Vafos Pulp, a Norwegian producer of unbleached pulp for cardboard manufacturing, will switch its energy-intensive drying process from oil to electricity, greatly reducing the plant’s carbon emissions. The company will replace a nine megawatt (MW) oil-fired boiler with electric heaters, controlled by ABB technology.

• Norwegian pulp plant replaces oil with electricity to eliminate 14,000 tons of CO₂ emissions annually
• ABB power controllers provide precise control of the new air heaters while minimizing their impact on the grid
• Decarbonization effort equivalent to taking 7,000 cars off the road

The Kragerø pulp plant, which produces 80,000 tons of pulp each year, will eliminate 14,000 tons of CO₂ annually from Summer 2022.  That is the equivalent to the annual emissions of approximately 7,000 combustion-engine cars. 

The new air heaters require a significant amount of power and managing them is key to maintaining plant safety, operating efficiently, and minimized downtime. They are controlled by ten ABB DCT880 power controllers to manage the power supplied to the electrical heating elements.

The controllers are mounted in containers and utilize a Power Optimizer feature to create a steady load that minimizes disruption for the local electricity grid. The integration of the systems was a joint effort by ABB and Norwegian system integrators EAS and Actemium Electro.

The DCT880 power controllers are a long-lifetime product and contain the latest control technology and interfaces. This will enable the Kragerø plant operators to control the drying process more precisely than when they used oil. The switch to electricity also means that the facility no longer needs oil storage on site.

“The age of burning heavy oil in Norway is over,” says Roar Paulsrud, CEO of Vafos Pulp. “Customers expect us to be part of the green transition with sustainable production. It is also important that our industry helps reduce emissions here in Norway.”

“The project in Kragerø is a great example of how organizations can decarbonize by using modern electric alternatives,” says Lars-Fredrik Mathiesen, head of ABB Motion in Norway. “As Norway’s grid is being almost entirely powered by renewable energy, moves like this one by Vafos Pulp lead the way for others in industry, and will be key to achieving the government’s goal of cutting CO₂ emissions in half by 2030.”

ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a leading global technology company that energizes the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future. By connecting software to its electrification, robotics, automation and motion portfolio, ABB pushes the boundaries of technology to drive performance to new levels. With a history of excellence stretching back more than 130 years, ABB’s success is driven by about 105,000 talented employees in over 100 countries. www.abb.com 

ABB Motion keeps the world turning - while saving energy every day. We innovate and push the boundaries of technology to enable the low-carbon future for customers, industries and societies. With our digitally enabled drives, motors and services our customers and partners achieve better performance, safety and reliability. We offer a combination of domain expertise and technology to deliver the optimum drive and motor solution for a wide range of applications in all industrial segments. Through our global presence we are always close to serve our customers. Building on over 130 years of cumulative experience in electric powertrains, we learn and improve every day.

The results are clear: Just a few months after Voith's comprehensive digitalization solutions were commissioned at PM 9 in El Burgo, Saica Group's investment in the Papermaking 4.0 package has already paid off. The Spanish paper manufacturer produces around 430,000 tons of paper per year at the facility, located around 25 kilometers from Zaragoza. At the end of 2020, the company decided to digitalize production. After a thoroughly positive experience with the digitalization of PM 4 in Venizel, France, Voith was awarded the contract to implement the project for PM 9, which includes OnCumulus applications and the two solution packages OnView.MassBalance and OnEfficiency.Strength.

• Comprehensive Papermaking 4.0 package for PM 9 in El Burgo
• OnCumulus, OnView.MassBalance and OnEfficiency.Strength enable significant resource savings
• Saica plans to expand its digitalization strategy

"Voith has been a great partner along the digitalization journey in our mills," says Fernando Carroquino, Industrial Director at Saica Group. "Our perception of Voith Paper as one of the main digital solutions provider is reaffirmed every day, and we are very glad with the cooperation with Voith over the last years. We have the full commitment of both companies, which makes us look forward to the next successful cases."

