Displaying items by tag: valmet corporation

Valmet will supply Burgo Ardennes with a batch cooking plant for its pulp mill in Virton, Belgium. The order is included in Valmet's second quarter of 2018 orders received. The value of the order will not be disclosed. The start-up of the cooking plant is planned for the beginning of 2020.

"The new cooking plant will improve pulp characteristics and utilize wood raw material in a more efficient way. Additionally, we will improve local environment around the mill, mainly the odor, and reduce the energy consumption within the process area," says Michel Hartman, Mill manager at Burgo Ardennes mill in Virton.

"Valmet continues to bring valuable solutions to our pulp customers. This delivery shows once again the strength of our cooking technology portfolio," says Patrik Lidbäck, Sales Manager, Pulp and Energy Valmet.

Burgo Ardennes pulp mill, Burgo Group

Details about Valmet's delivery

Valmet's scope of supply includes a new batch cooking plant with auxiliaries, such as platforms, piping and instrumentation. The installation of the supplied equipment, the commissioning and start-up services are also included.

About the customer Burgo Ardennes

Burgo Group is one of Europe's leading producers of coated and specialty papers. The Burgo Ardennes mill has been producing pulp since 1964, and since 1994 been a part of Burgo S.p.A. The production capacity is 380,000 tons per year of pulp, which is used for the mill's own paper production while the remaining part is sold on the pulp market.

A new operator interface for Valmet's successful paper testing system Paper Lab opens new opportunities for users by making automated paper testing more accessible, faster and even easier to use with minimum training. Paper Lab is suitable for testing all grades of paper and board with a wide selection of industry standard paper quality tests.

The new interface makes entering sample data quick and easy with an integrated barcode reader with graphic and dynamic display pages guiding the user through every step of the testing process. Commissioning is simplified with faster customized configuration and very little training is required to take advantage of Paper Lab's comprehensive testing capabilities. The new interface is also available as an upgrade for current Paper Lab users. Those supplied prior to 2009 require the newer measurement frame but retain the ability to utilize most of their existing test modules.

"Valmet Paper Lab is under continuous development but will always combine the latest technology and be compatible with most measurement modules. New users as well as those upgrading older systems will benefit from the widest selection of testing modules, as well as faster and easier testing in addition to better connectivity to LIMS, DCS, QCS, and information/enterprise wide systems," says Tuomo Kälkäjä, Business Manager, Paper Testing.

Based on the Valmet Analyzer Client, the new Paper Lab operator interface is Linux based, offering lower lifetime costs, improved security and open source freedom from 3^rd party licensing. Better diagnostics and a live view of testing operations improve the user experience and builds operator confidence whether used in laboratory or on the machine floor.

Valmet Paper Lab is a modular and scalable automated paper testing system for grades of paper and board. With the widest selection of industry standard tests on the market, reporting can detail over 400 properties. The testing system is based on more than 30 years of automated paper testing experience with almost 300 units delivered to paper and board mills around the world. The new Paper Lab provides an easy to learn and intuitive tool for paper property testing which together with Valmet Industrial Internet remote support can take automated laboratory to a new level of performance.

Valmet has made the decision to build a Service Center in Chile to further develop its local presence close to customers in South America. Valmet's new Service Center will be located in Concepcion province and it will be in operation by mid-2019.

The new Valmet Service Center will focus on the manufacturing of spare parts and the recovery of equipment for the pulp, paper and fiberboard industries and it will employ about 55 people.

"With a strong forestry based economy, Chile is an important market area for Valmet with customers in the pulp, paper, board, tissue and energy industries. Valmet has consistently strengthened its operations and competences in the country. Now it became the time to go one step further to better serve our customers by making the decision to invest in the new Valmet Service Center in Concepcion. With this step, we also show in concrete terms how serious we take our commitment to be close to our customers," says Celso Tacla, Area President, South America, at Valmet.

"Our customers will strongly benefit from this new Service Center. With the new Service Center, it will be possible to reduce the delivery time of our deliveries and have the needed expertise more easily available. Additionally, our Chilean customers will be closer to the best of Valmet technologies and products," says Elio Krummenauer, Valmet's Special Projects Director in South America.

Valmet's new Service Center in Concepcion is in line with Valmet's Shared Journey Forward service approach which aims to provide our customers the best service experience with our services offering for process reliability and to move their performance forward. 

Besides the new Service Center that will be located in Concepcion, Valmet has another three centers in South America all of them located in Brazil. Valmet has in total 120 service centers around the world.

This summer, nearly 400 students will work as summer trainees in Valmet's locations in Finland. Additionally, young people from elementary and high schools will work at the company through a Finnish summer job program aimed at getting to know working life.

