Valmet will deliver Valmet DNA Integrated Operations to Kemira Chemicals’ Äetsä plant in Sastamala, Finland. The target is to increase usage efficiency through automation. 

The order was included in Valmet’s orders received of the fourth quarter 2021. The value of the order will not be disclosed. The solution is planned to be integrated in the second quarter of 2022.  

"Ordering and scheduling function of the Valmet DNA Integrated Operations will increase the efficiency of our truck loading and unloading operations as logistics companies will know their exact timeslot for loading and unloading. In addition, communications will be easier as up-to-date information on truck loading and unloading schedules is automatically shared between all parties", says Jaakko Rautalahti, Site Manager at Kemira Chemicals Äetsä.

“I am happy that Kemira Chemicals selected Valmet DNA Integrated Operations to complement their already existing Valmet DNA automation solution. It will help Kemira Chemicals to serve its customers even better", says Mikko Haapaniemi, Product Manager, Process Industry Automation, Valmet.

With the implementation of Valmet DNA Integrated Operations, Kemira Chemicals will have an automated scheduling system, verification process of orders, visualization of incoming and outgoing loads, as well as reporting, analytical data, and high security measures to increase efficiency of the loading bays for both Kemira Chemicals and the logistics companies.

Valmet DNA Integrated Operations is a solution for terminal, plant and mill management and energy or chemical distribution information management. It covers resource and transfer management, transfer tracking and end point monitoring. It enables run-out time forecasts and automatic orders, load scheduling and permissions, reporting, production planning, process optimization and an interface to ERP systems. With automated and flexible tools, it is possible to optimize sourcing and order planning as well as plan energy distribution efficiently, saving time and costs. Communications between various parties in the supply chain is easy.

About the customer Kemira Chemicals

Kemira Chemicals is a subsidiary of Kemira group. Kemira is a global chemicals company serving customers in water-intensive industries. It provides the best suited products and expertise to improve its customers’ product quality, as well as process and resource efficiency. The company’s focus is on pulp & paper, oil & gas and water treatment. In 2021, Kemira had annual revenue of around EUR 2.7 billion and 5,000 employees.

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 2021 were approximately EUR 3.9 billion. Our more than 14,000 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

Valmet is launching a new THRU-AIR® Bonder at the IDEA 2022 nonwovens show in Miami March 28-31, 2022. With this invention Valmet offers the opportunity to make premium grade products at a competitive cost, which in turn can lead to increased market value for nonwovens web producer.

Valmet has been supplying high-performance bonders since 1968. Thanks to air flow and temperature distribution system designs, Valmet’s thru-air systems provide the highest thermal efficiency as well as the best control of temperature and air velocity.

“Our traditional Bonder using a HONEYCOMB® roll has the highest performance in the industry, but not all customers require the operational performance and mechanical capacity the HONEYCOMB® Bonder offers. Therefore, we saw the need to develop a product at a lower cost and with a more compact design that could still approach the performance levels of the traditional bonder”, says Lynn Violette, Manager, Product Management, Valmet.

“The new THRU-AIR® Bonder is optimized to reach high performance standards at a lower total cost, including capital costs, operating costs, installation, maintenance, runnability and reliability”, says Eric Johnson, Sales Manager, Nonwovens equipment, Valmet.

Machine speed, temperature and air speed through the sheet are easily regulated, optimizing the bonding process. Good bonding performance improves uptime, reduces waste, and improves the reliability of downstream processes such as converting.

While high-performance bonders often require large facilities, Valmet’s new THRU-AIR® Bonder is compact in size, enabling efficient space utilization. The roll-out design allows for easy maintenance to maximize safety.

Sustainability is at the core of Valmet's business strategy and operations. The THRU-AIR® Bonder accepts alternative heat sources to support carbon neutral operation.

