Stadtwerke Bielefeld and Mitsubishi HiTec Paper have been working together successfully since 2003. Now both companies have agreed to continue the partnership before the expiry of the current contract.

Stadtwerke Bielefeld and Mitsubishi HiTec Paper have been working together successfully since 2003. At that time, the Bielefeld Stadtwerke (public utilities) built a highly energy-efficient combined heat and power plant on the site of the speciality paper manufacturer to supply the mill with electricity and steam. Now both companies have agreed to continue this partnership before the expiration of the contract. The consortium agreement was signed on 20.9.2019 and is valid for five years.

From left to right: Rainer Müller (Managing Director Stadtwerke Bielefeld), Andreas Jastrzembowski (Managing Director Mitsubishi HiTec Paper), Dr. Martin Schreer (Managing Director Mitsubishi HiTec Paper) und Martin Uekmann (Managing Director Stadtwerke Bielefeld)

Dr. Martin Schreer and Andreas Jastrzembowski, Managing Directors of Mitsubishi HiTec Paper: "We are delighted to continue this collaboration with Stadtwerke Bielefeld.  All of our heat and power has been supplied by our partner, with whom we have had good experiences, for 15 years.  A reliable and sustainable efficient energy supply is enormously important for our production."

Martin Uekmann and Rainer Müller, Managing Directors of Stadtwerke Bielefeld, explain: "The plant in Hillegossen makes a significant contribution to energy transition. That's another reason why we are pleased that Mitsubishi HiTec Paper has decided to continue working with us. As a company, we have relied on renewable energies for years and support energy transition. This also includes highly efficient combined heat and power plants such as those in Bielefeld Hillegossen."

About the power plant: In the next five years, Stadtwerke Bielefeld will invest around 2.2 million euros in further modernization of the facility. It is a highly efficient CHP plant that saves around 14,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year compared to uncoupled production. On 9 May 2003, the original consortium agreement for the construction of the gas and steam power plant at Bielefeld Hillegossen was signed. Stadtwerke invested 34 million euros at that time. The goal was the modernization of the steam supply of the paper mill. The power plant was put into operation on 3 January 2005.

Mitsubishi HiTec Paper Europe GmbH is a German subsidiary of Mitsubishi Paper Mills Ltd., Japan, one of the world's leading manufacturers of specialty paper. The roughly 750 employees at Mitsubishi HiTec Paper Europe produce high-quality direct thermal, inkjet, carbonless, label and barrier papers at two tradition-rich locations in Bielefeld and Flensburg.

Each factory stands out for own base paper production, state-of-the-art production machinery and innovative coating technologies. Through its dense global sales network, Mitsubishi HiTec Paper Europe supplies a full range of specialty papers for many applications and printing technologies – and is a highly capable partner whenever customized coated paper solutions are required.

Comart, a specialised distributor in the supply of paper cardboard and flexible films has the largest private warehouse in Spain with a permanent stock of more than 10.000 tonnes of rolls and sheets. It is one of the few distributors that can guarantee a 24-hour supply service in Spain, France and Portugal.  

To provide a highly efficient service that covers all the needs of the packaging & graphic industries, Comart offers a wide variety of folding, recycled boards, kraftliner and coated papers. With a workforce of more than 100 people, its 30.000m2 of offices, warehouses and production centres are located in Barcelona, Girona and Toledo (Spain).  

Customer challenge.

With the inclusion of Spirax and Sumapel, the new facilities in Barcelona were opened in 2015. Since then, COMART has acquired the latest generation paper sheeting machines, paper winding machines and ream wrappers.  

“Within our growth strategy, we saw the need to increase our cutting capacity and widen our range of formats to continue facing up to the challenges of a very competitive market.” Ernest Ginjaume, CEO.  

To achieve these objectives and with the clear intention of improving the conversion quality and operations, they contacted Pasaban to jointly study a solution.  

The Solution.  

To provide the optimum solution Pasaban carried out an extensive analysis of the current situation.   The factory required a new machine to substantially increase their cutting capacity and to widen the range of sheet formats. It is for this reason that a turnkey project was proposed with two main actions.
     
One action was the design and manufacture a new wider-width sheeter with automatic pallet change; the second was to automate the pile delivery system so to transfer the piles of paper to the loading and unloading bays.  

