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ipw news

Centered around the theme “Road to bioeconomy,” the line-up for the 20th annual Progress conference will feature topics such as achieving greater resource and energy efficiency, including how to maintain high-quality results in papermaking while at the same time working toward greater sustainability. Visitors to the exhibition after the conference will be able to explore this theme further with presentations such as those from German-based company emtec Electronic. Emtec will be displaying two of its innovations at the event that are geared toward ensuring high product quality and optimizing the papermaking process.

International technology group Andritz and Paracel S.A., Paraguay, have signed a contract under which Andritz is to supply all process equipment and energy-efficient and environmentally friendly pulp production equipment for Paracel’s 1.8 million ton/year pulp mill to be built in Concepción, Paraguay.

In 1922, the “big” new paper machine number 1 replaced its two obsolete predecessors from the early days of industrialization. 100 years later, it is the smallest of three paper machines at Drewsen Spezialpapiere in Lachendorf and responsible for 15% of production. On its special birthday and thanks to regular investments over the years, it is still considered to be not only state of the art but also competitive.

The German-based company will be on site in Hall EH3 at Booth E09 in the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center from September 14-16, 2022 to present an array of innovative solutions for the tissue and paper industry, including the Tissue Softness Analyzer, which objectively determines the hand-feel of tissue paper and other paper products.

Andhra Paper Limited (APL), Indian integrated pulp and paper manufacturer, has deployed an ABB advanced process control (APC) solution at their Rajahmundry mill’s lime kiln. To help reduce the energy requirements of the highly interactive lime kiln production process, ABB has integrated their OPT800 Lime APC solution into APL’s existing ABB Ability™ System 800xA distributed control system (DCS).

Commenting on the group’s results, Sappi Chief Executive Officer Steve Binnie said: “I am very proud of another quarter of record earnings against a backdrop of significant geopolitical turmoil, supply chain headwinds and extraordinary global inflationary pressures.” Strong global paper demand and pricing momentum offset sharply rising costs and the negative impact of scheduled maintenance shuts at four mills. EBITDA improved to a record US$371 million, up from US$337 million in the prior quarter and US$145 million in the equivalent quarter a year ago.

Sappi Europe informs customers about ongoing challenges to cope with further increases of pulp, energy, chemicals and transportation costs. Sappi therefore announces further price increases up to 18% for its entire Speciality Paper Portfolio. The implementation will be as of delivery dates 12 September, considering existing agreements. This will be in addition to the increases already announced earlier.

The recycling process in paper production is complex. Fluctuations in fiber quality and the degree of contamination of the recovered paper bales have a direct influence on production output. At the same time, resource efficiency is more important today than ever before. However, with the current state of the art, it is hardly possible to determine the specific causes of losses and optimize them directly. Yield is usually only measured on a weekly or monthly basis - by the time paper manufacturers receive the information, the losses have already occurred. Furthermore, it is very difficult to estimate whether losses in individual stock preparation areas have increased or decreased compared to the last analysis. To address these issues, Voith has developed OnView.MassBalance.

Walki Group has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100 % of the shares in Westpak Oy Ab and Flexipack Oy Ab. Since years, these two companies form an integrated value chain, providing high quality flexible packaging solutions to leading Nordic food brands. In 2021 Flexipack and Westpak generated combined sales of about EUR 40 million. Together they are employing some 100 employees. Westpak is based in Säkylä, Finland, whilst Flexipack production facility is located in Vaasa, Finland.

The Smurfit Kappa paper mill in Nettingsdorf, Austria, has launched a sustainable district heating project that will benefit 20,000 homes across three communities when completed. The scheme will capture excess heat generated from the Nettingsdorf paper mill to provide heating for local homes, businesses and schools. Civil works have commenced on the ambitious project with the first trenches excavated and pipes laid in June. The central heat distribution building and equipment will be erected in the coming months and it is planned that a local elementary school and the kindergarten in Nettingsdorf will be the first premises to benefit from the scheme early next year.

bio-fibre news

Valmet will deliver key technology areas for Orlen Poludnie’s S.A. planned second generation bioethanol (B2G) plant in Jedlicze, Poland. The engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) delivery includes a pretreatment BioTrac system with a capacity to process approximately 400 tons of dry straw per day, a BioPower 48 MWth lignin fired combined heat and power (CHP) plant and a Valmet DNA Automation system. The order was included in Valmet’s orders received of the first quarter 2022. The value of the order will not be disclosed.

Mondi has collaborated with Essity and Dow to create new, recyclable secondary packaging for Essity’s feminine care products, using renewable materials and post-consumer recycled content that reduces use of fossil-based materials. Essity’s feminine care towels were previously packed in bags that already used 50% renewable materials. Extensive research and testing by Mondi however, resulted in the recommendation of a new solution that aligns with Essity’s packaging goals: to work towards 100% recyclability and to use up to 85% biomass, renewable or recycled material in all bags where up to 25% are recycled plastics.

International technology group Andritz has received another order from Toyo Engineering Corporation in Japan to supply a 50-MW PowerFluid circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler on EPS basis. The boiler will be part of the biomass power plant in Gobo, Wakayama Prefecture, in Japan. Start-up is planned for 2025.