At the beginning of June, the XcelLine PM 6 supplied by Voith was successfully started up at the Jinzhong site in the central Chinese province of Shanxi by the paper manufacturer Shanxi Qiangwei Paper. As the leading full-line supplier, Voith delivered the entire production line. The machine has a wire width of 7 m, a design speed of 1,200 m/min and produces plasterboard liner and containerboard with a basis weight of 90 to 160 gsm. Annual production of over 300,000 tons is possible. Voith's latest solutions enable highly efficient, resource-saving and sustainable production.

• The XcelLine paper machine supplied by Voith was successfully started up at the Jinzhong Shanxi Qiangwei Paper´s site
• The new PM 6 will produce over 300,000 tons of plasterboard liner and containerboard per year at a design speed of 1,200 m/min
• Leading Voith technologies enable highly efficient and optimized production

Thanks to the joint efforts and cooperation of the Voith and Shanxi Qiangwei Paper teams, a fast installation and start-up of the entire line was achieved. The PM 6 has a high degree of automation, and the paper features a low tensile ratio, excellent surface quality and uniformity, as well as high breaking and folding strength. The dryness after the press is also very high, which leads to low specific steam consumption. The first paper web has thus fully achieved the customer´s expected quality level.   

Latest technologies for optimum results
As the leading full-line supplier, Voith supplied the entire XcelLine paper machine. The customer-oriented concept is especially designed for maximum efficiency, robustness and sustainability. After Voith had cooperated very successfully with Shanxi Qiangwei Paper on the key equipment for PM 5, the papermaker had ordered the supply of the entire PM 6 from Voith. Voith's advanced technologies and concepts will help Shanxi Qiangwei Paper to secure its leading position in the plasterboard industry and further expand its market share in the packaging paper industry. Thus, a positive contribution can be made to the development of the surrounding region and the economy of Shanxi.

The full-line supplier Voith delivered two highly efficient MasterJet Pro headboxes, a Tandem NipcoFlex press section and a CombiDuoRun dryer section including a hood and machine air system. Optimum paper properties are ensured by a SpeedSizer AT and an EcoCal Hard calender. The reliable MasterReel reeling concept, including a parent roll handling system and discfilters for fiber recovery, is used for smooth production. Shanxi Qiangwei also relies on the latest automation solutions from the Voith Papermaking 4.0 portfolio to achieve additional efficiency increases and cost reductions. A control and information system (DCS) as well as the quality management system (QCS) OnQuality are integrated in the plant.

Successful cooperation between Voith and Shanxi Qiangwei
To ensure a smooth start-up of the paper machine, both sides worked closely together throughout the project. Lin Jiangbo, Vice President Order Execution at Voith Paper Asia, confirms: "With the challenges posed by the recent COVID-19 pandemic, Voith worked with a high degree of flexibility and in close cooperation with Shanxi Qiangwei to ensure an optimal start-up of PM 6. In the future, we will continue to provide comprehensive services for PM 6 throughout its life cycle with our technical expertise and take further steps together with Shanxi Qiangwei Paper."

About Shanxi Qiangwei Paper
Shanxi Qiangwei Paper Co. is a company integrating research and development, production and sales of surface protection plasterboard. The company is based on the concept of sustainable development "low carbon, environmental protection, high efficiency and energy-saving", and puts energy saving, emission reduction and environmental protection at the first place of the company's strategic planning. Advanced equipment, first-class technology, quality and brand in the first place - this is the company's business philosophy. The quality of Shanxi Qiangwei's products has long been a market leader and occupies a top position in this industry.

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.

Collaboration, sustainability, and innovation:  these are the topics around which the Körber Italian Supplier Day is centered

The pandemic has changed the dynamics of all markets, highlighting the criticalities issue of the economies but at the same time opening up new opportunities. Supply Chain is one of the business sectors that have been affected significantly and companies and suppliers alike are facing new challenges.

Paolo Sodero, Head of Purchasing of Körber Business Area TissueKörber thanks to its experience in the sector and its cutting-edge research and development centre, is evolving from a simple machinery supplier to a strategic partner of technologically advanced solutions through the Körber ecosystem. With an ear to the market, the company shares all critical issues with customers and suppliers and understands the demands imposed by the tissue sector by comparing individual expertise to offer innovative, advanced, and sustainable solutions.

"In order to strengthen ties and further refine the collaboration for the future, we have created this day dedicated to Körber suppliers to continue to create value together and dive into dialogue about current and future challenges of the sector" comments Paolo Sodero, Head of Purchasing of Körber Business Area Tissue.

During this day, selected partners will have the opportunity to participate in thematic workshops and learn about the ecosystem with the Körber Business Area Tissue representatives. A revolutionary market approach that allows all the technologies involved in the tissue converting process to be integrated into a single solution: from raw material to finished product, all the way up to distribution logistics.