The main goal of OnEfficiency.Strength on a paper machine for container board is to reduce the consumption of starch without negatively affecting the strength properties of the paper. The solution uses virtual sensors as a basis on which innovative advanced process control is built. OnEfficiency.Strength has already proven a high benefit in several references and significantly reduced the product cost. At PM 9, too, the high potential of digitalization became apparent shortly after commissioning.

Fernando Vicente, Production Manager at PM 9 El Burgo, says: "Although the plant has been continuously optimized in recent years, we have now been able to significantly reduce our starch usage in the first few weeks with the help of OnEfficiency.Strength. The tool is very easy to use, and the operators are very motivated to integrate it into their daily work. We are confident that, in the future, savings can be increased even further. Now it is much easier to sustainably achieve the targeted quality at the lowest possible cost."

OnView.MassBalance starts at an earlier point in paper production. The app's data maps the current stock flows in a diagram and depicts deviations from the standard. As soon as a defined threshold is exceeded, the application automatically highlights the relevant area in the diagram and recommends suitable courses of action to avoid fiber losses. In this way, OnView.MassBalance leads to targeted process optimization in stock preparation and provides the operating team with all relevant information if a different process setting is required. Both applications are integrated on Voith's OnCumulus platform. The platform provides users with an overview of all important process parameters, includes several industry-specific applications and also acts as a reliable and secure data repository. Building on the initial positive results, regular meetings are held between the Saica and Voith teams to jointly discuss progress, results and schedules. The goal is to further push the optimization of the system.

Juan Luis Mendoza, Digital Process Officer at Saica, explains how the new solutions have already opened up a whole new perspective: "The integration of OnEfficiency.Strength into the existing automation technology of PM 9 was seamless. This is now reflected in our very positive results. The digital tools support us in achieving our ambitious targets in an intelligent way." For Mendoza, there is no doubt that the company will also implement Voith's Papermaking 4.0 solution on other machines in the coming years.

From Voith’s perspective as the technology partner, the balance of the project is thoroughly positive: "The solution we offered has proven itself and leads to resource important savings with qualitatively consistent results," sums up Renan Fusco, Head of Digital Solutions Sales at Voith Paper. "Voith has clearly positioned itself as a reliable partner on the path to digitalization. This confirms our commitment to continuously advance our products in order to continue to be an innovation driver in paper production."

About the Voith Group
The Voith Group is a global technology company. With its broad portfolio of systems, products, services and digital applications, Voith sets standards in the markets of energy, paper, raw materials and transport & automotive. Founded in 1867, the company today has around 20,000 employees, sales of € 4.3 billion and locations in over 60 countries worldwide and is thus one of the larger family-owned companies in Europe.

The Group Division Voith Paper is part of the Voith Group. As the full-line supplier to the paper industry, it provides the largest range of technologies, services and products on the market and offers paper manufacturers holistic solutions from a single source. The company’s continuous stream of innovations facilitates resource-conserving production and helps customers minimize their carbon footprint. With its leading automation products and digitalization solutions from the Papermaking 4.0 portfolio, Voith offers its customers state-of-the-art digital technologies to improve plant availability and efficiency for all sections of the production process.

The international PulPaper 2022 event for the forest industry will be organised from Tuesday to Thursday, 7 – 9 June 2022 at Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre. The event consists of an exhibition with about 250 participating companies and programme entirely in English. The programme is presented at Future Square on the exhibition area and the event has two paid seminars, the PulPaper Conference and Green Economy Business Summit. The event also offers a multitude of networking opportunities.

The PulPaper event was previously held at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre in the spring of 2018. Virtual pre-PulPaper was held in 2021 as an online event. Now, after four years, it’s possible to meet once again at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre. In connection with the event, an afterwork event will be organised on opening day June 7 on the event area and an evening event on June 8 at Helsinki Music Centre. The PulPaper Award, funded by the Finnish Fair Foundation, will be presented to a Start-up company at the evening event.