Learn more at https://www.valmet.com/thruairbonding/

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 2021 were approximately EUR 3.9 billion. Our more than 14,000 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

Stora Enso has initiated a sales process for a possible divestment of four paper production sites. In line with Stora Enso’s strategy, paper is not a strategic growth area for the Group. The divestment intent is aligned with the Group’s strategy to focus on long-term growth potential for its renewable products in packaging, building solutions and biomaterials innovations.

Stora Enso’s paper production sites intended for divestment are: Anjala in Finland, Hylte and Nymölla in Sweden, and Maxau in Germany. The assets are high-quality sites for paper and pulp production with strong infrastructure, and skilled and experienced staff.

“Through divesting a majority of our paper assets, we are able to increase the focus on our defined strategic growth areas of renewable packaging, building solutions and biomaterials innovations. When assessing potential divestment options, we look for new ownership that will provide a sustainable long-term future for the sites and the people that work there,” says President and CEO Annica Bresky.

The four Stora Enso sites are subject to divestment in one or a series of transactions. Stora Enso has not committed to a deadline for the conclusion of the divestment process. The initiated sales process has no immediate effect on Stora Enso’s paper operations which continue to serve their respective customers. Stora Enso’s Langerbrugge site in Belgium will be retained within the Group.

Stora Enso currently has five paper production sites that are supported by divisional sales, management, and administrative functions. In total, the Paper division currently employs approximately 2,200 employees. In 2021, the Paper division’s net sales amounted to EUR 1,703 million.

Stora Enso has retained BofA Securities to assist in the sales process.

Part of the global bioeconomy, Stora Enso is a leading provider of renewable products in packaging, biomaterials, wooden construction and paper, and one of the largest private forest owners in the world. We believe that everything that is made from fossil-based materials today can be made from a tree tomorrow. Stora Enso has approximately 22,000 employees and our sales in 2021 were EUR 10.2 billion. Stora Enso shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Oy (STEAV, STERV) and Nasdaq Stockholm AB (STE A, STE R). In addition, the shares are traded in the USA as ADRs (SEOAY). storaenso.com/investors  

International technology group ANDRITZ has successfully started up the rebuilt PM2 kraftliner paper machine for Cartiera Giacosa S.p.A. at their mill in Front Canavese, Italy, and has received a follow-up order to further improve its performance.

The PM2 has a design speed of 400 m/min and a working width of 3 m. It produces kraftliner in the range of 170 to 225 gsm for laminated sheets used in furniture applications.

The first rebuild was aimed at reducing the specific energy consumption in the press and drying sections to obtain a smaller CO2 footprint. Due to the replacement of the 2nd and 3rd press with a new long-nip press, the dryness content has been increased by 2.5% and the length of the press section has been reduced substantially. The press is equipped with roll covers and paper machine clothing supplied by ANDRITZ Fabrics and Rolls, offering superior properties.

The space saved was used for two additional new dryers of the type PrimeDry Steel providing important steam and specific energy savings of up to 12% as well as cost-efficient production.

PrimeFlow AT (Accelerating Tube) headbox at the ANDRITZ workshop in Graz, Austria © ANDRITZ

Marco Roscio, CEO of Cartiera Giacosa, says: “Thanks to this successful rebuild we can now produce our kraftliner more efficiently and more sustainably. We recognized that our PM2 offers further potential for improvement, especially in terms of better quality and better profiles – so no wonder that we partnered again with ANDRITZ.”

The follow-up order – for the rebuild of the wire section – includes a new PrimeScreen X for the approach flow system with fan pumps as well as a new PrimeFlow AT headbox with the latest state-of-the-art dilution water CD profiling for better high-end product quality. This type of headbox was specifically developed to maximize the paper formation with controlled turbulence, using the “Accelerating Tubes” concept. A new mechanical drive for the entire PM2 will improve the machine’s overall efficiency and the consistency of the paper quality.

Cartiera Giacosa was established in 1961 and specializes in the production of decorative paper and kraft paper for laminated plastic, mainly used in furniture.

