Displaying items by tag: valmet

Forming fabrics have an essential role in water drainage in the wire section of a paper machine. By introducing the new generation's polarized forming fabrics, Valmet revolutionized water drainage in the wire section.

"Our polarized forming fabrics have been piloted in paper-machines for over a year now. After the polarized technology entered the market in 2016, we have seen its advantages through our customers' performance. The machines run cleaner, number of breaks is reduced, retention is higher, just to mention a few. The unique polarized structure makes a big difference in the fabric performance compared to what we have seen before," says Pekka Kortelainen, Product Technology Manager at Valmet.

Drainage with standard SSB fabric

Polarized structure improves the machine runnability and performance

Traditionally, all SSB (sheet support binding) fabrics have had direct drainage channels. In the polarized structure, the machine direction yarns on both the paper side and the roll side are shifted to form an off-stacked structure. This special structure removes the direct drainage channels traditionally used in forming fabrics.

"The unique polarized structure allows controlled initial drainage in the paper-making process. That improves retention and helps keeping the machine clean. Good runnability and cleanliness reduce breaks and therefore increase production capacity remarkably. Cost-savings are created by for example being able to use less chemicals," explains Kortelainen.

Diffuse drainage with polarized fabric

Customer satisfaction on an excellent level

To this date Valmet has sold about 300 polarized Valmet Forming Fabrics and over 90% of the customers who have tested the new fabric type have seen its benefits and continued to run it on their machines.

"Our target was to further improve formation without losing our good dewatering, and already the first trials proved the advantages of the polarized structures. We were able to significantly improve formation as we wanted, but the cleanliness and runnability were also good, and the dry content remained excellent. Since that first trial, those polarized fabrics have become our standard Valmet design fabrics. Valmet has been Parenco's key partner in paper machine clothing for over 30 years, and we truly appreciate their support and excellent services," says Yan Vassart, Operations Manager at Parenco in Netherlands.

The polarized structure can be utilized in all SSB forming fabric types, which makes it suitable for all paper machines.

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 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.

Valmet will supply a complete tissue production line, including Focus rewinder and an extensive automation package to Crown Paper Mill (CPM) in Abu Dhabi. The new Advantage DCT 200HS line will fulfill the company's demand of new capacity of high quality tissue products for the Middle East market. Start-up is planned for the second half of 2018.

The order is included in Valmet's third quarter 2017 orders received. The value of the order is not disclosed.

"Besides the well-known fact that Valmet is a global leader in the pulp and paper industry, Valmet ensures that their machines are equipped with the latest technology, which is why Crown Paper Mill opted for the DCT 200 tissue machine.  CPM believes that after the successful completion of the factory's expansion, CPM will anchor its position as the leading tissue jumbo roll manufacturer in the region," Mr. Abdullah Al Khateeb, Managing Director of CPM.

"We are proud that our capability to supply complete tissue mill equipment with superior technology, e.g. Advantage ViscoNip press and Advantage ReTurne energy recovery system, were considered as important success factors for customer's future expansion plans.  We are excited to support CPM's expansion plans and their ambition to provide high-quality products to their customers," Kent Nika, Sales Manager, Valmet.

Technical information about the delivery

The new tissue machine will have a width of 5.6 m and a design speed of 2,000 m/min and will add 65,000 tons tissue paper per year to Crown Paper Mill's current production of high-quality facial, toilet tissue and kitchen towels.

Valmet's scope of delivery will comprise a complete tissue production line featuring stock preparation systems, an Advantage DCT 200HS tissue machine and Focus Rewinder line. The machine is equipped with OptiFlo headbox and Valmet cast alloy Yankee cylinder as well as the Advantage technology including ViscoNip press, ReTurne energy recovery system, AirCap hood, WetDust dust system and SoftReel reel. The delivery also includes an extensive automation package with Valmet DNA, process controls and Valmet IQ quality controls. Complete engineering, installation, supervision, training, start-up and commissioning is also included in the delivery.

Information about the customer

Crown Paper Mills LLC is a producer of Jumbo tissue paper rolls. The mill has an annual production capacity of 35,000 tons of tissue for facial, toilet, kitchen, towel, napkin, C-fold and carrier grades for the UAE market and surrounding region.

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 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.

Mr. Xiangdong Zhu (B.Sc. (Eng.), MBA) has been appointed Area President of Valmet's China area as of 1 October, 2017. He will be a member of Valmet's Executive Team and report to President and CEO Pasi Laine.