Seven companies participate in the Start-up competition

The first stage of the Start-up competition will take place 10.00 AM on Wednesday June 8 at Future Square, while the final will take place at 2.15 PM. The winner will be announced at the evening event. Participants in the first stage are Dry and Durable, Fincet, Montinutra, Natural Antivirals, Silva Trace, Tapio Measurement Technologies and Woodio. The competition brings forth new and significant solutions in the field of forest bioeconomy.

Dry and Durable has developed a water and dirt repellent plastic-free barrier material for packaging. Fincet’s product Tool4pro is an easy-to-use application for industrial work and project management. Montinutra uses sawdust as raw material in the preparation of Sprucegum™ extract for use in the cosmetics, techno chemical and even food industries. Natural Antivirals’ innovation is an antiviral ingredient from Finnish forests used in cosmetics. The user interface developed by Silva Trace shows the logging method, carbon footprint, certificates and other sustainability information that the forest owner wants to share. Tapio Measurement Technologies has developed hardware independent PapEye CloudQCS – SaaS platform for analysis of image and measurement data files. Woodio’s eco-design products are made from a fully water-resistant wood composite designed as an ecological alternative to ceramics and stone materials. The winner will be rewarded with a cash prize of EUR 5,000 funded by the Finnish Fair Foundation.

Top presentations at Future Square, programme free of charge for visitors

The opening speech of PulPaper will be given by Professor Ilkka Kilpeläinen from the University of Helsinki, winner of the Marcus Wallenberg  Prize in 2022. He will speak about the possibilities of wood-based textiles. There will be company presentations on the stage of the event area. The programme is produced by, among others, the forest industry companies Metsä Group, Sappi, Stora Enso and UPM.

The keynote speech on consumer trends, The ”great man” is a little man looking at the good map, will be presented by Professor Mika Pantzar from the University of Helsinki on opening day June 7. New Wood project’s award ceremony will be held on opening day, when it will be announced which wood-based product or service has received the most votes from the public.

Wednesday June 8 introduces the panel discussion From residue to revenue – innovations and solutions from forest and biobased industry. Participants in the discussion are Director Marko Janhunen/Public Affairs UPM, Head of Innovation Åsa Ek/Biomaterials Stora Enso, Director Sarah Price/Sustainability, Sappi Europe and Managing Director Ismo Nousiainen/Metsä Fibre. The panel is facilitated by CEO Teija Konttori from Vision Hunters Oy.

On Thursday June 9, the keynote-speech Succeeding as a woman in a male-dominated industry will be given by motorsport athlete and Formula 1 commentator Emma Kimiläinen.

PulPaper Conference highlights six themes

The themes are IT and Automation, Environment and Sustainability, Safety and Risk Management, New Textile Products, Efficiency and Packaging Solutions. There will be three keynote speakers at the conference. EVP, Head of Division Packaging Materials Hannu Kasurinen from Stora Enso speaks about Key trends in sustainable packaging. The second keynote speech topic is Sustainability leading company strategy presented by EVP, Corporate Responsibility and Public Affairs Riikka Joukio from Kesko. EVP, Head of Management Consulting Roland Lorenz from AFRY is the third keynote speaker with the topic Changes in consumer behavior following COVID pandemic. After the opening presentations, the conference will continue in two parallel sessions with three topical expert presentations on each of the six themes. Participation in the PulPaper Conference costs EUR 380 and tickets can be purchased at www.pulpaper.fi

Green Economy Business Summit for the first time

Aimed at business management and stakeholders, the Green Economy Business Summit opens up green economy from companies’ perspective. At the event there will be discussions about how to ensure adequate economic well-being while reducing the burden on the environment. The summit will be opened by Managing Director Mika Aalto of the Chemical Industry Federation of Finland. The main keynote speech Circular bioeconomy – a sustainable source of growth will be held by Jyrki Katainen, President of Sitra. The second keynote speech Chemicals industry, green transition and resilience for the EU economy will be held via video link by Thierry Breton EU Commissioner for the Internal Market. Kristin Schreiber Director, European Commission will be on site at Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre to answers possible questions.

