Ianadmin
Voith Paper offers rebuilds of medium-sized paper machines to increase production capacity by up to 15%
On June 10, 2017, Voith Paper, Huazhang Technology, Jianhui Paper and Jinzhou Paper reached an agreement to rebuild the headboxes and shoe presses of existing paper machines. Under this new contract, Voith Paper has been commissioned to rebuild the headboxes and shoe presses of Jianhui PM 3 and PM 4 as well as Jinzhou PM 3 and PM 4.
The rebuilds will lead to an increase in production capacity of 10 to 15% and a considerable improvement of the paper quality, such as an improved grammage profile and boost in paper formation. As a technology leader, Voith Paper continuously offers top performance in every sector over the entire life cycle of the paper machine while providing resource-saving solutions to ensure the sustainable success of our customers. Along with eight headboxes and two Tandem NipcoFlex, the scope of supply includes two CB turn, rolls, sleeves, press felts and services.
This is not the first cooperation between Voith Paper, Jianhui Paper and Jinzhou Paper. This rebuild contract not only shows how much the clients recognize Voith’s high-quality products, technology and service, but also lays a solid foundation for long-term strategic cooperation between the parties. This new cooperation further demonstrates the position of strength Voith Paper has in the market for rebuilding medium-sized paper machines in China.
About Huazhang Technology
With a major market share in automation within the Chinese papermaking industry, Huazhang Technology Holding Ltd. provides research, development, design, manufacturing, sales and value-added services for premium comprehensive one-stop automatic systems and solid-liquid separation products.
About Jianhui Paper
Founded in 2002 with a total investment of 4.3 billion yuan, Jianhui Paper occupies an area of 480,000 square meters and is situated within the No. 1 Industrial Park in Huangchong Village, which is part of the Dongguan town of Zhongtang. The company specializes in manufacturing high-grade single-coated duplex boards and environmentally friendly kraftliner, boasting world-leading production capacity.
About Jinzhou Paper
Occupying an area of over 400,000 square meters, Jinzhou Paper was founded in 2002 with a total investment of 1.8 billion yuan. It is also located in the No.1 Industrial Park in Huangchong Village in the Dongguan town of Zhongtang, and is a leading paper manufacturer in China that specializes in packaging paper with recovered paper as raw material.
About Voith Paper
Voith Paper is a Group Division of Voith and the leading partner and pioneer in the paper industry. Through constant innovations, Voith Paper is optimizing the paper manufacturing process, focusing on developing resource-saving products to reduce the use of energy, water and fibers. Furthermore, Voith Paper offers a broad service portfolio for all sections of the paper manufacturing process.
About Voith
For 150 years, Voith technologies have been inspiring its customers, business partners and employees all over the world. Founded in 1867, Voith today has around 19,000 employees and earns 4.3 billion euros in sales. It has locations in more than 60 countries and is one of the largest family-owned companies in Europe. As a technology leader, Voith sets standards in the energy, oil & gas, paper, raw materials and transport & automotive markets.
Valmet completed the annual shutdown of Klabin paper mill successfully
Valmet has completed the annual shutdown of Klabin S.A. Monte Alegre paper mill in Brazil successfully. The agreement covered the entire shutdown project from planning and execution to a safe start-up. The shutdown took place between April 24 - May 5, 2017, and included close to 500 employees from Valmet and its sub-contractors.
Valmet and Klabin have an existing agreement for full annual shutdown services. This year's project was the second of the three-year agreement.
"We have co-operated with Valmet since 2009 and the current partnership was a natural follow-up of the relationship we have been able to build over the years," says Arnaldo Jasinski, Klabin's Maintenance Manager.
Good results in safety and quality
The usual procedure for mill shutdowns is to reserve several months for planning and preparation such as spare part and tool deliveries.
"We were able to deliver everything as planned and promised. During the ten days of shutdown we made everything we could to ensure smooth operation for our customer's machines to run 24/7 for the rest of the year," says Rodolpho Quadros, Field Service Engineer from Valmet.