ANDRITZ GROUP
International technology group ANDRITZ offers a broad portfolio of innovative plants, equipment, systems, services and digital solutions for a wide range of industries and end markets. ANDRITZ is a global market leader in all four of its business areas – Pulp & Paper, Metals, Hydro, and Separation. Technological leadership, global presence and sustainability are the cornerstones of the group’s strategy, which is focused on long-term profitable growth. The publicly listed group has around 26,800 employees and over 280 locations in more than 40 countries.

ANDRITZ PULP & PAPER
ANDRITZ Pulp & Paper provides sustainable technology, automation, and service solutions for the production of all types of pulp, paper, board and tissue. The technologies and services focus on maximum utilization of raw materials, increased production efficiency, lower overall operating costs as well as innovative decarbonization strategies and autonomous plant operation. Boilers for power generation, flue gas cleaning systems, various nonwoven technologies, panelboard (MDF) production systems, as well as recycling and shredding solutions for numerous waste materials also form a part of this business area. State-of-the-art IIoT technologies as part of Metris digitalization solutions complete the comprehensive product offering.

Ahlstrom-Munksjö continues to grow their partnership with Valmet in North America by purchasing a complete Valmet automation solution for their new glass fiber tissue line in Madisonville, Kentucky. The order includes Valmet’s distributed control system (Valmet DNA DCS) with the latest generation user interface, quality control system (Valmet IQ Quality Control System) and a web inspection system (Valmet IQ Web Inspection System). The fully integrated solution will enable Ahlstrom-Munksjö to efficiently optimize tissue production and ensure optimal quality throughout the process.

The order is included in Valmet’s orders received of the first quarter 2022. The value of the order will not be disclosed. The installation will take place in the spring of 2023.

“Having a complete package for the DCS, QCS, and web inspection was a key decision point when deciding on the right vendor. Valmet’s automation solution is well known throughout the pulp and paper industry and selecting one integrated solution for the full scope was crucial in our decision-making criteria. In US we already have Taylorville plant with Valmet DCS and QCS and we are happy to continue the good collaboration between the two companies,” says Juhani Piispa, Engineering & Technology Manager, Ahlstrom-Munksjö.

The delivery also includes Valmet DNA automation system’s new web based user interface, which enables real-time performance optimization and collaboration between different user groups regardless of their location.

“This is a very exciting opportunity to continue our partnership with Ahlstrom-Munksjö. We have had great success with the multiple Valmet DNA installations in their pulp and paper facility in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, as well as the Valmet DCS and QCS in Taylorville, Illinois, and agreeing to deliver a complete automation package for the new glass fiber tissue line in Madisonville is another step for our collaboration. Our integrated solution will help Ahlstrom-Munksjö to speed up the training of the team as there aren’t many different and separate solutions to learn,” says Tim Betteridge, Vice President of Automation, North America, Valmet Inc.

About the customer Ahlstrom-Munksjö
Ahlstrom-Munksjö is a global leader in fiber-based materials, supplying innovative and sustainable solutions to its customers. Their mission is to expand the role of fiber-based solutions for sustainable everyday life. Their offering includes filter materials, release liners, food and beverage processing materials, decor papers, abrasive and tape backings, electrotechnical paper, glass fiber materials, medical fiber materials, diagnostics and energy storage solutions, as well as a range of specialty papers for industrial and consumer end-uses. Their annual net sales is about EUR 3.1 billion and they employ some 8,000 people. Read more at www.ahlstrom-munksjo.com.

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

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

Valmet's net sales in 2021 were approximately EUR 3.9 billion. Our more than 14,000 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

Metsä Group has made donations of EUR 160,000 to Aalto University, LUT University, Tampere University, Åbo Akademi, University of Jyväskylä and University of Eastern Finland. Depending on the university, the donations will be allocated to the fields of technology, natural sciences or agriculture and forestry.

“High-quality university research and education form the basis for the development of the forest industry as a whole. It’s very important for us to secure future competence,” says Ilkka Hämälä, President and CEO of Metsä Group.

