Displaying items by tag: FITNIR ANALYZERS
Fitnir to upgrade us mill’s digester control with online ft-nir analyser
FITNIR Analyzers Inc. is excited to announce that a noteworthy pulp mill in the southern United States has selected FITNIR’s state-of-the-art online FT-NIR analyzer to replace its Modo-Chemetics auto-titrator for digester control. With its current technology nearing the end of its life, the mill was looking to upgrade to a measurement technology with minimal maintenance and excellent uptime.
Primarily selected based on FITNIR Online’s proven track record for requiring less maintenance and providing more repeatable and accurate measurements, the mill decided on upgrading to the new technology. FITNIR Online also matched the mill’s criteria for a system with multiple applications for future consideration, as well as the ability to analyze properties beyond REA, such as total solids, dissolved lignin content and organic and inorganic solids.
FITNIR Online will replace the mill’s Modo-Chemetics auto-titrator measurement equipment on its continuous digester to measure key white liquor properties (EA, AA, sulfide, sulfidity, carbonate and %CE) and weak black liquor properties (residual effective alkali, lignin content, inorganic content, organic solids and total solids).
“This mill has been a long-time customer through a service contract for its Modo-titrator,” said Tom Sands, President of FITNIR Analyzers. “We are pleased to continue working with the team to help the mill achieve optimal pulp properties and production targets.”
Start-up is expected to be underway in October 2017.
About FITNIR Analyzers Inc.
FITNIR’s automated online and benchtop analyzers reliably measure complete pulp liquor compositions. Fast, frequent and accurate measurements drive control strategies that decrease process variability and environmental impact for improved efficiencies and profitability. Proven applications for the digester, recausticizer, recovery boiler, ClO2 generator, brownstock washer, and now kappa measurements for wet and dry pulp, FITNIR is the next generation of process analyzers. www.fitnir.com
Harmac Pacific Selects FITNIR to Supply Online Analyzer
FITNIR Analyzers Inc. has been awarded with supplying its state-of-the-art FT-NIR online analyzer system to Harmac Pacific. A single analyzer and field sampling station system will analyze seven recovery and recaust streams at the Nanaimo, BC mill.
“Harmac’s primary intention for installing FITNIR Online is to stabilize the TTA (Total Titratable Alkali) for more consistent slaker operations and a higher CE (Causticizing Efficiency),” stated Doug Barbour, Production Engineer. “With that, Harmac will see an improvement in white liquor strength and stability, potentially translating to an increase in digester yield.”
Harmac Pacific considered other available liquor analyzer technologies, but a number or key attributes elevated FITNIR’s position to the top, including the technology’s broad acceptance within the pulping industry as well as overall life cycle cost.
“With a slight delay in initiating this project due to market downturn, we are pleased to finally be proceeding with the installation of FITNIR Online at Harmac Pacific,” said Ryan Prontack, Engineering Superintendent. “We are looking forward to improved operations from having an online liquor analyzer and expect to see a very quick return on investment on the project.”
“We are excited to add Harmac Pacific to our growing list of Canadian pulp and paper installations,” stated Thanh Trung, VP of Technology for FITNIR Analyzers. “We are pleased to contribute to the reinvestment of yet another locally owned and operated mill.”
Equipment delivery to Harmac Pacific is being planned for June 2017 in preparation for a target start-up date of July 31, 2017.
About Harmac Pacific
Harmac Pacific operates a Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft (NBSK) pulp mill located on the east coast of Vancouver Island near Nanaimo, British Columbia. Nanaimo Forest Products Ltd., the owner of the Harmac Pacific trademark, restarted the mill with a single production line on October 3, 2008, producing NBSK at the rate of 226,000 tonnes per year. In 2009, a second production line was restarted and capital upgrades in 2010 and 2011 brought the mill's production capacity up to 365,000 tonnes of pulp per year.
The Harmac mill produces high quality kraft pulps made from custom blends of Douglas fir, western hemlock, balsam fir, interior SPF and western red cedar. The pulp is sold in Asia, Europe, North America, and Latin America. With its strategic location on a deep water port, the mill is well situated for cost effective export of pulp and receipt of raw materials such as wood fiber. http://www.harmacpacific.com/
About FITNIR Analyzers Inc.