"We have had good results in the execution of our work in annual shutdown, both in safety and quality. Since the planning, where the focus was also to seek the optimization of resources to reduce costs, Valmet's expertise was essential to help us making decisions, says Leandro Caetano da Silva, Klabin's Maintenance Planning Coordinator.
Information about the customer
Klabin S.A. is the biggest paper producer and exporter in Brazil. It produces packaging paper and board, corrugated packaging and industrial bags in addition to selling timber in logs. Klabin has 16 industrial plants of which 15 in Brazil and one in Argentina. The company was founded in 1899.
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 2016 were approximately EUR 2.9 billion. Our 12,000 professionals around the world work closely with 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.
PIVOT unlocks data for tissue converters: grand opening in Green Bay, US
The worldwide tissue market continues to undergo changes. Consumer preferences, economic uncertainty and improved technology offer more questions than answers. Tissue manufacturers have an increasing amount of data available to make decisions. “The challenge is collecting and measuring that data and turning it into actionable decisions. As a result, many wonder about future success.” says Dario Giannini, Fabio Perini S.p.A. Business Development Manager.
Manufacturers must continue to win customer loyalty while maintaining profit margins. “This requires concise, usable information. Old methods do not work. Industry 4.0 is here, opening a new realm of data-driven decision-making.” Asserts Nicola Scaramuzza, Fabio Perini S.p.A. Global Marketing Director.
New Data-driven Service Available
Fabio Perini, a global leader in tissue converting, recently introduced PIVOT: the company's answer to data based tissue solutions. It is a breakthrough initiative providing tissue converters data easily understood and collected in a simplified manner. “This in-house laboratory helps understand tissue from pulp fibers to finished product. But it is more than a laboratory.” Says Claudio Munoz, Strategic Marketing Manager of Fabio Perini North America.
“PIVOT is an advisory service unlocking data for every aspect of tissue converting. It tracks data for web handling, embossing, winding, log formation and packaging. The result is actionable information on every stage of the tissue converting process. Even interactions between machinery and paper will reveal a path to optimized performance.” Adds Dario Giannini
Tissue converters now have a data resource covering caliper, firmness, absorbency, and strength. PIVOT also collects data on machine parameters such as speed, pressure of rubber rolls and other parameters. This provides a high-level of information helping optimize manufacturing for maximum profitability.
The PIVOT laboratory service began in 2016 at Fabio Perini corporate headquarters in Lucca, Italy. A second lab is now in Green Bay, Wis., the company’s North American headquarters. A third facility in Brazil will open late in 2017 followed by a fourth lab in China in 2018. “The goal is helping customers around the world with easy access to critical data. All data is collected into a centralized, global database, providing customers a powerful resource.” Declares Claudio Munoz
Benefits for Tissue Converters
Besides learning more about a converter's paper, PIVOT also provides data on machinery. This is an added benefit for tissue converters. Too often companies buy machinery without full understanding of the capabilities. PIVOT analyzes data of a company’s tissue samples and the machine. It translates that data into:
- Recommendations on the best machine configuration for the paper product
- Suggestions to deliver consistent quality
PIVOT is only two years old, but has already demonstrated value for customers:
- PIVOT troubleshoots problems and maximizes test duration during checkouts. “A recent checkout revealed an opportunity for product optimization. Data provided by PIVOT measured tissue caliper and tensile strength at different stages of converting. This did reveal the best embossing pattern compatible to use in bulk production of the tissue.” says Dario Giannini
- Another checkout helped a customer after purchasing new equipment. “The customer wanted to measure characteristics of a certain paper. They were not getting the results expected on the new equipment and hoped PIVOT could help. PIVOT's data identified the best paper to run on the machine and maximize line productivity.” adds Dario Giannini
- Data from PIVOT helped a customer make an informed buying decision. “The original intent was making products with a larger diameter. Data from PIVOT confirmed the ability to make larger products. It also uncovered more reasons to invest in Constellation technology. It could use a less expensive fiber mix while maintaining strength and faster production.” Concludes Dario Giannini
PIVOT has already provided many concrete answers based upon data. “This is the goal of Industry 4.0” says Nicola Scaramuzza “using that data to drive the manufacturing process. PIVOT’s unique database is both local and global, helping deliver answers tissue converters need. These answers also include direction for better packaging results.”
