Sans Frontières SEK 304,000. 

The donations are being transferred to the three organizations with warm greetings for a happy new 2019 from SCA’s employees.

The core of SCA’s business is the forest, Europe’s largest private forest holding. Around this unique resource, we have built a well-developed value chain based on renewable raw material from our own and others’ forests. We offer paper for packaging and print, pulp, wood products, renewable energy, services for forest owners and efficient transport solutions.
In 2017, the forest products company SCA had approximately 4,000 employees and sales amounted to approximately SEK 16.7bn (EUR 1.6bn). SCA was founded in 1929 and has its headquarters in Sundsvall, Sweden. More information at www.sca.com

Amazon Papyrus Chemicals Limited (APC), will see a leadership transition as part of a new corporate structure for the 18 year old specialty chemicals supplier.

APC today announced the promotion of the following personnel:

Sales and Marketing Function

• Ng Kok Heng, is promoted to the position of Group Sales and Marketing Director. Kok Heng will have responsibility for all Sales Regions, Marketing, Equipment and Regional Technical Support. In this role, Kok Heng will report to both the Chief Executive Officer, Mike Grundy and the Chief Operating Officer, Dr Jonathan Chan.
• Dr Dinesh Mohta, is promoted to the position of Sales Director and will have responsibility for the businesses in India, Malaysia, Vietnam and Middle-East.
• The Eng Loe Djatinegoro, Sales Director for Indonesia, Thailand and Philippines, will expand his responsibilities to include Myanmar and Laos.
• Felix Wan, Sales Director for non-Tissue segment, will continue to head the sales and technical organisation in China.
• Daniel Sunotoredjo, is promoted to Country Manager for Indonesia and Myanmar.

Technical Support Function

• Tan Lai Hok, is promoted to the position of Technical Director. Lai Hok will have responsibility for Product Management, Regulatory and Quality Management, Environmental, Health & Safety and Research & Development.
• Ravi Kumar is promoted to Product Manager for Pulp

About Amazon Papyrus

Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Hong Kong, Amazon Papyrus is a specialty chemical company, which has established presence in 11 countries with more than 450 employees, serving over 350 pulp and paper, viscose and fiber cement manufacturers in Asia and Middle East. Learn more at Amazon Papyrus’ website www.amazon-papyrus.com

Toscotec has been awarded a contract by Smurfit Kappa Cellulose du Pin in France to rebuild the entire dryer section of its 6m wire PM5 at Facture, Aquitaine, France.

Toscotec will rebuild the entire pre-dryer section of the machine, including 36 new TT SteelDryers with a diameter of 1.8 m, maintaining the same machine length of the existing 43 cast iron cans. The scope of supply includes 4 new TT Uniroll for the first battery. Toscotec will also rebuild the existing post-dryer section to improve the present design according to the new production rate, adding 2 new TT SteelDryers. The scope includes a rope-less tail threading system throughout the whole dryer section, an optimised tail transfer to the Film Press with a TT Ripper and TT Transfer (vacuum belt device) and an improved paper sheet transfer between press and dryer section. The main auxiliary systems will also be part of Toscotec’s scope, including the lubrication system, the hood with its air and ventilation system and the sheet stabilisation. The hall ventilation system will be also part of the package.

The PM5 produces White Top Kraft Liner with a reel trim of 5,500 mm, Toscotec’s rebuild will allow to increase machine speed up to approximately 900 m/min and will strengthen Smurfit Kappa’s position as the leading European supplier of White Top Kraft Liner.

The supply is on a turnkey basis and includes engineering, erection, commissioning, start-up assistance and training.

This new rebuild reaffirms Toscotec as one of preferred partners for the Smurfit Kappa Group, with which Toscotec has been working for the past 10 years on several projects, in Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Italy and Austria.

“It gives us great satisfaction to be selected for such an important rebuild project by Smurfit Kappa Cellulose du Pin. Thanks to the increased efficiency of the overall drying process, PM5 will significantly boost its capacity, and deliver actual energy savings, thereby cutting the mill’s energy bill” says Fabrizio Charrier, Toscotec’s Area Sales Manager.