Participants in the panel discussion How to reach sustainability and climate neutrality at company level are President and CEO Ilkka Hämälä/Metsä Group Oyj, Managing Director Salla Roni-Poranen/Borealis Polymers Oy, EVP, Carbon Neutral Solutions Jussi Manninen/VTT and Home Care Chief R&D Officer Mike Parkington/Unilever. The panel will be facilitated by journalist Katri Makkonen. Green Economy Business Summit’s closing speech will be held by Director, Chief Economist Maarit Lindström from Finnish Forest Industries. Participation in the summit costs EUR 250 and tickets can be purchased beforehand at www.pulpaper.fi.

Messukeskus organises the PulPaper event in cooperation with The Finnish Forest Products Engineers’ Association 7 – 9June 2022. The event is open Wednesday and Thursday 7 – 8 June from 9 AM to 5 PM and Thursday 9 June from 9 AM to 4 PM. Professionals in the business can register to the event free of charge at www.pulpaper.fi.

ChemBio Finland and Helsinki Chemicals Forum for the chemical and biotechnology industry will be organised at the same time, 8 – 9 June 2022, at Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre. Visitors registered for PulPaper can also visit the ChemBio Finland -event.

www.pulpaper.fi

Solenis, a leading global producer of specialty chemicals used in water-intensive industries, has released its 2021 Sustainability Report summarizing the company’s environmental stewardship, social responsibility and governance (ESG) initiatives for the previous fiscal year. The report is available for download at www.solenis.com/en/sustainabilityreport. It’s considered a progress update on company initiatives and baseline data that were first reported from 2020. 

The comprehensive Solenis sustainability report highlights the company’s progress toward environmental stewardship, social responsibility and governance (ESG) goals. “Our goal with the Solenis Sustainability Report is to continue providing transparency about our organization while setting targets and tracking the initiatives that keep us accountable along our sustainability journey,” said CEO John Panichella. 

The 2021 report is based on Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards and has been externally validated by an independent certification agency. Important highlights include: 

• Revisions and prioritization of U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to address gender equality, clean water and sanitation, decent work and economic growth, responsible consumption and production, climate action and partnerships for the goals, such as working with employees to address community needs where Solenis operates. 

• Recognition as a Platinum-rated company by EcoVadis, a leading rating agency in corporate social responsibility and sustainable procurement. The Platinum status indicates that Solenis scored in the Top 1% of chemical companies that were evaluated for sustainability management.  
• Key measures in the category of Well-being, Health and Safety of Our People showed 820 new hires. Globally, female employees make up 24% of the 5,300-employee workforce and 21% of executive leadership positions are held by women. In the U.S., racial/ethnic diversity makes up 37%. These measures are positive indicators that Solenis is focused on diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace and is empowering employees to participate in change and growth.   
• Health and safety metrics showed 30 work sites having lasted at least one year without a recordable injury, 11 sites were injury free for at least 5 years and 4 sites for at least 10 years. 
• Solenis launched several key Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives in the past year, including a diverse pipeline and scholarship program and a women’s leadership sponsorship program. Others included an expansion of employee network groups and a celebration of International Women’s Day, Juneteenth and an International PRIDE event. An Allyship program was also introduced to support an inclusive work environment.  
• Solenis reported on targets and key performance indicators of its sustainability goals that include customer relationships, R&D innovation and digitalization. Each of these goals works as part of a broader initiative to address global issues such as water scarcity, deforestation and climate change.  

“We’re proud to continue showing progress across all of our sustainability efforts and also grateful to learn where we need further emphasis,” said Panichella. “With some of our strongest gains in the area of social performance, along with 820 new hires and a more diverse and more engaged workforce, we are confident we will make further strides toward our goals.” 

To read the 2021 Solenis Sustainability Report and to learn more about the company’s roadmap for sustainability, visit www.solenis.com/en/sustainability/sustainability-roadmap. 