Xiangdong Zhu is currently employed at Valmet as Vice President, Services in China. He has a long background at Valmet spanning in total 17 years in different management positions. During his career he has also worked in management positions at Stora Enso and Voith Paper in China. Xiangdong Zhu has gained wide experience from the businesses and customer industries that are at Valmet's strategic core - large process technology projects, automation and services to pulp, paper and energy industries. He has a good track record in managing and developing local teams and competences as well as in growing a profitable business.  

"It is a pleasure to welcome Xiangdong Zhu to our Executive Team to develop Valmet's China operations and customer relations further. He has a good background in versatile line management positions, strong experience from our core businesses and an excellent China market understanding," says Pasi Laine, President and CEO of Valmet.

As announced in July, Mr. Aki Niemi, the current Area President, China will start as Business Line President, Services at Valmet as of October 1, 2017.

Xiangdong Zhu's CV

Xiangdong Zhu has been appointed China Area President as of October 1, 2017. Prior to that he has been employed as Vice President, Services, China at Valmet (2013-2017), Vice President, Automation at Voith Paper China (2011-2012) and Vice President, Capital Sales and Application at Voith Paper China (2012-2013). Mr. Zhu has worked in many management positions at Valmet Automation in China: Country Manager (2007-2011), Sales Director (2004-2006) and Sales Manager (1998-2003).  Mr. Zhu worked as Department Manager, Automation and Electrification at Stora Enso (Suzhou) Paper Co. Ltd (1992-1998) and as Engineer in Suzhou Signal and Communication Department of Shanghai Railway Bureau (1989-1992). Mr. Zhu holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Automation and Master of Business Administration degree (MBA).

Valmet has opened a new service center in Cikarang, located 30 kilometers from Jakarta on the island of Java in Indonesia to serve its customers in the Asia Pacific area. The inauguration ceremony was held on September 27^th, 2017 and was attended by customers, local authorities and Valmet's management.

"Indonesia and the whole Asia Pacific area is a fast-growing market and Valmet has many big projects ongoing in the area. Establishing a service center close to customers is an important step in strengthening our local presence. We are now able to serve our customers in Indonesia and the Asia Pacific area better than ever before," states Hannu T. Pietilä, Area President, Asia Pacific at Valmet.

Inauguration ceremony at Cikarang Service Center

Valmet's Indonesian service center offers services to improve the reliability and performance of the customers' processes in the energy, pulp and paper industries. Through the center Valmet provides its customers also with new technologies to take their production to the next level. The Indonesian service center's range of offering comprises among others roll services, fiber line services, field services, machine section upgrades and improvement projects.

"The Indonesian service center supports Valmet's strategy to be close to customers and growth markets and to move our customers' performance forward in line with Valmet's new services approach called Shared Journey Forward.  We can provide significant customer benefits by utilizing our expertise in process technology, automation and services, and by continuously developing our local and remote services," says Jukka Tiitinen, Business Line President, Services at Valmet.

Cikarang. Indonesia Service Center

The new service center is the latest addition to Valmet's global network of over 100 service centers. The new center employs more than 100 Valmet professionals.

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 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.

Valmet launches a new scanner, Valmet IQ Converting Scanner, at Labelexpo Europe 2017 in Brussels, Belgium. It complements Valmet's quality management control concept for self-adhesive laminates and other paper and board converting machines.

"With IQ Converting Scanner, we can maximize customer benefits, namely high and stable quality as well as excellent productivity. The solution enables the use of Valmet IQ CD/MD controls to lift process control to a new level for converting lines," says Mikko Talonen, Business Manager, Automation, Valmet.

Valmet IQ Converting Scanner

Valmet IQ Converting Scanner can be easily installed in different process locations, thanks to its innovative sensor support technology. The scanner enables direct adhesive and silicone measurements as well as moisture measurements to be positioned in an optimum process location from a quality and performance point of view.

The new scanner with online measurements enables the utilization of machine and cross-direction controls for moisture, adhesive and silicone in converting machines. These control solutions improve and stabilize the end-product quality, decrease the amount of broke and allow operators to concentrate on quality management and production optimization.

A comprehensive quality management solution for self-adhesive laminate machines

Valmet offers a comprehensive quality management solution for self-adhesive laminate machines. The solution features a wide range of online quality measurements to get accurate and fast information from the process, web inspection and monitoring systems to help detect quality defects and identify their root causes. It also includes a water spray system to control curl and moisture levels, as well as CD/MD controls.