Earlier in December, Metsä Group donated a total of EUR 500,000 to its partner universities University of Helsinki and University of Oulu.

The donations are part of the matched funding scheme, through which the Government supports donations made to universities by private foundations, companies and individuals. The matched funding scheme will run until the end of June 2022.

Metsä Group
www.metsagroup.com

Metsä Group is leading the way in advancing the bioeconomy. We invest in growth, bioproduct development and a fossil free future. The raw material for our products is renewable wood from sustainably managed northern forests. We focus on the growth sectors of the forest industry: wood supply and forest services, wood products, pulp, fresh fibre paperboards, as well as tissue and greaseproof papers.

Metsä Group’s annual sales amount to approximately EUR 6 billion, and we have around 9,500 employees in 30 countries. Our international Group has its roots in the Finnish forests: our parent company is Metsäliitto Cooperative which is owned by nearly 100,000 forest owners. 

International technology group ANDRITZ has received an order from the Chinese pulp and paper producer Liansheng Pulp & Paper to supply the most value-adding and resource-saving technologies for a new pulp mill in Zhangzhou, Fujian province, China.

ANDRITZ will supply state-of-the-art and environmentally friendly technologies for all main process islands in the fiber production and the chemical recovery plant, thus strongly supporting Liansheng Pulp & Paper in reaching its sustainability and financial goals. Start-up is scheduled for mid-2024.

Strong business partners: Thomas Schmitz, president of ANDRITZ China (left), and Chen Jiayu, Chairman and main owner of Liansheng © ANDRITZ

The ANDRITZ scope of supply includes the following: 

• Chip handling plant consisting of eight 360° stacker reclaimer chip storage and chip screening systems from ANDRITZ. The chip handling plant will serve both the chemical and mechanical pulping lines of the mill. The stacker reclaimers supplied by ANDRITZ will have a capacity of 387,000 m³ each and are the largest in the world. They will operate according to the FIFO (first in, first out) principle to blend and homogenize the chips upstream of the fiberline. The delivery includes also screw reclaimers for the biomass store.
• The complete fiberline fully equipped with Compact Press wash press technology, providing brightness of more than 91% ISO. The delivery includes state-of-the-art LoSolids continuous cooking, screening, brown stock and post-oxygen washing equipment with Compact Presses as well as a two-stage oxygen delignification and a four-stage ECF bleaching plant with Compact Presses. The wide range of ANDRITZ washer technologies ensures highly environmentally compatible performance tailored to the customer’s needs. 
• Two screening systems for the pulp drying line and for the wet lap and paper machines. An energy-efficient black liquor evaporation plant to concentrate liquor up to 85% DS (w/o ash) in a tailor-made process solution resulting in high availability and an increase in the overall production and efficiency of the plant. ANDRITZ’s easy-to-clean lamella heating surfaces ensure high availability and easy operation of the plant. 
• Ash re-crystallization (ARC) system to treat the ash from the electrostatic precipitator by decreasing the chloride and potassium content while recovering sodium and sulfate. The ARC process from ANDRITZ is based on evaporative crystallization using the economical mechanical vapor recompression (MVR) technology as the heat source. ANDRITZ has delivered several ARC systems for various pulp mills in China in recent years.
• The largest HERB recovery boiler in China, with steam values of 515°C and 105 bar(g) at the turbine, featuring energy-efficient flue gas cooling and feed water preheating technologies to maximize steam for power generation. The state-of-the-art HERB recovery boiler is designed for long operating periods based on high cleanability. 
• A complete white liquor plant with gasification system, enabling fossil-free operation of the lime kilns with an optimized pulp mill carbon footprint. The new recausticizing plant includes an efficient green liquor handling system with three LimeGreen filters for green liquor filtration and two centrifuges for handling of dregs – producing clean green liquor and minimizing waste to landfill. This new, single lime kiln plant will be the world’s largest in terms of capacity and is equipped with ANDRITZ’s LimeFlash-H feed head system. LimeFlash-H is a new feed end technology for maximizing lime kiln efficiency, focusing mainly on boosting the capacity of lime kilns at the same time as reducing the energy consumption. 
  