Data from PIVOT has another use that benefits tissue converters. Fabio Perini engineers use this data to develop better tissue converting technology, such as Constellation.
Total Solution Package for Tissue Converting
A total solution for tissue converting is here: PIVOT, a global database that is the lynchpin in the spirit of Industry 4.0. It harnesses data to support customers in growing their business profitably and sustainably in the years to come. In a highly competitive market, where premiumization is one of the big challenges, it becomes vital to bring the right value on the shelves and PIVOT is the way.
Learn more about PIVOT and Fabio Perini S.p.A. at http://www.fabioperini.com
GPA Improves Operator Performance Thru Control System Migration
GPA is proud to announce the successful completion of a legacy DCS migration to Rockwell’s PlantPAX control system platform at the International Paper facility located in Riegelwood, North Carolina.
The control system migration of the mill’s Flakt Dryer machine from a mixture of legacy ABB MOD300 and Allen Bradley PLC’s to PlantPAX was the fifth PlantPAX control system installed by GPA in the Pulp & Paper industry specifically. GPA control experts performed a full spectrum of tasks for the project, including project estimation, project management, network, control system and cabinet design, functional specification documentation, programming, testing, as well as startup and commissioning services.
By converting to Rockwell’s PlantPAX platform, IP gained a familiar automation platform that has already improved system reliability, reduced troubleshooting time, and provided quicker operator response through the use of high performance HMI standards, HMI level troubleshooting tools including “point and click” interlock and control function navigation, and alarming improvements using alarm rationalization.
About Global Process Automation
Global Process Automation (GPA) is headquartered in Wilmington, NC with regional offices in Chester, VA, Longview, WA, Lago Vista, TX, Nashville, TN and Little Rock, AR is a recognized leader in process automation, control and information systems. GPA has been involved in the pulp and paper, life science, and specialty chemical industries for over 20 years. Working with many leading DCS platforms, GPA has designed, engineered, integrated, and migrated many legacy DCS systems to modern platforms – which are needed in today’s ever-changing manufacturing environment. GPA’s staff of over 40 engineers, many of which are factory trained, bring years of process control experience to all facets of automation projects. Also, with a strong IT staff which understands the unique needs of process control, GPA is able to provide its clients with leading edge solutions in data analytics, networking, data center design, virtualization, and cyber security. For more information on Global Process Automation, visit www.global-business.net
Brazil: Exports from the forest sector surpass US$4 billion in the first half of 2017 (+7.3%)
From January to June of 2017, pulp exports rose 6.8% in comparison with the same period of the previous year, reaching 6.8 million tons; exports of wood panels increased by 34.8%, with 597,000 cubic meters directed to foreign markets, and paper exports grew 1% with almost 1.1 million tons traded. This positive performance propelled export revenues past the US$ 4 billion mark in the first half of this year, a growth of 7.3% compared to the first six months of 2016; it also created a US$ 3.6 billion surplus in the trade balance for the sector, an increase of 9.1%.
Check out the other indicators for the planted tree sector in the 38th edition of Cenários Ibá, the monthly bulletin of the Brazilian Tree Industry.
Export revenues – From January to June of 2017, pulp exports reached US$ 3.0 billion (+9.8%), while paper exports were US$ 925 million (-2.0%) and wood panel exports reached US$ 137 million (+25.7%).