Valmet will employ summer trainees in 16 locations, with the largest number of trainees located in Tampere and Jyväskylä. Most of the summer employees, over 220, will work in engineering, customer service, sales, marketing, product development and financial administration. Around 40 percent of the summer trainees will be employed in the production facilities.

"We are excited to welcome so many young people to join us as trainees for the summer. We can offer them a great opportunity to learn new skills and gain working experience in a global, rapidly developing company. In return, the trainees provide us with new approaches and fresh ideas. We hope that this experience will inspire and motivate our trainees to become future professionals in the pulp, paper and power industry as well as automation," says Julia Macharey, Senior Vice President, Human Resources at Valmet.

Valmet supports the Responsible Summer Job 2018 campaign

For the fourth consecutive year, Valmet is participating in the Responsible Summer Job campaign organized by T-Media and the Economic Information Office (TAT) in cooperation with corporate partners. The target of the campaign is to challenge companies to increase the amount and quality of summer jobs offered in Finland. Valmet wants to promote responsible practices to ensure the trainee periods are safe and fair, and to give meaningful opportunities and experience to the trainees.

Valmet will supply a tissue machine restart-up package to Xiamen Sin Yang Paper TM1 in China. The delivery will include necessary project management, maintenance, spare parts and start-up of a tissue machine idled in 2014 and originally delivered by Valmet. The start-up is scheduled for July 2018.

This order is first of the kind for Valmet in China area. Zihou Song, Senior Manager, Mill Improvements from Valmet says: "This is a very challenging project due to tight time schedule, but at the same time very exciting new kind of a project for us that strengthens our services to tissue customers in China."

Valmet has upgraded its Tissue Technology Center in Karlstad, Sweden, to give the world's tissue producers a wider variety of technical solutions and configurations to support the demands of tissue making today and tomorrow. It will also provide new ways to utilize the Industrial Internet and advanced automation solutions to bring new insights about tissue production, as well as to give more detailed analysis, and information about the end-product quality.

The Tissue Technology Center is a unique resource for cultivation and realization of ideas, innovations and verifying new technology or machine configurations. It is used for both Valmet's own development and customer trials. Recently the center celebrated its 1,000th customer trial. The pilot center is also utilized by pulp, chemical and clothing companies supplying to the tissue industry.

"The upgraded pilot center can offer a renewed and even more flexible pilot machine to support our customers in their ambition to develop solutions that will take this industry to the next level. It can easily be adjusted to cover tissue making processes for conventional, textured and structured grades" says Karl-Johan Tolfsson, Manager, Tissue Technology Center, Valmet.

Tissue Pilot in Karlstad Sweden

Tools to monitor and improve quality, runnability and efficiency

The current quality control systems on the pilot tissue machine have been replaced and complemented by the Valmet IQ quality management system. The new system contains online non-nuclear weight, moisture and softness measurements. It also includes two Valmet IQ Scanners and a dilution profiler with cross-direction control. Machine direction controls integrate fast responding wet end process and dry end feedback controls to achieve increased performance in tissue quality control. Valmet IQ Reporting provides users easy access to production and history data.

"With the renewed quality management system, we are able to get faster and more accurate information. The addition of the web monitoring and inspection system also enables the monitoring of the visual end product quality that was not possible before," says Marko Toskala, Director, Quality Management Systems, Automation, Valmet.

The Valmet IQ Web Monitoring System records video images of crucial events in the process, such as web breaks, tail feeding and defects triggered by the IQ Web Inspection System. Recorded images are available for playback, enabling operators to quickly find the origin of the event and correct the problem. This shortens downtime after breaks and improves runnability. Optimized machine efficiency delivers fast payback on investment.

The upgrade includes stock preparation and wet end measurement solutions providing tissue makers with new tools to improve quality, runnability and efficiency. The Valmet Wet End Analyzer (Valmet WEM) combines all relevant wet end variables for a total wet end management solution. Measured variables include charge, chemistry (pH, temperature, conductivity and redox), total and ash consistency, total and ash retention and ash content, all in one analyzer. A Valmet Fiber Image Analyzer (Valmet FS5), designed for routine paper mill laboratory and laboratory research, offers a comprehensive set of automated fiber measurements and the possibility to make the information easily available and useful.

Information about Tissue Technology Center

Tissue Technology Center provides access to a full sized, flexible pilot machine, a well-equipped and organized paper and fiber testing laboratory as well as wide technology and process expertise. The Center can also provide support from a wide network of know-how in the field of tissue making, such as pulp, chemistry, felts, wires, belts, creping etc. The pilot machine and auxiliary systems are designed and equipped for full flexibility to meet the tissue makers' every need.

The Tissue Technology Center is located in Karlstad, Sweden with Valmet's technology resources near at hand.

Valmet and Georgia-Pacific have entered into a licensing agreement covering the eTAD(TM) tissue making technology. Under the license agreement, Valmet will market, manufacture and install Advantage eTAD machines for tissue customers outside North America.