Mr. Bruno Tormen, Smurfit Kappa Cellulose du Pin’s Mill Manager says: “At Smurfit Kappa, we offer our customers constant, secure and reliable quality thanks to our unrivalled standards. Toscotec’s design met our targets in terms of the dryer section’s performance and machine production increase. The high level of customisation of their turnkey solution was one of the deciding factors for our choice, along with the significant advantages of TT SteelDryers”.

The project is scheduled for the first quarter of 2020. 

Smurfit Kappa Group

Smurfit Kappa (SK) is one of the leading providers of paper-based packaging solutions in the world, with around 45,000 employees in approximately 370 production sites across 35 countries and with revenue of €8.6 billion in 2017. SK is located in 22 countries in Europe and 13 in the Americas and is the only large-scale pan-regional player in Latin America.

Smurfit Kappa Cellulose du Pin

Smurfit Kappa Cellulose du Pin is one of the most important paper mills in Europe, producing Brown and White Top Kraftliner, all of which are 100% recyclable and are used for the packaging of industrial and food products. SK Cellulose du Pin is perfectly integrated with the local community and it proactively supports a number of social, cultural, educational and sports projects, particularly with schools and universities.

Valmet has received an order for the new magnesium oxide (MgO) no 3 brown stock washing and screening line for the Sappi Saiccor mill in South Africa. The delivery is part of the Vulindlela Project which targets to reduce the Saiccor mill's air emissions and effluents, and to increase its total production from 783,000 ADt/a to 890,000 ADt/a. The capacity of the new MgO no 3 brown stock and screening line will be 720 ADt/d.

The order is included in Valmet's third quarter of 2018 orders received. The value of the order will not be disclosed. An order with this scope of supply is usually valued in the range of EUR 5-10 million. The new line is scheduled to start up in June 2020.

The agreement is a continuation to the long-term successful cooperation of Sappi and Valmet. Valmet has earlier delivered key processes to other Sappi mills in South Africa.

Sappi Saiccor mill

"Valmet and its TwinRoll press technology was selected due to the ease of access for descaling and maintenance, high washing efficiency, low water consumption and low fugitive emissions to atmosphere," says Wayne Weston, Project Director at Sappi Saiccor projects.

"Valmet's large reference base for fiberline key equipment, such as the TwinRoll presses for Sulphite pulp/dissolving pulp, gives confidence to our customers that we can handle their special processes. We are happy to be a part of the Vulindlela Project and it is an important breakthrough for Valmet to utilize the TwinRoll presses in the Saiccor mill," says Eva Engelfeldt, Sales Manager, Fiber Processing Business Unit, Valmet.

Details about Valmet's delivery

Valmet's delivery includes equipment for the deknotting, screening and brown stock washing area, and auxiliaries like centrifugal pumps, field instruments, control valves, tower and tanks. The delivery also includes a service agreement on performance and reliability monitoring for the TwinRoll presses. The monitoring consists of a cloud application on the Valmet platform.

Valmet TwinRoll Evolution wash press (TRPE)

Information about the customer Sappi

Sappi is a global diversified woodfibre company focused on providing dissolving wood pulp, specialties and packaging papers, graphic/printing papers, as well as biomaterials and biochemicals to their direct and indirect customer base. Sappi has over 12,000 employees in over 20 countries.  

The Saiccor mill is situated south of the port of Durban in South Africa. With a capacity of 800,000 tons per annum of Verve sulphite Dissolving Wood Pulp (DWP), it is the world's single largest manufacturing site for fully bleached sulphite DWP.

Valmet is the leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. We aim to become the global champion in serving our customers.

Valmet's strong technology offering includes pulp mills, tissue, board and paper production lines, as well as power plants for bioenergy production. Our advanced services and automation solutions improve the reliability and performance of our customers' processes and enhance the effective utilization of raw materials and energy.

Valmet's net sales in 2017 were approximately EUR 3.1 billion. Our more than 12,000 professionals around the world work close to our customers and are committed to moving our customers' performance forward - every day. Valmet's head office is in Espoo, Finland and its shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki.   

International technology Group ANDRITZ has received an order from Holmen’s Iggesund Paperboard to supply fiberline process technology and equipment to their Iggesund mill, Sweden. Start-up is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2019.

The technology supplied by ANDRITZ will substantially contribute towards reducing emissions further and result in environmentally friendly, high-quality pulp production.

ANDRITZ multi-stage DD-Washer “Photo: ANDRITZ”.