Export destinations – More than 42% of the pulp Brazil exported went to China in the first half of 2017, representing revenues of US$ 1.3 billion; this is an increase of 25.5% over the same period in 2016. Latin American countries continued to be the main markets for paper and wood panels during this period, with export revenues of US$ 593 million (+10.0%) and US$ 75 million (+27.1%), respectively.
Production – Brazilian pulp production surpassed 9.5 million tons, growing 5.0% between January and April of 2017 in comparison with 2016, and paper registered 5.1 million tons (-0.7%).
Domestic sales – During the first semester of 2017, paper sales on the domestic market reached 2.6 million tons, a drop of 1.6% compared with the same period last year. At the same time, the wooden panel sector registered sales of 3.1 million m³ in Brazil (-1.6%).
ABOUT IBÁ
The Brazilian Tree Industry (Ibá) is the association responsible for institutionally representing the planted tree production chain, from the fields to the factory, with its main stakeholders. Launched in April 2014, it represents 60 companies and nine state entities for products originating from planted trees (wood panels, laminate floors, pulp, paper, energy forests and biomass) in addition to independent producers of planted trees and institutional investors. Learn more at
Wood raw-material costs for European pulpmills continued to slide in early 2017
Wood raw-material costs for European pulpmills continued to slide in early 2017 to reach their lowest levels in over five years, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly
The European pulp industry has become much more competitive in the international pulp and paper market the past five years with wood fiber costs, which account for 55-65% of the production costs, having fallen more than in most other regions of the world, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly. Some of the biggest price declines have been for hardwood pulplogs in the Nordic countries.
Wood costs for the pulp industry in Europe were generally lower in the 1Q/17 than in the previous quarter, continuing a downward trend that, depending on the country, has lasted for 4-6 years. The biggest price declines for pulplogs and sawmill residues in early 2017 occurred in Germany and France, according to the Wood Resource Quarterly (WRQ). The price reductions occurred mainly because of an oversupply of pulplogs, unchanged demand for wood fiber from the pulp industry, and reduced usage of raw-material by the competing wood pellet sector.
In neighboring Austria, conifer pulplog prices have been very stable during most of 2015 and 2016 (in Euro terms) and prices did not change much in the 1Q/17. However, the weakening of the Euro against the US dollar has resulted in Austrian pulplog prices falling seven percent in two years.
In the Nordic countries, wood fiber costs in the 1Q/17 were at their lowest levels since 2006 (in US dollars). This was mostly thanks to the weakening of the local currencies in both Sweden and Finland. The wood fiber costs currently account for about 60% of the manufacturing cost when manufacturing pulp in the region, according to Fisher International, so a reduction in prices for pulplogs and wood chips has a major impact in improving the competitiveness of the pulp and paper industry when competing in the global market place.
The pulp sectors in Portugal and Spain, which are the third and fourth largest consumers of hardwood logs in Europe, have also enjoyed a period of declining wood costs with the price levels in early 2017 being 20-25% below the fiber costs five years ago.
Hardwood fiber costs for pulpmill in Europe have fallen more rapidly than in other parts of the world from 2012 to 2017, and the industry has become much more competitive with competitors in North America, Latin America and Asia, according to the WRQ. For example, the price discrepancy for hardwood pulplogs between Sweden and the US South has fallen from US$62/odmt in the 1Q/12 to only US$9/odmt in the 1Q/17.
Clearwater Paper Reports Second Quarter 2017 Results
The company reported net sales of $429.7 million for the second quarter of 2017, down 1.6% compared to net sales of $436.7 million for the second quarter of 2016. Net earnings determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, for the second quarter of 2017 were $8.0 million, or $0.48 per diluted share, compared to net earnings of $20.9 million, or $1.21 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2016. The decrease in net earnings was due primarily to a planned bi-annual major maintenance outage at the Company's Arkansas mill in the second quarter of 2017 and higher input costs for energy, pulp, chemicals, and packaging supplies. Excluding certain non-core items identified in the attached Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures, second quarter 2017 adjusted net earnings were $7.9 million, or $0.48 per diluted share, compared to second quarter 2016 adjusted net earnings of $23.5 million, or $1.37 per diluted share.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, was $45.7 million for the second quarter of 2017 compared to $62.2 million for the second quarter of 2016. Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $45.0 million, down 32.1% compared to second quarter 2016 Adjusted EBITDA of $66.3 million. The $21.3 million decrease in adjusted EBITDA was primarily a result of the same major maintenance and higher input costs affecting GAAP net earnings in the second quarter of 2017.