  The biomass gasification plant will be the largest of its kind worldwide feeding a lime kiln burner. The supply includes the CFB gasification plant with biomass and ash handling systems and a belt dryer. The biomass feed will be a mixture of eucalyptus and acacia chips and bark. 
• Mill-wide incineration system for non-condensable gases (NCG). The incineration system enables safe and environmentally friendly treatment of all types of diluted or concentrated malodorous and toxic gases, thus meeting the strictest environmental and social requirements. The NCG incineration system is based on the A-Recovery+ concept from ANDRITZ, which focuses on using the side streams in the recovery cycle. 
• Two Stirox (WLOx) systems. The Stirox system from ANDRITZ has a higher reaction efficiency to preserve the chemical balance of the mill.

ANDRITZ GROUP
International technology group ANDRITZ offers a broad portfolio of innovative plants, equipment, systems, services and digital solutions for a wide range of industries and end markets. ANDRITZ is a global market leader in all four of its business areas – Pulp & Paper, Metals, Hydro, and Separation. Technological leadership, global presence and sustainability are the cornerstones of the group’s strategy, which is focused on long-term profitable growth. The publicly listed group has around 26,800 employees and over 280 locations in more than 40 countries.

ANDRITZ PULP & PAPER
ANDRITZ Pulp & Paper provides sustainable technology, automation, and service solutions for the production of all types of pulp, paper, board and tissue. The technologies and services focus on maximum utilization of raw materials, increased production efficiency, lower overall operating costs as well as innovative decarbonization strategies and autonomous plant operation. Boilers for power generation, flue gas cleaning systems, various nonwoven technologies, panelboard (MDF) production systems, as well as recycling and shredding solutions for numerous waste materials also form a part of this business area. State-of-the-art IIoT technologies as part of Metris digitalization solutions complete the comprehensive product offering.

AFT is supplying two POMix stock processors to Pratt Industries for the new PM18 board machine in Henderson, Kentucky. The POMix units will deliver uniform top- and bottom-ply stock distribution to the machine headbox. The mill will use 100% recycled paper to produce corrugating medium and linerboard grades.  PM18 is scheduled to start-up in fall of 2023.

AFT’s POMix stock processor is a compact, patented mixing solution that replaces conventional large mixing chests and machine chests.  Its small volume results in a highly responsive and stable operation – an efficient "just-in-time" approach to feeding the paper machine that minimizes grade change time and off-grade paper.

“AFT is excited to be part of this project for one of the world’s most advanced, environmentally friendly recycled paper mills”, says Sven Girschner.  “We are looking forward to a successful start-up in 2023.”

About AFT

AFT is a global supplier specialized in stock preparation, screening, refining and paper machine approach flow systems. With over 100 years of experience, we offer expert solutions that help mills produce more while using less energy, water and chemicals.  Our solutions are tailored to the customer’s furnish, their application and the end product being produced in order to optimize their return on investment.  For more information, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The PM10 at Laakirchen Papier AG, part of the Heinzel Group, Austria, that was rebuilt by ANDRITZ has become the world’s fastest converted containerboard production machine with speeds of up to 1,420 m/min at a basis weight ranging from 80 to 140 g/m².

Over the last few years, ANDRITZ converted the PM10 from production of SC paper to a fluting and testliner machine. The scope of supply comprised the stock preparation section, a comprehensive rebuild of the paper machine, and the complete automation.

The time scheduled for the rebuild work was twelve weeks only. ANDRITZ successfully coped with this challenge at the same time allowing PM11 to continue running alongside the rebuild work. PM10 produced saleable containerboard from the very first reel on.