All IQ solution components are based on Valmet's extensive process knowledge and experience in the pulp & paper industry and backed by expert services.

Labelexpo Europe 2017, the largest event for the label and package printing industry in Europe, will be held at Brussels Expo in Brussels, Belgium, on 25-28 September 2017. Valmet will be exhibiting at stand 5D51.

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 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.

Valmet has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) for the fourth consecutive year and thus maintains its position among the world's sustainability leaders. Valmet was listed both in the Dow Jones Sustainability World and Europe indices.

The annual evaluation conducted by a Swiss investment specialist RobecoSAM comprehensively reviews the companies performance with regard to social, environmental and financial factors. This year in total 320 companies are included in the DJSI World for 2017-2018.

"Being listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability World and Europe Indices for the fourth time in a row is a recognition of Valmet's strong focus and consistent progress in sustainability. This is also an acknowledgement to our 12,000 employees globally, because through their work we are continuously improving our sustainability performance. Sustainability is at the core of our business, and we will continue our systematic work with our sustainability agenda," says Pasi Laine, President and CEO of Valmet.

Valmet defined its sustainability agenda named Sustainability360º initially in early 2014. The agenda focuses on five core areas: sustainable supply chain; health, safety and environment; people and performance; sustainable solutions, and corporate citizenship.

About the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices

The DJSI is a sustainability index family which includes the global sustainability leaders across industries. The company inclusion is based on a best-in-class approach, which means that the indices only include the top ranked companies within each industry. The index serves as a benchmark for investors who are committed to ethical investing and review companies' sustainability performance as part of their analyses.

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 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.

Valmet will deliver a new gravity feed chipper to Sappi Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd Ngodwana. The upgrade targets are to increase the chipping capacity, to maintain or improve chip quality and minimize wood losses. The chipper will be delivered and installed in May 2018 and the start-up is planned for the beginning of June 2018.

The order was included in Valmet's second quarter 2017 orders received. The value of the order will not be disclosed.

"Valmet came up with a unique solution to 'swop' out the existing chipper with a new larger chipper by not requiring any major concrete works changes allowing for a short shut-down duration to install the new chipper, thus enabling minimal operation down time," says Ryno Eksteen, Senior Regional Project Manager at Sappi.

"South Africa has been a successful market area for Valmet's wood handling business and with this delivery we continue our positive trend. The Valmet sales team concentrated on optimizing the solution for a demanding raw material and minimizing the payback time for Sappi," says Jussi Taskinen, Manager R&D, Product Portfolio & Strategy at Valmet"

Details about the order

The order consists of a Camura GS1050 chipper with auxiliaries and a screen extension, including machinery, erection, commissioning, training and start-up supervision. Mechanical installation is also carried out by Valmet.

About Sappi Ngodwana mill

The Ngodwana mill has been in operation since 1966 and entered the dissolving wood pulp market in 2013. The mill produces paper grade pulp for own and for market consumption, as well as newsprint, containerboard and dissolving wood pulp. The mill produces 330,000 tons of paper pulp for own consumption, 210,000 tons of dissolving wood pulp and 380,000 tons of paper (newsprint and kraft linerboard used for packaging) per annum. 70% of the mill's product is exported and the balance is used locally.

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 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.

Valmet will start a reshaping of its internal Information Technology (IT) services to improve the operations' efficiency and business focus. The set of actions to be taken include a business transfer agreement signed with CGI. Under the agreement Valmet's internal IT Service Desk, end user support and most infrastructure services, including server management, workstation management and end user computing, will be moved from Valmet and their current partners to CGI.

The transfer agreement concerns 58 current Valmet IT employees globally, who will be offered to transfer to CGI or its partner with similar terms. The transfer is targeted to become effective on October 1 and the full transfer project is to be closed by the end of March 2018.

This reshaping of Valmet's IT services will allow more resources to focus on developing digital capabilities that support the future development of the company. Valmet IT's focus will be shifted from running current services to developing new competences and services. A global IT platform will be created to ensure a harmonized way of working, and additional focus will also be put on more effective IT services and supplier management.

 "With these actions we will improve the performance and efficiency of our internal IT operations. Our IT resources will be able to increase focus on building the competences and ways to operate necessary for Valmet's future development. Transferring the IT infrastructure services, including service desk, after a thorough evaluation process to CGI is one of the key steps to enable this transformation," says Janne Puustinen, Vice President, Information Technology, Valmet.