The eTAD(TM) technology was developed by Georgia-Pacific.The company has three eTAD(TM) machines operating in North America; the latest two re-built by Valmet in 2012. The machines are running in full eTAD(TM) configuration and producing structured tissue and towel with high quality and absorbency. The eTAD(TM) concept provides an ultra-premium product with high bulk to fiber ratio in combination with low energy and water consumption. The concept is also capital efficient.

Advantage-eTAD

"We are very excited about this agreement that will support our strategy to provide tissue making solutions that offer top quality tissue with sustainable production. Valmet and its customers will have the possibility to make trial runs on Georgia-Pacific's pilot eTAD(TM) machine, and also bring customers to reference visits at mills with operating eTAD(TM) machines. This agreement will further strengthen our product portfolio and ensure that we are able to provide tissue machine concepts covering the whole product range," says Jan Erikson, VP Sales, Tissue Mills Business Unit, Valmet.

"This technology meets consumer needs for premium qualities in tissue products, including softness and absorbency," says Kurt Adams, Vice President, R&D, Georgia-Pacific. "We are pleased to license eTAD(TM) technology to Valmet as we recognize the value-creating potential of offering this technology more broadly."

About Georgia-Pacific

Based in Atlanta, Georgia-Pacific and its subsidiaries are among the world's leading manufacturers and marketers of bath tissue, paper towels and napkins, tableware, paper-based packaging, office papers, cellulose, specialty fibers, nonwoven fabrics, building products and related chemicals. The company operates nearly 200 facilities and employs approximately 35,000 people directly, and creates nearly 92,000 jobs indirectly.

Valmet will supply a high-speed containerboard making line for a customer in Zhejiang province, China. The board production line is designed to produce high-quality recycled fluting grades and the start-up is scheduled for the end of year 2019.

The order is included in Valmet's second quarter of 2018 orders received. The value of the order will not be disclosed. The total value of an order of this type and scope is typically around EUR 25-35 million.

The customer's goal for the project is to increase its capacity and market share. "The customer is growing strongly and wants to achieve larger market share with more production capacity and a bigger production machinery. Valmet's strong references convinced the customer to choose our reliable and high-performing technology. One differentiating and decisive factor was Valmet's new type of a spray sizer," says Fan Ze, Vice President, Capital Sales, China, Valmet.

Technical details about the delivery

Valmet's delivery includes a complete containerboard making line with broke collection, approach flow system, an OptiFlo Foudrinier headbox, an OptiFormer Hybrid forming section with shoe and blade technology, an OptiPress Center press section, an OptiRun dryer section, OptiAir Hood high humidity hood, an OptiSizer Spray sizer with related supply system and surface size preparation system, ventilation equipment for board machine, and an OptiReel Pope reel. The delivery includes also Valmet IQ quality measurement system (QMS).

The 7,250-mm-wide (wire) board machine will produce recycled fluting grades with the basis weight range of 60-40 g/m². The design speed of the machine will be 1,400 m/min.

Valmet will supply a containerboard making line for Hamburger Rieger GmbH at its Spremberg Mill in Germany. The new production line (PM 2) including Valmet's automation solutions will be designed to produce high-quality testliner grades based on 100% recycled paper.

With the new high performance boardmaking machine producing products of a wide basis weight range, Hamburger aims to further strengthen its position in the growing European containerboard business. The start-up of the machine is scheduled for mid-2020.

The order is included in Valmet's second quarter of 2018 orders received. The value of the order will not be disclosed. The total value of an order of this type is typically around EUR 70-90 million.

"The ability to show good references is always an important factor when a customer chooses a supplier. This was also crucial for Hamburger when they decided to make an agreement with Valmet. Valmet's technology delivers high productivity, resource efficiency, excellent quality and low operating costs. We have built up a good and close relationship with Hamburger over the years. This forms an optimal foundation for an excellent project and a strong reference for Valmet in Europe," says Vesa Simola, EMEA Area President of Valmet.

After signing the contract, from left: Werner Ofenböck, Jan Hagen (both from Hamburger), Harri Heikkilä (Valmet), Harald Ganster (Hamburger), Vesa Simola (Valmet), Cord Prinzhorn (Hamburger) and Marko Oinonen (Valmet)

Technical details about the delivery

Valmet's delivery will include a new high-capacity containerboard machine from headbox to reel followed by an OptiWin Pro winder. The winder was selected because it gives high capacity due to its proactive winding geometry and faster sequences. The winder is equipped with Dual Unwind giving even higher capacity because the parent rolls can be changed in only one minute. The machine will be delivered with a fabrics package. The automation solution includes Valmet IQ quality measurement system and Valmet DNA process control system. The delivery will also include process support for six months after the start-up. The goal of the support period is production and quality development.