FITNIR’s automated online and benchtop analyzers reliably measure complete pulp liquor compositions. Fast, frequent and accurate measurements drive control strategies that decrease process variability and environmental impact for improved efficiencies and profitability. Proven applications for the digester, recausticizer, recovery boiler, ClO2 generator, brownstock washer, and now kappa measurements for wet and dry pulp, FITNIR is the next generation of process analyzers. www.fitnir.com
NIR Technology Now Measures Kappa Number of Kraft Pulp
Cost effective approach could save mills up to $150,000 in chemical costs
FPInnovations, in partnership with FITNIR Analyzers Inc., announced the successful commercialization of an innovative new product using near infrared technology (NIR) to quickly and efficiently analyze the kappa number of kraft pulp. The unique approach determines kappa number in less than four minutes and eliminates the need for all associated chemicals. The kappa analyzer also does not rely on other parameters for measurement (such as sample weight) thereby reducing measurement error.
While NIR technology has been used in many industries with applications from pharmaceutics to food quality control, FPInnovations developed specialized expertise to apply this technology to the pulp and paper industry. Solving practical problems encountered in mills, NIR can now be used to measure kappa number, while eliminating many of the complex factors traditionally faced in the process. Easy and quick kappa number measurement allows mills to monitor and control pulp production, from the beginning of the process to the final product. Quicker adjustments improve mill efficiency, while reductions in chemical consumption lead to significant cost savings.
FITNIR Kappa is the third of three commercial products offered by FITNIR based on the same NIR technology being used in mills across North America, Indonesia and Scandinavia. The other two products, FITNIR Online and FITNIR Benchtop, also developed in conjunction with FPInnovations, provide fast, accurate and true measurements of a complete suite of key pulp liquor properties for recovery, recaust, digester, and chlorine dioxide generator applications.
NIR technology uses a broad spectrum of infrared light to illuminate a pulp sample. The resulting unique spectral frequencies are then recorded by the spectrometer and computer. A proprietary algorithm, developed by FPInnovations’ researchers and further fine-tuned by FITNIR, analyzes and determines the lignin content of the sample to ascertain the kappa number.
Quotes
“This is a great example of how research and development leads to innovation and commercially viable products that benefit industry,” stated Pierre Lapointe, President and CEO of FPInnovations. “The partnering of former FPInnovations researcher Thanh Trung, now FITNIR’s VP of Technology, facilitated the commercialization of this technology and is a demonstration of the innovation ecosystem at its best. Industry and governments should expect more of the same as we implement our five-year strategic action plan.”
“We pride ourselves on listening to the needs of the market and responding appropriately,” said FITNIR Analyzers’ President, Tom Sands. “Mills were wanting another means for reducing variability and standardizing kappa measurements across sites and now we are able to offer FITNIR Kappa. The growth of our NIR product suite and applications is satisfying as we continue to contribute to the strength of the pulp and paper industry.”
Associated Links
- FPInnovations: www.fpinnovations.ca
- FITNIR Kappa: fitnir.com/products-services/kappa/
About FPInnovations
FPInnovations is a not-for-profit world-leader that specializes in the creation of scientific solutions in support of the Canadian forest sector’s global competitiveness and responds to the priority needs of its industry members and government partners. It is ideally positioned to perform research, innovate, and deliver state-of-the-art solutions for every area of the sector’s value chain, from forest operations to consumer and industrial products. FPInnovations’ staff numbers more than 525. Its R&D laboratories are located in Québec City, Montréal, and Vancouver, and it has technology transfer offices across Canada. For more information about FPInnovations, visit: www.fpinnovations.ca.
About FITNIR Analyzers Inc.
FITNIR’s automated online and benchtop analyzers reliably measure complete pulp liquor compositions. Fast, frequent and accurate measurements drive control strategies that decrease process variability and environmental impact for improved efficiencies and profitability. Proven applications for the digester, recausticizer, recovery boiler, ClO2 generator, brownstock washer, and now kappa measurements for wet and dry pulp, FITNIR is the next generation of process analyzers. Visit www.fitnir.com.
Fitnir analyzers to supply recovery and recausticizing systems to Södra Cell Mönsterås
FITNIR Analyzers has been awarded with a project to supply its state-of-the-art online analyzer system, for measuring green and white liquor properties, to Södra Cell Mönsterås.
“This is a very exciting time for FITNIR Analyzers, as we continue to expand our market penetration outside of North America,” stated Tom Sands, President of FITNIR Analyzers. “With our high uptime and measurement precision, the analyzer can provide a means for Södra to reduce liquor variability and increase production. We are optimistic that we will see more interest from other kraft pulp producers worldwide in the near future.”