"We achieved solid second quarter results that were in line with our quarterly outlook," said Linda K. Massman, president and chief executive officer. "The positive impacts to the quarter included higher prices and a stronger sales mix for paperboard, which were offset by higher external pulp pricing and lower consumer product shipment volumes, as parent rolls were used to build needed inventory.
I am also pleased to share that our previously disclosed strategic projects remain on time and within budget, and we continue to believe this will position us to more efficiently partner with and meet the needs of our customers in the future," said Massman.
SECOND QUARTER 2017 SEGMENT PERFORMANCE
Consumer Products
Net sales in the Consumer Products segment were $231.9 million for the second quarter of 2017, down 6.5% compared to second quarter 2016 net sales of $247.9 million. This decrease was due to lower parent roll sales resulting from the shutdown of two higher cost paper machines at the Neenah, Wisconsin mill at the end of 2016 and a 1.7% decrease in retail tons sold.
Consumer Products had operating income of $10.5 million in the second quarter of 2017, compared to operating income of $18.5 million in the second quarter of 2016. After adjusting for certain non-core items identified in the attached Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures, adjusted operating income of $11.8 million for the second quarter of 2017 was down from $19.1 million in the same period in 2016. Consumer Products operating margin decreased to 4.5% in the second quarter of 2017 from 7.5% in the second quarter of 2016. The adjusted operating margin decreased from 7.7% in the second quarter of 2016 to 5.1% in the second quarter of 2017 due to higher input costs for transportation, pulp, natural gas, and packaging supplies, partially offset by lower wage and benefit costs resulting from the implementation of warehouse automation, and the previously mentioned shutdown at the Neenah mill.
- Total tissue sales volumes of 91,450 tons in the second quarter of 2017 decreased by 7.7% and converted product cases shipped were 12.7 million, down 3.9%, each compared to the second quarter of 2016.
- Average tissue net selling prices increased 1.6% to $2,533 per ton in the second quarter of 2017, compared to the second quarter of 2016.
Pulp and Paperboard
Net sales in the Pulp and Paperboard segment were $197.8 million for the second quarter of 2017, up 4.8% compared to second quarter 2016 net sales of $188.8 million. The increase was primarily due to higher paperboard shipment volume, which includes sales from the operations of the former Manchester Industries acquired in December 2016. Operating income for the quarter decreased $18.4 million to $21.6 million, compared to operating income of $40.0 million for the second quarter of 2016, primarily due to approximately $9 million in major maintenance at the Arkansas mill and higher input costs for natural gas, electricity, chemicals and pulp and higher wages and benefits due to annual increases. In addition, second quarter 2016 operating income included the receipt of a net $2.8 million in partial reimbursement of previously incurred costs related to performance issues with the recovery boiler at the Arkansas mill.
- Paperboard sales volumes increased 4.0% to 207,152 tons in the second quarter of 2017, compared to 199,132 tons in the second quarter of 2016.
- Paperboard net selling prices increased 0.7% to $955 per ton compared to the second quarter of 2016.
Taxes
The company's consolidated GAAP tax rate and adjusted tax rate for the second quarter of 2017 was a provision of 33.0%, compared to 36.3% and 36.2%, respectively, in the second quarter of 2016. The company expects its GAAP and adjusted tax rate for 2017 to be approximately 34% plus or minus two percentage points.