The 8,600-mm wide (wire) containerboard machine will produce uncoated white and brown testliner and white top testliner grades with a basis weight range of 90-180 g/m². The design speed of the machine will be 1,500 m/min and the capacity 500,000 tonnes annually.

About the customer Hamburger Rieger

Hamburger Rieger is part of the Hamburger Containerboard Division within the Austrian Prinzhorn Group. Hamburger Rieger is the market leader in the segment of white coated corrugates base paper. With 2 million tonnes and seven plants, Hamburger Containerboard ranks among Europe's leading manufacturers of premium corrugated base paper. With its 6,600 employees in 15 countries, the Prinzhorn Group is a European market leader in the packaging, paper and recycling industry. The family owned and managed Prinzhorn Group has its headquarters in Vienna, Austria.

Valmet-delivered, a completely new type of a sizer, OptiSizer Hard, with related chemical systems were successfully started up at Propapier PM1 GmbH Burg mill in Germany a day ahead of schedule on April 19, 2018. The production line PM1 produces liner, fluting and kraft substitutes grades based on 100% waste paper. Thanks to a very good cooperation and a purposeful project work, all the produced containerboards have been saleable from the very start.

Good results from day one

A prototype product and a very tight shut-down schedule is a challenging combination. Despite the initial setup, most of the targets were achieved right after the start-up. The web passed through the nip smoothly and runnability was excellent. The new technology shows already a great potential to achieve the goals regarding strength properties and steam consumption.

"I was quite amazed to see the fast start-up of our new sizer. Earlier, high web tension levels were causing quite a bit of challenges to runnability. It looks like this obstacle no longer exists. We have achieved the targeted quality specification and now we can focus on the further benefits we are aiming at e.g. steam savings, higher strength levels or starch savings," says Phillipos Vrizas, Technology Manager at Propapier.

"The very first closing of the nip rolls is a moment telling a lot about any new sizer - especially a prototype sizer. It looked perfect. I couldn't see any web tension induced wrinkling in the web. The schedule was very tight with only a 11-day shutdown time. The fact that we were able to squeeze it into a 10-day break was quite amazing and a proof of an excellent cooperation and preplanning," says Jani Hakola, Development Manager at Valmet's Board and Paper Mills Business Unit.

The result of joint effort: First roll after the start-up of OptiSizer Hard at the Propapier's Burg Mill

Technical information about the delivery

Valmet's delivery included a new sizer called OptiSizer Hard. Compared to conventional sizer, OptiSizer Hard has a pair of hard cover nip rolls. Starch is sprayed on the rolls which transfer the starch into the nip where it is further transferred into paper web.

Strength is among the most important benefits with OptiSizer Hard. Starch is dosed in the roll nip with higher nip pressure, which increases the density of fibers. This leads into better strength properties. To mention a few other benefits of OptiSizer Hard, the life cycle costs are lower due spray application and runnability is better due to better nip profile control.

The existing and outdated starch preparation system was replaced with Valmet's starch preparation system specially designed for OptiSizer Hard and its spray application method. The properties of produced starch have substantially lower range of variation, which helps to produce liner boards within the targeted quality specifications. The delivered supply system is fully automated and equipped with pressure screens.

To further improve the properties of liner and fluting grades Propapier is producing, a cooperation agreement of 20 weeks was made. The target of the agreement is to find the best practices with the new sizer e.g. by reducing energy consumption, and by further improving liner and fluting properties, such as the lighter basis weight of containerboards without compromising other important properties.

Information about the customer Progroup

Progroup AG is questioning the existing, developing completely new approaches and bringing trend-setting concepts to market readiness. The successful development of the group is based on a consistent greenfield strategy, technological leadership, network management and an advanced supply chain strategy. With currently two paper factories (Propapier in Burg and Eisenhüttenstadt), a combined heat and power plant (Propower), ten corrugated board plants (Prowell) and several service companies (Prologistik, Proservice, Profund), Progroup's core business is the production of containerboard and corrugated board sheets. With 1100 employees, in 2017 the company generated sales of around 804 million euros and is one of the top 3 companies in the sector in Central Europe. The brands of the Next Generation Products are synonymous with the use of less raw material and less CO₂ emissions coupled with an increase in performance, and have come to epitomise sustainable thinking and a sustainable way of doing business in the industry.

Under the Progroup umbrella, the production facilities of Propapier in Burg and Eisenhüttenstadt produce containerboard to become less dependent from the volatile paper market. At the Burg site in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt the heavier kraft liner substitutes and test liner products weighing from 110 to 230 g/m² are made. The first-time installation of the OptiSizer Hard is again a great example for Progroup's "Power of Innovation" philosophy and is further strengthening Progroup's quality, reliability and cost leadership.