One analyzer and two field sample stations will be installed at Södra Cell Mönsterås’s recovery and recaust areas. Replacing an outdated titration-based analyzer, FITNIR Online will monitor four streams (raw green liquor and weak wash) from two dissolving tanks, providing liquor compositions for TTA (total titratable alkali) control and RE (reduction efficiency) monitoring. In the recausticizing area, seven streams (clarified green liquor, slaker, four causticizers, and final white liquor) will be analyzed and used for TTA-trim control, slaker, and final CE (causticizing efficiency) control.
“We are looking forward to implementing FITNIR’s analyzers at SÖDRA Cell Mönsterås,” said Håkan Edvinsson, Project Manager at Södra Cell Mönsterås. “It is very important to our pulp mill to have this kind of analyzer for process control and we are satisfied with the high precision and availability FITNIR guarantees to deliver.”
Södra Cell Mönsterås’s system will be delivered in early February and start up is planned for April 2017.
About Södra
Södra’s pulp mills produce softwood pulp of spruce and pine, and hardwood pulp from birch. The pulp is mainly sold to European manufacturers of tissue, specialty paper, packaging and publishing papers. Södra’s largest pulp mill is Mönsterås. Operating since 1958, it has expanded over the years developing into one of the world's most modern plants. Here, 750,000 tonnes per year of pulp is produced. The mill's core business is pulp production. However, its capacity to serve as a source of electricity is becoming increasingly important. Mönsterås also produces district heating and transforms pine oil into biodiesel. www.sodra.com/en/pulp/production/monsteras/
About FITNIR Analyzers Inc.
FITNIR’s automated online and benchtop analyzers reliably measure complete pulp liquor compositions. Fast, frequent and accurate measurements drive control strategies that decrease process variability and environmental impact for improved efficiencies and profitability. Proven applications for the digester, recausticizer, recovery boiler, ClO2 generator, brownstock washer, and now kappa measurements for wet and dry pulp, FITNIR is the next generation of process analyzers. www.fitnir.com
FITNIR Secures Landmark Project with APP Mill
FITNIR ANALYZERS SECURES LANDMARK PROJECT WITH APP MILL IN SOUTHERN INDONESIA
FITNIR Analyzers Inc. is opening its doors to the Asian market with its largest single online FT-NIR analyzer implementation to date. This landmark project was secured with APP’s (Asia Pulp and Paper) newest mill site, PT OKI Pulp & Paper Mills, located in Southern Sumatra, Indonesia. “It’s exciting to be on the ground floor with this new mill,” said Tom Sands, President of FITNIR Analyzers, “Having our technology contribute to the efficiency and productivity of a leading-edge operation is a major win for us.”
FITNIR Online will measure key pulp liquor properties from the mill’s recaust and recovery streams. This data will feed into a supervisory control system for process optimization. Expected to be the world’s largest pulp mill once operational, a total of two analyzers and six field sample stations will be implemented to provide fundamental liquor properties at strategic process locations for optimal control.
“This is the first project for FITNIR in the Asian market and we believe a proven system of that magnitude will open doors for us throughout Asia,” stated Thanh Trung, FITNIR’s Vice President of Technology. FITNIR is working in coordination with Elof Hansson International of Sweden. Elof Hansson facilitated the project contract and will provide local support and implementation services. Analyzer implementation is expected to commence in the fall of 2016.
About PT OKI Pulp & Paper Mills
PT OKI Pulp and Paper Mills, Asia Pulp and Paper Group’s (APP) newest mill located in Southern Sumatra, Indonesia, is slated for a production of 8,000 air dry tonnes of pulp per day. APP, one of the world’s leading pulp and paper manufacturers, is responsible for delivering quality products to meet the growing global demand for tissue, packaging and paper. Founded in 1972, APP now runs operations across Indonesia and China with an annual combined pulp, paper, packing product and converting capacity of over 19 million tons per annum. Today, APP markets its products in more than 120 countries across six continents.
About FITNIR Analyzers Inc.
FITNIR’s automated online and benchtop analyzers reliably measure complete pulp liquor compositions. Fast, frequent and accurate measurements drive control strategies that decrease process variability and environmental impact for improved efficiencies and profitability. Proven applications for the digester, recausticizer, recovery boiler, ClO2 generator, brownstock washer, and now kappa measurements for wet and dry pulp, FITNIR is the next generation of process analyzers. Visit www.fitnir.com.