About Solenis 
Solenis is a leading global producer of specialty chemicals, focused on delivering sustainable solutions for water-intensive industries, including the pulp, packaging paper and board, tissue and towel, oil and gas, petroleum refining, chemical processing, mining, biorefining, power, municipal, and pool and spa markets. The company’s product portfolio includes a broad array of water treatment chemistries, process aids and functional additives, as well as state-of-the-art monitoring and control systems. These technologies are used by customers to improve operational efficiencies, enhance product quality, protect plant assets, minimize environmental impact and maintain healthy water. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, the company has 47 manufacturing facilities strategically located around the globe and employs a team of over 6,000 professionals in 120 countries across five continents. Solenis is a 2022 US Best Managed Company. 

For additional information about Solenis, please visit solenis.com

MTC ITF Change is the new machine for the production of interfolded products that is able to change the cut-off format of the product simply by replacing the cassette

Körber Business Area Tissue is introducing to the market MTC ITF Change, the first solution capable of modifying the cut off of the product. By replacing a single cassette it is possible to change the cut format in a simple, fast, and automated way without compromising the quality of the finished product.

MTC ITF Change is the ideal solution for companies that need to develop interfolded sheets of different lengths without losing OEE.

Patented by Körber Business Area Tissue, the MTC ITF Change has only two folding rolls, which the cutting function is incorporated into.

The cassette can be replaced automatically with a few manual operations without the intervention of a specialized operator.

The preparation of the cassette with a different format takes place in advance in the warehouse, outside the machine, and the replacement occurs with a few simple manual operations that do not require the intervention of a skilled worker. The adjustment of the new product with the help of Körber’s Sam systems is completely automated. The MTC Sam reel system reads the characteristics of the parent reel and sends the data to the production line which automatically adapts the operating parameters through dedicated software.

The right vacuum level is self-adjusted with MTC Sam vacuum, and thanks to MTC Sam cut system the operator is no longer responsible for verifying that the cutting blade is in optimal conditions.  If the system detects a quality problem it will send a warning directly via HMI, thereby preventing any product defects, interruptions, or line stoppages.

Another advantage is that the maintenance of MTC ITF Change is performed offline, offering greater convenience for the operator who does not have to intervene inside the machine, allowing a significant reduction in production downtime

“The fold market is constantly evolving according to market trends. Over the years, customers have increasingly expressed the need to be able to customize their offer. To meet this need, and thanks to the experience gained in the interleaved sector, we decided to develop a flexible solution capable of automatically changing the cutting length based on the desired characteristics. The innovative technology created for the fold market will allow our customers to further expand their business “comments Giovacchino Giurlani, Managing Director of Körber Business Area Tissue’s fold division.

Körber Business Area Tissue

At Körber, our ultimate goal is to empower our customers’ ongoing success. We are the only truly integrated and global provider of advanced solutions for the tissue business. We offer the industry’s most comprehensive portfolio of tissue technology to support customers across the entire value chain — from roll to fold, from converting to packaging. Our advanced, automated, and easy-to-use integrated solutions are a fundamental asset to shape the success in tissue, take our customers operations to the next level, and strengthen their overall financial performance while optimizing their total cost of ownership.

About Körber

We are Körber – an international technology group with about 10,000 employees, more than 100 locations worldwide and a common goal: We turn entrepreneurial thinking into customer success and shape the technological change. In the Business Areas Digital, Pharma, Supply Chain, Tissue and Tobacco, we offer products, solutions and services that inspire. We act fast to customer needs, we execute ideas seamlessly, and with our innovations we create added value for our customers. In doing so, we are increasingly building on ecosystems that solve the challenges of today and tomorrow. Körber AG is the holding company of the Körber Group.

Valmet has signed a Heads of Agreement with Circa to industrialize the production of sustainable biochemicals at Circa’s small-scale ReSolute plant in France and future large-scale production plants. Valmet will offer the main machinery and equipment and actively contribute to the development of Circa’s production processes of bio-based renewable solvents. The bio-based solvents will replace harmful petroleum-based solvents used in a wide variety of industries.