The KB 2300 paper sheeting machine is able to manage a wide range of formats with an operating speed of 350 m/min. Equipped with an automatic splicing unwind stand, the sheeter is also capable of changing pallets at maximum speed.  

This new paper sheeting machine has allowed COMART to improve the flexibility of the factory.  

On the other hand, in order to automate the output of the different sheeting machines several conveyors were installed. Now, the piles of paper leaving the sheeting machines are able to automatically enter into the baler and are directly transferred to the loading and unloading bays.  

Thanks to this improvement, the overall efficiency of the plant has been improved.   “Pasaban has given us the solution we needed to make the necessary improvements to our factory in Barcelona” Ernest Ginjaume, CEO.

“We are extremely happy with the results achieved. Thanks to this investment we will continue to be a benchmark in the conversion and distribution of paper in southern Europe”, Ernest Ginjaume, CEO  

“The continuous investment in automating the factory allow us to improve the internal logistics. It directly impacts on improved speed, efficiency and service quality”, states Lluís Mª Ginjaume, chairman and company founder.    

Pasaban, trust and professionalism.  

At Pasaban we firmly believe we must continuously offer our customers high quality machines and solutions alongside with an impeccable service to gain their trust. Meeting these requirements is what makes us leaders in the design and manufacturing of machinery for the conversion of paper and cardboard.  

Fully customized turnkey projects like the one for Comart are only possible thanks to the know-how of our engineers and a close cooperation with our customers.  

Valmet will supply boiler diagnostics systems to Outokumpu’s Tornio ferrochrome plant in Finland. Two separate orders of six Valmet Furnace Imaging System, Fixed Mount Mid-IR cameras increase the number of cameras in the plant from three to nine. The solution is a critical part of the plant’s process monitoring enabling real-time visual monitoring of the alloy manufacturing.

The orders were included in Valmet's orders received of the second and the third quarters 2019. The cameras are delivered during the last quarter of 2019. The value of the orders will not be disclosed.

Customized Valmet Furnace Imaging System, Fixed Mount Mid-IR infrared camera is used to monitor the operation of the submerged arc furnace.

“Valmet was able to provide us with a solution withstanding the extremely harsh process environment of submerged arc furnace. This enabled real-time monitoring of conditions inside the furnace thus decreasing reaction time considerably, which results in better safety, quality, and process stability,” says Joni Raiskio, Manager of the submerged arc furnaces 1 & 2, Outokumpu.

“It is always exciting to work with industry leaders and develop solutions to aim for even higher process performance and quality. These repeat orders from Outokumpu are a good example of Valmet’s process monitoring capabilities and a strong testimony for our high temperature imagining technology,” says Timo Laurila, Business Manager, Pulp and Energy Analyzers, Automation, Valmet.

Information about Valmet's delivery

Both deliveries consist of three Valmet Furnace Imaging Systems. The customized Valmet Furnace Imaging System infrared cameras are designed to provide operational views of the submerged arc furnace (SAF) at temperatures of 370°C to 1,900°C. The camera system is integrated with the Valmet DNA automation system.

Valmet Furnace Imaging Systems are specially engineered for industries using extreme high-temperature processes, including metal, power, pulp, paper, and petrochemical for durability and longevity. The system provides real-time ability to identify problems and apply solutions, resulting in fewer unplanned outages, savings in avoided shutdown costs, and improved productivity.

Information about Outokumpu’s Tornio plant

Outokumpu is the global leader in stainless steel and employs 10,000 professionals in more than 30 countries, with headquarters in Helsinki, Finland. At Outokumpu’s Tornio plant, ferrochrome production takes place onsite using raw materials mined nearby in Kemi. Tornio ferrochrome operations consist of sintering, smelting, crushing, and screening. Molten ferrochrome is delivered directly to the Tornio stainless steel melt shop.

For further information, please contact:
Timo Laurila, Business Manager, Pulp and Energy Analyzers, Automation, Valmet, tel. +358 40 0922 442

Read more: http://www.valmet.com/boilerdiagnostics

VALMET
Corporate Communications

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 2018 were approximately EUR 3.3 billion. Our more than 13,000 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.

Read more www.valmet.com

Lucart, Europe’s leading manufacturer of tissue, airlaid and MG paper for flexible packaging, continues to focus on sustainability and on researching environmentally-friendly and innovative solutions with a view to reducing the environmental impact of its products.