Note Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In this press release, the company presents certain non-GAAP financial information for the second quarters of 2017 and 2016, including adjusted net earnings, adjusted net earnings per diluted share, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted operating income, adjusted operating margin, adjusted income tax provision and adjusted tax rate. Because these amounts are not in accordance with GAAP, reconciliations to net earnings, net earnings per diluted share, operating income, income tax provision and tax rate as determined in accordance with GAAP are included in the tables at the end of this press release. The company presents these non-GAAP amounts because management believes they assist investors and analysts in comparing the company's performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that the company does not believe are indicative of its core operating performance.
ABOUT CLEARWATER PAPER
Clearwater Paper manufactures quality consumer tissue, away-from-home tissue, parent roll tissue, bleached paperboard and pulp at manufacturing facilities across the nation. The company is a premier supplier of private label tissue to major retailers and wholesale distributors, including grocery, drug, mass merchants and discount stores. In addition, the company produces bleached paperboard used by quality-conscious printers and packaging converters, and offers services that include custom sheeting, slitting and cutting. Clearwater Paper's employees build shareholder value by developing strong customer partnerships through quality and service.
The Navigator Company selects Voith XcelLine tissue machine for Cacia in Portugal
The Navigator Company continues its expansion in the tissue sector and signs a contract with Voith for the supply of a new XcelLine tissue machine.
The production line is designed to sustainably produce high-quality tissue paper maximizing the usage of slush Eucalyptus pulp. The new tissue facility will be integrated in the existing Cacia site in Portugal, where the company operates one of the biggest pulp production plants in Europe.
The scope of supply includes the latest Voith technologies to minimize energy consumption and achieve maximum efficiency in short fiber usage. Above all, the NipcoFlex T shoe press was a key factor in choosing Voith. With this technology, the need for thermal energy can be substantially reduced. The tissue machine is designed for an operating speed of 2,000 m/min. and will annually produce 70,000 metric tons of high-quality toilet and towel paper from pulp with a working width of 5,600 mm. Start-up is scheduled for second half of 2018. With this new investment the total tissue production capacity of The Navigator Company will raise to 130,000 tons per year.
The new tissue production line will be equipped with further energy-efficient, operator friendly components and systems like the Pluralis refining technology, the MasterJet headbox, EvoDry T steel Yankee and the EcoHood T. A core part of the delivery will be the Papermaking 4.0 features including the innovative ComCore automation platform.
The Navigator Company is one of Europe’s leading producers of pulp and paper. It has a total paper capacity of 1.6 million tons per year, largely integrated with pulp production, and more than 3,000 employees. As part of its development plan for a new cycle of growth, the Navigator Company in 2015 acquired an established tissue manufacturer: AMS-BR Star Paper, S.A.
About Voith Paper
Voith Paper is a corporate division of Voith and is one of the leading partners and pioneers in the paper industry. Through constant innovations, Voith Paper is optimizing the paper manufacturing process, focusing on developing resource-conserving products to reduce the use of energy, water and fibers. Furthermore, Voith Paper offers a broad service portfolio for all sections of the paper manufacturing process.
About the company
For 150 years, Voith’s technologies have been inspiring customers, business partners and employees around the world. Founded in 1867, Voith today has around 19,000 employees, sales of €4.3 billion and locations in more than 60 countries worldwide and is thus one of the largest family-owned companies in Europe. Being a technology leader, Voith sets standards in the markets of energy, oil & gas, paper, raw materials and transport & automotive.
About The Navigator Company
The Navigator Company is the new face of the former Portucel Soporcel group, after its rebranding in 2016. The Navigator Company is Portugal’s third leading exporter, and the exporter generating the highest level of national value added. The Group accounts for approximately 1% of Portugal's GDP, around 3% of the country's total exports of goods. In 2016, the Company set a new all-time record for paper output, with an annual turnover of approximately 1.6 billion euros.