“We are very pleased to join forces with Valmet. Cooperation will provide great support for Circa’s growth ambitions and leverage Valmet’s strong focus on driving the green shift. Valmet’s experience with fluidized bed boilers and biomass-to-energy solutions will be a significant resource in successfully realizing and optimizing our production process at scale,” says Tony Duncan, CEO of Circa Group.

“Sustainability is at the core of Valmet’s business strategy and operations. By providing experience and expertise to companies like Circa, Valmet will achieve its goal of converting renewable resources into sustainable results. We have been highly impressed by Circa’s team and ambition and look forward to working closely with them to realize their objectives,” says Bertel Karlstedt, President, Pulp and Energy business line, Valmet.

The ReSolute plant will produce 1,100 tons of bio-based solvent called Cyrene^TM. The agreed long-term objective is to develop deployable modules with a capacity of 10-15 thousand tons per annum. The modules can operate separately or in multiples, depending on local feedstock and supporting infrastructure availability. In the second half of 2022, Valmet and Circa will initiate conceptual engineering for a large-scale plant. Circa’s plan is to reach an annual production capacity of 80,000 tons by 2030.

Valmet will offer equipment for biomass handling, a pyrolysis system and a Valmet CFB Boiler for energy production as well as a Valmet DNA Automation System, first for the ReSolute plant project and later on for the future plants.

Valmet has developed its pyrolysis technology since the 1990s at its pilot plant in Tampere, Finland. In 2013, Valmet supplied the world's largest industrial-scale biomass fast pyrolysis plant to Fortum in Joensuu, Finland.

Information about Circa

Established in 2006, Circa Group converts waste, non-food biomass into advanced bio-based chemicals with its proprietary Furacell™ process. Its developing product portfolio includes flavors, biopolymers, and bio-solvents including Cyrene™, an alternative to traditional polar aprotic solvents. By creating renewable chemicals from cellulose, Circa is extracting value from non-food, surplus biomass and contributing to industry as it transitions to a more circular economy. In March 2021, Circa Group listed on the Euronext Growth Market in Oslo, Norway.

Valmet is a leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. With our automation systems and flow control solutions we serve an even wider base of process industries.

We aim to become the global champion in serving our customers. Our 17,000 professionals work close to our customers and are committed to improving our customers’ performance – every day.

The company has over 220 years of industrial history and a strong track record in continuous improvement and renewal. In 2022, a major milestone was achieved when the flow control company Neles was merged into Valmet. The combined company’s net sales in 2021 was approximately EUR 4.5 billion based on the respective company figures.

Valmet’s shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki and the head office is in Espoo, Finland.    

Follow us on valmet.com

The Sulzer Board of Directors has decided to initiate the process of exiting the Russian market. The sales process will begin with immediate effect and follows Sulzer’s announcement earlier in the year that it had already significantly reduced business activities in Russia.

The Board regrets the necessity of this decision after decades of operations in Russia, but after careful review of the possible options, concludes that it is the best solution for all the stakeholders.  

Sulzer expresses its gratitude to all employees globally for their outstanding engagement in these challenging times and is fully committed to continue supporting its 300 employees in Russia through the process.

Sulzer is a global leader in fluid engineering. We specialize in pumping, agitation, mixing, separation and purification technologies for fluids of all types. Our customers benefit from our commitment to innovation, performance and quality and from our responsive network of 180 world-class manufacturing facilities and service centers across the globe. Sulzer has been headquartered in Winterthur, Switzerland, since 1834. In 2021, our 13’800 employees delivered revenues of CHF 3.2 billion. Our shares are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: SUN). www.sulzer.com

Operations in the areas unimpacted by the fire that broke out on May 7 at Valmet’s Rautpohja factory in Jyväskylä, Finland, will start returning back to normal from the beginning of this week (week 21). It is believed that returning the operations back to normal in these areas will take approximately 1-2 weeks. Valmet is also evaluating the potential need to transfer certain operations to alternative locations mostly in Finland.