In fact, the products in the Grazie Natural line for domestic use and those in the EcoNatural lines for professional markets are now even more eco-friendly thanks to the use of new recycled and recyclable paper packaging, which is designed for a more sustainable, natural choice.

With this new paper packaging, the company aims to contribute to the general policy of reducing the use of virgin plastics, replacing them with eco-friendly recycled packaging. This is an extremely important goal, especially considering the fact that as many as 570,000 tonnes of plastic end up in the Mediterranean Sea every year, which is equivalent to throwing 33,800 plastic bottles into the sea every minute.[1]

Guido Pasquini, Lucart’s Sales and Marketing Director, explains: “Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of making sustainable choices when it comes to buying products and are always looking for practical ways to help save the planet on a daily basis, but we must play a part in this too. This is why we aim to gradually replace the plastic packaging we use for our products with flexible recycled and recyclable paper packaging produced by us. We are particularly proud of this project, which was also made possible through excellent teamwork. By applying the principles of cooperation on which the circular economy is based, our R&D department has brought the Porcari plant (in the province of Lucca) – our historical headquarters where we produce paper for flexible packaging – into line with the requirements of the group’s other plants – where hygiene paper products are produced – by sharing the same goals and overcoming the technical problems associated with paper development and the use of printing inks. In fact, even the latter are compostable and biodegradable.

The products in the Natural lines, which are the only ones on the market made from recycled Tetra Pak^® type beverage cartons and “wrapped with love” in recycled and recyclable paper packaging, are a practical way for our customers to make an active contribution to protecting the environment”.

The growing interest of consumers in sustainability issues and in making more responsible environmental choices is also reflected in recent data: in fact, according to the European Consumer Packaging Perceptions study by Pro Carton, 75% of Italian consumers claim that the environmental impact of a product’s packaging influences their purchasing decisions.

[1] Source: WWF

Big news at Fabio Perini, as the company presents at MIAC, in absolute world premiere, the prototype of a totally ecologically sustainable, coreless and glueless kitchen roll.

“With this prototype - Enrico Zino, Fabio Perini Head of Marketing, declares – we provide the answer to three market requirements: delivering our clients as much product as possible without increasing bulkiness and without giving up quality; reducing waste consequent to core disposal,  maintaining the product’s structural characteristics across the whole logistic chain; and turning out a 100% ecologic product”.

“Up to this time - Zino points out – several technologies had made possible an “environment friendly focus” limited to certain production phases: doing without the core for our rolls, eliminating glue or focusing on replacing plastics in packaging. Now, Fabio Perini is the first in the world to present a prototype of kitchen/towel roll combining already existent technologies with an absolute novelty, just patented and which will be moving to the industrial phase shortly after MIAC, that is, water lamination also for kitchen rolls”.

Fabio Perini has always had a green vocation, which in the past prompted the launch on its markets of ecofriendly solutions, even anticipating trends.

In 2010, Fabio Perini was the first company to propose gluefree solutions, barring the use of glue both in lamination (Aquabond) and in the initial pickup f tissue around the core (Web Tuck system Rewinder), reducing environmental impact and saving the cost of glue and the ensuing maintenance; it launched on the market the patented Solid and Solid+ coreless technology to produce full rolls that can keep the product’s structural characteristics, increasing by 16% the amount of tissue per roll with the same diameter, and attaining a 10% reduction of packaging required for the same amount of product transported. In addition, Fabio Perini recently presented a series of packaging solutions based on paper coupled with ecologic bioplastics, derived from vegetable starch and waste, creating a product whose characteristics are comparable to those of plastic polymers. This 100% compostable packaging can be processed maintaining the machinery speed at almost the same speed as with polyethylene production.

To all this, Fabio Perini is adding several solutions to limit the energy consumption of its machinery thanks to high efficiency engines and inverters, which consume less and have regenerative feedback capabilities, hybrid energy control-panel cooling, led lights drastically reducing the lighting energy absorption, inside the machines and the control-panels.

“The definition of sustainable development dates back to 1987 - Enrico Zino, Fabio Perini Head of Marketing, declares – but while at that time companies who embraced a growth compatible with environmental preservation were doing so by choice, today, as we become aware that our planet can no longer compensate the deep impact of our production and lifestyle, it has become a duty and a responsibility for all. For us at Fabio Perini – Zino concludes – nature and technology represent two sides of the same coin: nature is a perfect technology and our technology must be perfect for nature. We aim at offering, even at industrial level, a more and more sustainable business, by acting as key partners for all the companies that give the utmost priority to environmental compatibility”.