ANDRITZ’s scope of supply encompasses:

• Modernization of the brownstock washing process, including a new multi-stage DD-Washer with compact layout
• A new oxygen delignification stage for optimizing the kappa level to achieve highest possible yield and minimum chemical consumption
• Relocation of the existing screening process after the oxygen delignification stage in order to minimize fiber losses
• Bleaching plant modernization by changing the existing 5-stage bleaching system to 4-stage bleaching
• Cooler for digester blow temperature control

ANDRITZ has several hundred very successful DD-Washer installations as references around the globe. ANDRITZ DD-Washers are characterized by lowest operating costs and emissions as well as extremely good washing efficiency, based on the required number of displacement washing stages in a single unit. The DD-Washer is also very gentle to fibers, retaining all the bulk, stiffness and strength of the pulp as there is no mechanical pressing during pulp washing.

Iggesund Paperboard produces paperboard for consumer packaging and graphics printing at one mill in Sweden and one in England. The company is Europe’s leading producer of high-quality, virgin-fiber paperboard for use in the premium packaging and graphics sectors.

ANDRITZ Pulp & Paper is a leading global supplier of complete plants, systems, equipment, and comprehensive services for the production and processing of all types of pulp, paper, board, and tissue. The technologies cover processing of logs, annual fibers, and waste paper; production of chemical pulp, mechanical pulp, and recycled fibers; recovery and reuse of chemicals; preparation of paper machine furnish; production of paper, board, and tissue; sizing, calendering and coating of paper; as well as treatment of reject materials and sludge. The service offering includes system and machine modernization, rebuilds, spare and wear parts, on-site and workshop services, optimization of process performance, maintenance and automation solutions, as well as machine relocation and second-hand equipment. Biomass, steam and recovery boilers for power production, gasification and flue gas cleaning plants, systems and plants for the production of nonwovens, dissolving pulp, and panelboard (MDF), as well as recycling and shredding solutions for various waste materials also form a part of this business area.

Vee Bee Filtration, the world-leader in the design, manufacture and supply of Strainers, Filters and Pressure Vessels, has announced it is moving to new premises as part of a multi-million pound investment strategy from its parent company Signum Technology.

The Vee Bee Technology Centre will be located in Halesowen in the West Midlands UK and will provide state-of-the-art design and assembly facilities. This capability is required for Vee Bee to realise its potential in an evolving market where reliability and flow efficiency are vital if operators are to maintain and improve competitiveness in the modern production environment.      

“I am delighted to announce the investment which is a major landmark event in the continued growth of Vee Bee Filtration,” comments Managing Director Simon Hale.

“This is the first part of a significant intelligent investment schedule and it enables Vee Bee to consolidate its position as the global leader. The schedule includes significant investment in manufacturing, specialised staff, research and development, testing, customer service and new product development,” Simon adds.

Signum Technology has already undertaken similar effective investment strategies with the other companies in its Group, Gall Thomson, KLAW Products and KLAW LNG. Enabling each to achieve their potential as highly successful commercial and technical leaders in their respective sectors.

The result of the investment will also enable Vee Bee to focus on new markets. “There are two geographical regions that we have targeted for growth and we are also looking to build on our core activity in the LNG market, in which we have a very strong and established market position,” Simon explains. “This investment provides us with all the resources needed to successfully achieve this and generate significant organic growth as a result.

“On a secondary level, the Technology Centre will provide us with future scope for physical expansion and optimise our own processes. This will enable us to ensure the highest standards of management of even the most demanding of contracts and reduce delivery times to the bare minimum.”

Vee Bee Filtration is one of the longest established specialist manufacturers of filtration equipment in the world, originally founded in 1957, and has been in its current location since 1982. The company is renowned for having a unique consultative approach. Far from just selling standard products it employs highly qualified engineers who typically design and manufacture strainers and filters according to the specific criteria of customers.

“We take quality very seriously and as a result we have established a reputation for providing bespoke solutions, rather than taking the one-size-fits-all approach,” Simon says. “Quite simply, products that are designed according to the customer’s specific criteria operate more efficiently and more reliably, they have a longer lifecycle and demand less maintenance, so the end result is that they provide a far improved return on investment than a cheaper, generic item. This ethos has been with Vee Bee Filtration for many years and it is something that every employee is dedicated to maintain.”

For more information go to www.veebee.com