The fire did not impact the operations in Engineering, Foundry, Service Center and Pilot machine and the operations have continued in these parts without disruptions.

The official investigations by authorities are continuing in a limited factory area. The investigations are expected to be finalized within the coming weeks. The closure of fire-impacted workshop areas for the duration of the investigations is temporarily impacting the work of approximately 120 employees, which is around 5 percent of the total number of employees at the Rautpohja site. The employee impact of the fire has been mitigated with work re-arrangements, paid absence and holidays.

The impact assessment of the fire to the business continuity and customer deliveries is proceeding, and the final outcome will be known once the official investigations have been concluded and the full scale of the incident is clear. 

“We are proceeding with our ramp up of operations and continuing to mitigate the business impact and co-operate with authorities in the root-cause investigations. We have been able to already deliver first products to our customers from the Rautpohja factory after the incident and our supplier network is operating normally again,” says Jari Vähäpesola, President, Paper business line, Valmet.

Valmet’s Rautpohja factory in Jyväskylä produces paper and board machines, pulp drying machine wet ends and special components. Valmet employs approximately 1,850 people at the Rautpohja site.

Valmet is a leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. With our automation systems and flow control solutions we serve an even wider base of process industries.

We aim to become the global champion in serving our customers. Our 17,000 professionals work close to our customers and are committed to improving our customers’ performance – every day.

The company has over 220 years of industrial history and a strong track record in continuous improvement and renewal. In 2022, a major milestone was achieved when the flow control company Neles was merged into Valmet. The combined company’s net sales in 2021 was approximately EUR 4.5 billion based on the respective company figures.

Valmet’s shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki and the head office is in Espoo, Finland.    

Follow us on valmet.com

ABB has built on its established relationship with Cheng Loong Corporation by securing a contract to bring its L&W Autoline automated paper testing solution to a mill in Vietnam. 

• Moving from manual testing to ABB’s L&W Autoline solution will help Cheng Loong Corporation improve quality and save time
• Contract with paper mill follows previous order in customer’s Taiwan HQ

Cheng Loong Binh Duong Paper Company’s mill in the southeast of Vietnam will now have the market’s fastest and most reliable automated paper testing solution to deliver accurate and repeatable quality reports in minutes. The L&W Autoline will be fitted with modules for thickness, tensile stiffness orientation (TSO), moisture, bursting strength and grammage measurements – improving quality and saving time when compared to stand-alone laboratory testing.

Automated paper testing has traditionally been less common in the Asian market compared to other parts of the world. However, usage is increasing with double the installations in Southeast Asia over recent years, underscoring the need for expedited quality feedback that today’s operations require. Automated paper testing generates frequent, reliable quality information and allows faster process corrections due to quicker tests and more data points.

Technician working with the L&W Autoline user interface

The upgrade will replace the mill’s manual laboratory testing, which, despite confirming final product quality does not capture all irregularities nor is produced in real time. 

“We were already aware of ABB’s capabilities, and professional consultancy, from other Cheng Loong sites, said Ming-Chun yu, Quality Control Section Supervisor, Cheng Loong Binh Duong Paper Company. “We knew that we needed to make the move to automated paper testing and the L&W Autoline to help us reach our mill’s objectives. We look forward to reaping the benefits of the time savings, increased quality control checks and flexibility in our production.”

“With increased production a key focus for their future, we were convinced that Cheng Loong Binh Duong Paper Company’s mill would benefit the most from automating paper testing to keep up with the new demands,” said Karin Hermansson, Global Product Line Manager, Laboratory Testing and Industry Instrumentation, ABB. “The Binh Duong mill will now have a competitive advantage in its ability to consistently produce a high-quality product while optimizing operational costs. We’re proud to be part of their journey with ABB’s L&W Autoline solution.”

While Cheng Loong’s new containerboard machines (BM2) will make use of the S model, which has space for six automated testing modules; ABB also offers the L&W Autoline L with space for 13 modules. Both models can handle everything from sample preparation to the final reel report with minimal operator involvement, all conforming to industry standards and improving mill efficiency.