In terms of market value, the global converting paper market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 1.9% during the forecast period, owing to various factors, about which study delivers thorough insights and forecast in the global converting paper market report.

The United States and Canada are taken under consideration for the North America converting paper market analysis. The United States is estimated to dominate the converting paper market due to the evolving packaging industry and intolerance for plastic products in packaging. The rapidly growing digital media is expected to restrain the growth of graphic paper in the North American region.

The Latin America converting paper market is projected to witness fast-paced growth due to an increase in demand for tissue paper and packaging paper. Owing to a rise in demand for consumer paper products, Brazil is expected to be a highly attractive converting paper market in terms of market share and growth rate during the forecast period.

The European converting paper market is segmented into Germany, Italy, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Benelux, Nordics, Russia, Poland, and Rest of Europe. Germany is estimated to dominate the European converting paper market in terms of production and consumption. Germany is one of the largest converting paper exporters across the globe followed by China and the United States. The hygiene paper segment is estimated to witness fast-paced growth in the European converting paper market during the forecast period. In the European market, the packaging industry is expected to share half of converting paper share by the end of 2027.

The Asia Pacific is projected to be an emerging market for converting paper during the forecast period. Rapidly evolving packaging industry of China, India, and ASEAN is the prominent driver for the converting paper markets in the region, although relatively gentle regulations for the usage of plastics in the region have restrained the growth of converting paper in the geography. The Asia Pacific market, especially China and India, is anticipated to be the largest consumer of paper for writing, printing, and packaging. It is expected to promise high returns on investments by key global players. The introduction of new enterprises in China and India are improving the market share of printing paper. The growing urbanization and economy drive the demand for paper for writing and printing with consumption in packaging.

The Middle East & Africa region is analysed by evaluating key countries including GCC countries, Northern Africa, South Africa, and Turkey. Countries in North Africa, specifically Egypt, are gradually emerging as the prominent consumers of converting paper in the MEA region due to the increasing domestic demand for paper products such as food containers, tissue papers, and other packaging products. At present, Turkey is the largest converting paper market in the MEA region with around one-fourth of the market share in 2019.

Rigorous trade regulations in the European countries restricting the import of Turkish products have severely impacted the converting paper market in the country, leading to a shrink in market size by the end of 2027. The packaging industry of GCC countries and North Africa countries is rising at a significant pace, increasing the demand for converting paper for packaging applications in the MEA region. The hygiene paper segment is projected to witness considerable growth in the region owing to the gradual adoption of tissue paper among Africans.

Key players in the global converting paper market are analysed during the development of the report to estimate the market revenue and identify market trends and scenarios. The companies profiled in the converting paper report include Canfor Corporation, International Paper Company, Stora Enso Oyj, Georgia-Pacific LLC, Clearwater Paper Corporation, BillerudKorsnäs AB, Burgo Group SPA, Twin Rivers Paper Company Inc., American Eagle Paper Mills, Delta Paper Corp., UPM-Kymmene Oyj, P.H. Glatfelter Co., Domtar Corporation, Mitsubishi Paper Mills Limited, Verso Corporation, Alberta Newsprint Company Ltd., Finch Paper LLC., Catalyst Paper Corporation, Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Ltd., and Rolland Enterprises Inc.

These insights are based on a report on Converting Paper Market by Transparency Market Research.

While AFT has been active in Russia for about 30 years, strong growth in recent years led to the decision of opening our own sales representative office to better meet the needs of our clients.

The new location in Saint Petersburg will strengthen AFT's presence and position in the Russian and CIS markets for pulp and paper wear parts and equipment, as well as allow us to explore these markets for new opportunities. The Saint Petersburg team is led by Roman Smorgunov, Sales Manager and Julia Babenko, Head of Administration, who will be responsible for managing all operations and support functions.

From left to right: Roman Smorgunov, Julia Babenko, Sergei Korostelev, Lyubov Lyubimova

As we aim to further expand our presence in the pulp and paper industry in Russia, the new office will provide better service to our existing clients as well as boost AFT sales on a global scale.