About Elof Hansson International
Elof Hansson International is an international Trading House and Service Provider focusing mainly on the Pulp & Paper Industry. With its sales and services offices in South America, Middle East and Asia, it connects suppliers and customers around the world. Elof Hansson represents suppliers in many segments, but focuses to a large extent on laboratory equipment as well as on-line/in-line analysis equipment and supervisory control programs.
For further information please contact:
FITNIR Analyzers Inc.
Thanh Trung, Vice-President of Technology
+1 (604) 221 2230
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Elof Hansson International.
Bjorn Olausson, President
+46 765 430791
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Anthony Shum, General Manager, Asia
+65 9009 0163
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
FITNIR Awarded Ten New Projects
FITNIR ANALYZERS CONTINUES TO BUILD MOMENTUM IN 2016
Ten New Projects Awarded with Pulp Mills in North America and Asia
On the heels of a successful 2015, FITNIR Analyzers continues to build on the momentum in 2016. With seven projects awarded in 2015 and already three in Q1 of 2016, it’s expected the activity won’t slow down anytime soon. “We are excited to announce five new projects in Canada, four in the U.S., and a tenth in Asia,” said Tom Sands, President of FITNIR Analyzers. “It’s gratifying to see our products contributing to the success of mills throughout North America and now expanding internationally.”
Paper Excellence’s Mackenzie Pulp Mill Corporation was one of the three mills in North America that selected FITNIR’s fully automated, online FT-NIR analyzer. FITNIR Online provides more reliable, accurate and true measurements versus inferred measurements of traditional solutions. Integrating FITNIR Online into these mills will enable real-time monitoring of various unit operations for process optimization and control.
Skookumchuck Pulp, another Paper Excellence mill, is expanding its FITNIR Online system to now include the digester and chlorine dioxide generator. “We decided to go with FITNIR again after the success we had with our recaust analyzer installation for smelt dissolving tank TTA control, CGL trim control, and slaker and CE control,” said Roger Puar, Technical Manager at Skookumchuck Pulp. “Not only does the technology meet our needs, but we also received excellent service from the FITNIR team.”
Another repeat customer in eastern Canada selected FITNIR Benchtop in 2014 for liquor measurement, and then in 2015 chose FITNIR Kappa to measure the kappa number of wet kraft pulp to help control its digester operations. Also in 2015, a western Canadian mill was the first to implement FITNIR Kappa for dry pulp sheet applications. Their confidence in the unit led to the selection of FITNIR again in 2016, this time to analyze brownstock kappa. And just recently, two other mills in the US opted for FITNIR Kappa to provide quick, consistent and accurate kappa number measurements via Near Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy.
Most noteworthy for 2015 is FITNIR’s break into the Asian market with a landmark project boasting FITNIR’s largest contract to date. Geared to commence installation this spring, the pulp and paper mill located in Southern Sumatra, Indonesia will use FITNIR Online to optimize its recaust and recovery processes via two analyzers and six field sampling stations.
About FITNIR Analyzers Inc.
FITNIR’s automated online, benchtop and kappa analyzers reliably measure complete pulp liquor compositions. Fast, frequent and accurate measurements drive control strategies that decrease process variability and environmental impact for improved efficiencies and profitability. Proven applications for the digester, recausticizer, recovery boiler, ClO2 generator, brownstock washer, and now kappa measurements for wet and dry pulp, FITNIR is the next generation of process analyzers. Visit www.fitnir.com.
For further information contact:
Thanh Trung, Vice-President of Technology
001 (604) 221 2230
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
FITNIR Analyzers Launches Kappa Analyzer
Accurate and Consistent Pulp Properties Measurements within 20 seconds
FITNIR Analyzers Inc. launched the latest addition to its suite of process analyzers at the 2015 TAPPI PEERS conference held in Atlanta, Georgia at the end of October. FITNIR Kappa uniquely measures kraft pulp properties without requiring extensive sample preparation or the use of chemicals. The announcement of the analyzer garnered much attention from the kraft pulp producers in attendance at the conference, as kappa number plays a critical role in the efficiency of digester and bleaching operations.
The advancement of NIR spectroscopy has led to the development of an innovative solution for the quantification of true kappa number that steps up where traditional measurement techniques fall short. When combined with FITNIR Benchtop for pulp liquor analysis, a chemical-free laboratory is attainable.