Outstanding performance with ANDRITZ board technology at Laakirchen Papier, Austria © ANDRITZ

Jan Reibert, Production Manager PM10 of Laakirchen Papier, explains: “Per today, PM10 produces lightweight containerboard here in Laakirchen at record speeds. And we have an ace up in our sleeve: there is still potential for further increases in performance. The next step is the upgrade by ANDRITZ of the ropeless tail threading system in the double-tier part of the after-dryer section to reduce threading time when compared to the market standard.”

The international Heinzel Group, the largest independent, non-integrated containerboard producer in Europe, and ANDRITZ have a long and successful business relationship. Apart from the conversion of the PM10 at Laakirchen, ANDRITZ has delivered and successfully started up Europe’slargest new MG paper machines (PM3 and PM2) at Zellstoff Pöls, Austria.

ANDRITZ GROUP
International technology group ANDRITZ offers a broad portfolio of innovative plants, equipment, systems, services and digital solutions for a wide range of industries and end markets. ANDRITZ is a global market leader in all four of its business areas – Pulp & Paper, Metals, Hydro, and Separation. Technological leadership, global presence and sustainability are the cornerstones of the group’s strategy, which is focused on long-term profitable growth. The publicly listed group has around 26,800 employees and over 280 locations in more than 40 countries.

ANDRITZ PULP & PAPER
ANDRITZ Pulp & Paper provides sustainable technology, automation, and service solutions for the production of all types of pulp, paper, board and tissue. The technologies and services focus on maximum utilization of raw materials, increased production efficiency, lower overall operating costs as well as innovative decarbonization strategies and autonomous plant operation. Boilers for power generation, flue gas cleaning systems, various nonwoven technologies, panelboard (MDF) production systems, as well as recycling and shredding solutions for numerous waste materials also form a part of this business area. State-of-the-art IIoT technologies as part of Metris digitalization solutions complete the comprehensive product offering.

AGE Industries provides cost effective KN95 masks that are comfortable and protective

AGE Industries, Ltd, a leading supplier of innovative and custom packaging and shipping solutions for industry and government agencies, offers highly protective KN95 masks that are comfortable and cost effective.

KN95 masks feature 4-layer protection, a step above most masks on the market, which are 1 to 3 layers thick. Further, KN95 masks provide a striking 95% protection against all particles that are greater than 0.3 µm in diameter. This includes bacteria, viruses, pollution particles, fine particles, dust, smog, pollen, and more.

KN95s offer even more protection than cloth masks, confirms the CDC on their website. The CDC also provided an update on January 14th, 2022 removing concerns related to supply shortages for these masks, clarifying that people can in fact choose masks such as N95s and KN95s. Currently approved by the WHO as a safety measure from COVID-19, these masks’ superior protection is the reason why they are used by healthcare providers, patients, and citizens across the globe. KN95 respiratory masks are also regulated by the Chinese government under GB2626-2006, GB262-2019, and GB19083-2010.

KN95 masks offer considerable comfort. They are skin-friendly and do not cause rashes or irritation. KN95 masks also have a 3D foldable design, ear loops, and a nose bridge, allowing them to provide excellent fitting and sealing. The ability for these masks to fit the form of your face leads to better protection and also reduces fogging in glasses. Most other masks on the market do not fit well, leaving gaps near the side of the face and the nose uncovered.  

Providing packages at 20 masks per box and 50 boxes per case, AGE Industries can ship anywhere in the US, Mexico, and Canada and can also deliver globally via AGE Industries or one of its partners. AGE Industries is committed to providing these protective and comfortable masks at affordable prices to people around the world who need them. 

For more information about the AGE Industries, Ltd, visit www.ageindustries.com.

About AGE Industries, Ltd.

Founded by Arthur G. Eltzroth in 1974, AGE offers innovative custom packaging and shipping solutions for private industry and governmental agencies. AGE designs and manufactures corrugated boxes, fiber tubes, and wood crating for Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and New Mexico in the United States. AGE Box de Mexico, based out of Reynosa, Tamps. Mexico, provides custom corrugated packaging and overall packaging solutions for Mexico. AGE meets WBENC, Tx HUB, and CMBL certifications.