The office is located in the VANT business center on the Neva River and offers dedicated space for meeting with clients, partners, and our sales and delivery specialists who will be pleased to provide any support related to sales in Russia, CIS countries and the neighboring states.  The office contact information can be found on our website at www.aft-global.com.  For more information, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

About AFT:

AFT is a global supplier specializing in stock preparation, screening, refining and paper machine approach flow systems.  With over 110 years of experience in manufacturing and supplying tailored solutions, we respond to the needs of our customers and help improve performance with trademarked advancements such as Finebar ultra low intensity refining, Powerwave energy efficient screening, POM wet end systems, and more.

Futura Spa, technological leader in the tissue converting segment, announces a technical partnership with Plusline srl, a Bologna-based company created to offer advanced packaging systems. The aim is to introduce extraordinary innovations, including the radical “Together” solution.

"The Futura - Plusline technical partnership aims to develop game-changer concepts for production processes in line with our strategy and positioning ” said Piero Ceccon, CEO of Futura. “Thanks our joint design efforts, we will present “Together”, the new solution to convert logs into shelf-ready packs.

“Together is an integrated system which can be installed downstream of any existing or new converting rewinder line, not necessarily produced by Futura, thus opening opportunities both for setting up new plants, and for making existing lines extremely more efficient.”

"This partnership is very important to us and perfectly aligned with Futura and Plusline’s shared objectives. These are to develop cutting-edge technology projects and to trial innovations with the potential of being evolutionary for the sector," said Vittorio Gerri, CEO of Plusline.

“We have a team of technicians with a great deal of experience behind them, and an in-depth knowledge of the product and processes, who are working together with Futura’s engineers to create technological solutions capable of producing higher performance and a superior quality finished product“.

The Swedish Pulp and Paper producer, Rottneros, has selected ÅF Pöyry as partner for further efficiency development of their mills in Rottneros and Vallvik, Sweden.

Rottneros have about 300 employees working with development and production of pulp. Rottneros produces pulp at their mills, in Vallvik chemical pulp and in Rottneros, Värmland mechanical pulp. Rottneros also have a third production unit, Rottneros Packaging, producing biobased packages for food, and a company for supplying wood in Latvia.

ÅF Pöyry´s assignment is to deliver and install the newly developed software ’ÅF Pöyry Pulse’ in Rottneros and Vallvik mills. The new software helps to maximize availability, and gives an overview of raw material consumption of industrial processes, and by using that information, increase productivity. The ÅF Pöyry Pulse includes functions also for realtime monitoring, communication and connecting the operation with maintenance. The user can easily oversee production through a modern and user-friendly interface, take actions when needed or identify free production capacity i.e. work more proactively.

“We are very excited to work with Rottneros and look forward to help streamline Rottneros’ operation and at the same time create possibilities towards Industry 4.0”, says David Andersson, Section manager, Industrial digitalization, ÅF Pöyry.

‘ÅF Pöyry Pulse’ is the modern platform we believe can provide possibilities for our continuous strive towards efficiency and thereby increase our production in an optimal and sustainable way,” says Lennart Eberleh, CEO Rottneros, “It is vital for our company development that our staff have the best possibilities through modern technology in their daily work.”

The key element in ÅF Pöyry Pulse is to combine people and technology. Another part is focusing on future activities.

“To receive full potential with a new software it must attract the user and be user friendly in order to be used in daily work. Many similar solutions focus on historical data, but ÅF Pöyry Pulse also supports future events and with that a more proactive way or working”, says David Andersson.

Through KPI´s such as e.g. OEE and the raw material consumption, ÅF Pöyry Pulse increases the equipment utilization and enables high availability, and increases the uptime of the existing infrastructure.

ÅF Pöyry Pulse tools are planned to be commissioned in Rottneros and Vallvik starting in January 2020.

About Pulse, Click here 

Further information, please contact:

Mikael Fränckel
Head of Business Area Process Industry
Tel: +46 10 505 87 06
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

David Andersson
Section Manager Industrial Digitalization, Process Industries division
Tel: +46 10 505 54 84
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mikael Ankerfors
Head of Smart Site Global Solutions, Process Industries division
Tel: +46 10 505 29 80
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ÅF Pöyry is a leading international engineering, design and consultancy company. We create solutions for our clients from a sustainability perspective and based on global trends such as urbanisation and digitalisation. We bring together over 16,000 dedicated experts in the fields of infrastructure, industry and energy, all of whom work globally to create sustainable solutions for future generations.

Making Future.