Wet pulp samples are simply washed with water and pressed into a pad, which is then analyzed by the spectrometer within 20 seconds. “FITNIR Kappa provides accurate and reliable measurements without the need for any chemicals,” said Tom Sands, President, FITNIR Analyzers. “This translates into savings ranging from $150,000 to $250,000 per year. In addition to minimizing environmental impact and the risks of hazardous chemicals, this is a significant advantage for our customers.”
Procurement applications and final product testing is also now possible. “FITNIR Kappa is the first of its kind to directly measure kappa number on dry pulp sheets without the use of chemicals, yet can provide rapid, reliable and accurate results,” explains Thanh Trung, VP of Technology. “The data from FITNIR Kappa lends itself to process optimization, ensuring the target product quality is reached and maintained.”
These uses are only the tip of the iceberg for this versatile technology. Applications are already available for Air Dry (AD) content, while many other possible parameters for improving product quality are in development. FITNIR Kappa represents a paradigm shift in how pulp properties measurement is done. Its simplicity reduces operator-to-operator variability, while providing faster, more accurate results for improved efficiency and profitability.
ABOUT FITNIR ANALYZERS INC.
FITNIR’s automated online and benchtop analyzers reliably measure complete pulp liquor compositions. Fast, frequent and accurate measurements drive control strategies that decrease process variability and environmental impact for improved efficiencies and profitability. Proven applications for the digester, recausticizer, recovery boiler, ClO2 generator, brownstock washer, and now kappa measurements for wet and dry pulp, FITNIR is the next generation of process analyzers.
Visit www.fitnir.com and www.fitnir.com/kappa to learn more about FITNIR Analyzers Inc. and FITNIR Kappa.
FITNIR Analyzers Collaborating with FPInnovations on New Developments
FITNIR Analyzers Inc. is pleased to announce its recently signed strategic research agreement with FPInnovations.The partners will jointly develop new measurement technologies, for both online and offline systems, focusing on the advantages of spectroscopy solutions.
“Strategically, we are very excited about our joint development agreement with FPInnovations,” said Thanh Trung, VP Technology. “Combining FITNIR’s technical capability in spectroscopy with FPInnovations highly qualified researchers and technical team will allow for expedited development, technology transfer to FPInnovations’ member companies, and eventual commercialization of innovative products.”
Today, the marketplace is lacking instrumentation that can provide rapid measurement of the physical and mechanical properties of pulp. The initial joint development projects will be based on the success of a benchtop Near Infrared (NIR) device for the measurement of pulp properties, including oven-dry content and physical and mechanical properties of High Yield Pulp (HYP). With the capability to provide critical HYP properties within minutes, pulp mills will have the ability to segregate their product by quality — a game changer for pulp producers in a competitive market that will drive focus quality assurance and customer satisfaction, all the while addressing value-chain optimization by reducing chemical and transportation costs.
“Strategic research alliances are a growing aspect of FPInnovations’ business model,” said Hervé Deschênes, Vice-president of Business Development, FPInnovations. “We are confident that our association with FITNIR will deliver significant benefits to our member companies in the short term, and lead to the successful commercialization of ground-breaking instrumentation for pulp producers.”
FITNIR ANALYZERS gains further traction in the Canadian pulp market
FITNIR Analyzers has gained further traction in the Canadian pulp market as two pulp mills chose the company's equipment for process control optimization.
Mercer International's Zelstoff Celgar mill, located near Castlegar, B.C., will be implementing FITNIR's fully automated, online analyzer to optimize its recausticizer controls. "Over the past six months we have been trialing a FITNIR analyzer and have already benefited from significantly reduced operational costs and improved quality," says process engineer, Shawn Russell. "The results obtained from the demo were the deciding factor in moving forward to purchase a full scale system."
The mill used to rely on a manual titration methodology for its recaust area. Now, Celgar will be able to automatically test more frequently from six sample lines once the FITNIR system has been implemented. Implementation will begin in December.
In addition to Celgar, a mill in Eastern Ontario has selected FITNIR equipment. Optimization of this mill's recausticizer operations through FITNIR Online is expected to be completed in the spring of 2012.
"These two projects are yet another demonstration of the increasing awareness and confidence that pulp mills have of FITNIR analyzers," says FITNIR Analyzer's President, Tom Sands.
FITNIR Analyzers Inc. is the exclusive distributor of FPInnovations' optically-based liquor analyzer. FITNIR's fully automated online and bench top systems provide fast and accurate measurement of a complete suite of liquor properties for process control.