Having consolidated its position as the leading European manufacturer, and the fourth largest in the world, of uncoated woodfree (UWF) printing and writing paper, The Navigator Company is also Europe's top producer of BEKP (Bleached Eucalyptus Globulus Kraft Pulp), the fifth largest in the world, and has entered the tissue market, where it expects to become one of key players in the continent.
As a vertically integrated forestry Company with its own forestry research institute RAIZ, it manages vast tracts of forest in Portugal certified under the FSC® and PEFC™ systems (FSC license C010852 and PEFC license 13-23-001), and boasts annual production capacity for 1.6 million tons of paper, 1.4 million tons of pulp (of which 1.1 million is integrated into paper) and power generation of 2.5 TWh, adding up to annual turnover of approximately 1.6 billion euros.
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
Voith's Servolution concept brings better performance and fewer production downtimes to Papel Aralar
Through its "Servolution" concept, Voith offers comprehensive, tailor-made service expertise that covers all machine segments and supports customers from the planning phase over the entire service life of the machine and beyond. Under this kind of partnership, Spanish paper manufacturer Papel Aralar entrusted its entire service operations to Voith and is now benefiting from higher machine availability and improved paper quality.
- Individually tailored service packages
- Greater data transparency means more efficient operations on site
- Reduced use of resources and better paper quality
"Voith's experts always have an overview of the entire process. They are familiar with the latest state-of-the-art and capable of determining when new technologies should be integrated," says Senen Amunarriz, Managing Director of Papel Aralar. This is why the paper manufacturer located to the east of Bilbao has outsourced all service and maintenance works to Voith. In doing so it is reaping the benefits of the expertise that Voith has accumulated in its 150 years of existence. And the outcomes prove that this was the right decision for Papel Aralar, because since partnering with Voith the company has experienced far fewer production downtimes. And Papel Aralar can go back to focusing on its core area of expertise – the production of paper.
Voith has brought together its comprehensive, tailored service packages in the Servolution concept. A major feature of the concept is the close contact with customers. This means that Voith supports and advises its partners from the initial planning phase through the entire service life of the machine and beyond. In doing so Voith helps its customers increase machine availability, process reliability, paper quality and production speed. The maintenance and optimization services include proposing solutions for significantly reducing consumption of energy, water and raw materials. Apart from maintaining all machine components, Voith also provides Papel Aralar with IT support.
A high level of data transparency and its availability at all times are key elements of the Servolution concept. Because not only do the data provide the basis for efficient operations on site, this digital support also supplies important information for predictive maintenance. At Papel Aralar, therefore, the partnership includes regular audits conducted jointly by Voith and the company's production team. In this context, Voith's service team proposes various options for improvements. Already, the consumption of energy, raw materials and chemicals could be reduced as a result. And at the same time, the cost efficiency and quality of the paper was increased, ''As the Voith team is permanently on site and knows the facilities inside out, any optimization proposals can be readily implemented in the short term,'' says Mitxel Etxezarreta, Managing Director of Voith Paper Spain.
Papel Aralar is completely convinced of the success of its collaboration with Voith: Senen Amunarriz has already signaled that the papermaker wishes to extend the service contract, which is due to expire in 2019, by another five years.
About Voith Paper
Voith Paper is a corporate division of Voith and is one of the leading partners and pioneers in the paper industry. Through constant innovations, Voith Paper is optimizing the paper manufacturing process, focusing on developing resource-conserving products to reduce the use of energy, water and fibers. Furthermore, Voith Paper offers a broad service portfolio for all sections of the paper manufacturing process.
About the company
For 150 years, Voith’s technologies have been inspiring customers, business partners and employees around the world. Founded in 1867, Voith today has around 19,000 employees, sales of €4.3 billion and locations in more than 60 countries worldwide and is thus one of the largest family-owned companies in Europe. Being a technology leader, Voith sets standards in the markets of energy, oil & gas, paper, raw materials and transport & automotive