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.

Read more www.valmet.com, www.twitter.com/valmetglobal

CGI is one of the largest IT and business process services providers in the world. Founded in 1976, it has some 70,000 professionals and hundreds of locations worldwide. CGI had a revenue of CAD 10.7 billion in 2016.

Metsä Group's bioproduct mill in Äänekoski was started up on August 15, 2017. Valmet's delivery to the mill included a recovery boiler, pulp drying line, gasification plant, lime kiln, sulfuric acid plant, and mill-wide Valmet DNA automation system.

All the equipment delivered by Valmet represent the latest technology and are highly energy-efficient. The gasification technology and recovery boiler will maximize the use of bioenergy and make the pulp mill totally fossil fuel-free. The recovery boiler, pulp drying line and lime kiln are the largest in Europe.

The construction of the mill was started in April 2015. The project proceeded as planned and was started up exactly on schedule. Safety was one of the special focus areas in the project. Valmet also emphasized safety onsite with special HSE experts and in contractor cooperation. As a result, Valmet's safety performance onsite was on a very good level for a project of this magnitude.

"This project has been important for us both from the technology and employment perspective. Majority of the technology provided by Valmet was engineered and manufactured in Tampere, Jyväskylä, Ulvila and Raisio. It is our pleasure to rise to the challenge, when a customer like Metsä Group is taking the industry forward with investments of this magnitude. Success in a project like this is made possible by close cooperation between the two parties. Our cooperation has been open and constructive, and we have worked together to find the right solutions," says Bertel Karlstedt, Pulp and Energy Business Line President from Valmet.

"We have a long experience of co-operating with Valmet in our pulp mills in Finland. Throughout the project Valmet has been a good and innovative partner when building the world-class bioproduct mill in Äänekoski," says Timo Merikallio, Project Director, Metsä Group.

Largest investment of the forest industry in Finland

The new bioproduct mill in Äänekoski is the largest investment of the forest industry in Finland. Metsä Group's total investment amounted to approximately EUR 1.2 billion. The mill will achieve its nominal capacity approximately a year after start-up. The mill will produce 1.3 million tonnes of pulp per year, along with other bioproducts such as tall oil and turpentine. New bioproducts that already complement the product concept include product gas from bark, sulphuric acid from the mill's odorous gases, and biogas and biofuel pellets from sludge.

 Äänekoski bioproduct mill. Photo Metsä Group

Details about Valmet's technology delivery to Äänekoski bioproduct mill

Physically the largest of the Valmet delivered equipment is the recovery boiler. The boiler is designed for a capacity of 7,200 tds/d (tonnes dry solids a day). The Äänekoski recovery boiler has multiple high-power features, including patented heat recovery from flue gas to combustion air, enabling the mill to produce 260 MW of electricity and sell 1.4 times more electricity to the grid than it needs for its own operation.

The produced pulp is dried in the pulp drying line, where the pulp web is formed, pressed and dried before being cut into bales.

Individual 250 kg bales are wrapped and consolidated into 2,000 kg units for transportation.

Valmet DNA automation system is the process control and information system for the whole bioproduct mill, and has machine and drive controls for the drying machine. It is also possible to expand the system with additional control and Industrial Internet systems.

At the biomass gasification plant bark is dried using a patented double-layer drying process with material recirculation. Dried bark is gasified to make product gas, which is then used as the fuel in the lime kiln.

Active lime is regenerated in the lime kiln using biofuels. A stationary product cooler is setting new standards for recovering process heat.

The sulfuric acid plant represents Valmet's latest innovations and has been specially developed for this kind of mill. The new technology, which produces sulfuric acid from odorous gases, will enable the bioproduct mill to be nearly self-sufficient in sulfuric acid.

Information about the customer Metsä Group

Metsä Group is a forerunner in sustainable bioeconomy utilising renewable wood from sustainably managed northern forests. Metsä Group focuses on wood supply and forest services, wood products, pulp, fresh fibre paperboards and tissue and cooking papers. Metsä Group's sales totalled EUR 4.7 billion in 2016, and it employs approximately 9,300 people. The Group operates in some 30 countries. Metsäliitto Cooperative is the parent company of Metsä Group and is owned by approximately 104,000 Finnish forest owners

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.