"Synergy: this is the key word for a day which aims to be a moment of discussion on the present but at the same time a moment to discuss new ideas, express needs and challenges to develop joint new strategies for the future. The value and voice of suppliers are essential stimuli to further innovate and offer the market solutions that are even more performing, efficient, and sustainable than the current ones ". concludes Paolo Sodero.

The day will end with the Safety Contractor Awards, an acknowledgement to those suppliers who were the most outstanding in terms of compliance with safety and control procedures. The goal of the event is to focus on the issue of sustainability, a key element in the supply chain. To gain a better understanding of social, environmental as well as governance practices and activities and elaborate joint initiatives for a better future, Körber, is currently introducing a digital platform for collecting sustainability data from suppliers. as part of the next steps to achieve the sustainability target of the Group.

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 technological change. In the Business Areas of 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.

At the beginning of 2021 VTT started to buy renewable electricity verified with a guarantee of origin for its premises. The change significantly reduced the annual greenhouse gas emissions from VTT's operations. Meanwhile, it is an important step toward VTT's goal of carbon neutrality.

Sustainability is at the core of VTT's strategy, and with respect to environmental responsibility, the goals include carbon neutrality by 2030. This requires significant action aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Consumption of electricity has been the overwhelming source of emissions caused by VTT activities. The transition to renewable electricity verified by a guarantee of origin changed the situation.

“The estimated greenhouse gas emissions from electricity bought by VTT were more than 9,000 tons in 2020. In 2021 this had gone down to about 600 tons. The change is truly significant”, says Senior Scientist Hanna Pihkola. In 2021 93% of the electricity consumed by VTT was under a guarantee of origin.

As the production of renewable energy also produces greenhouse gas emissions, the shift to renewable energy raised indirect emissions connected with VTT operations to some degree. However, the increase is fairly small compared with the reduction of emissions from the use of electricity.

Next attention to heating, air travel, and procurements

The reduction in emissions from the use of electricity is taking VTT closer to its carbon neutrality goal, but much work remains to be done. After the use of electricity, the greatest emissions caused by VTT come from the heating of buildings and air travel.

VTT's next development targets on the way to the carbon neutrality goal of 2030 are:

• ascertaining the possibilities of procuring low-emission, or carbon neutral district heating
• improving energy efficiency
• reducing flight emissions
• taking climate impact into account in the procurement of goods and services.

“Carbon neutrality by 2030 is an ambitious goal. To achieve the goal, much work needs to be done and many stones need to be turned in different parts of the organisation. When all possible measures to reduce them have been implemented, we will also have to ponder how best to compensate for the emissions that remain”, Pihkola says.

VTT's annual greenhouse gas emissions have been evaluated according to the principles of the ISO14064-1:2018 (carbon footprint calculations for an organisation) standard since 2018. The emissions are reported as part of VTT's annual and corporate responsibility report.

VTT is a visionary research, development and innovation partner. We drive sustainable growth and tackle the biggest global challenges of our time, and turn them into growth opportunities. We go beyond the obvious to help the society and companies to grow through technological innovations. We have 80 years of experience of top-level research and science-based results. VTT is at the sweet spot where innovation and business come together.

VTT – beyond the obvious

www.vttresearch.com

Stora Enso has started a feasibility study at its paper production site in Langerbrugge, Belgium, for the conversion of one of the two paper lines into a high-volume recycled containerboard line. Aligned with Stora Enso’s strategic focus on renewable materials, the investment would support the growth opportunity created by the increasing demand for recycled packaging board.

Stora Enso’s Langerbrugge site currently has two paper lines in production, one for newsprint and one for supercalendared (SC) magazine paper. The feasibility study will focus on the conversion of the site’s newsprint paper line. The conversion would enable Stora Enso to further grow its recycled and recyclable packaging materials capacity and to meet the growing demand in end-use segments such as industrials, e-commerce, furniture and electronics.

The feasibility study is expected to be finalised in the first half of 2023. Depending on an investment decision, the converted line is expected to be in production during 2025. The annual capacity would be 700,000 tonnes of testliner and recycled fluting grades and would generate annual sales of approximately EUR 350 million when run at full capacity. The total investment for the conversion is estimated to be approximately EUR 400 million.

“Today we produce recycled containerboard in Poland, mainly for the Eastern European market. A conversion in Langerbrugge would establish a competitive position for us in Western Europe as well. In addition to sourcing materials for recycled containerboard, the study will also assess the handling of different incoming recycling streams, including laminated grades. Having successfully completed conversions at other sites, we would be able to leverage important learnings from those projects,” says Hannu Kasurinen, Executive Vice President, Packaging Materials division.

Stora Enso announced in March this year that it was initiating a sales process for possible divestment of four of its five paper production sites. The Langerbrugge site has been excluded from this process and will be retained within the Group. The future of the Langerbrugge site’s SC paper line will be evaluated if a decision is made regarding the conversion of the newsprint paper line.

“If an investment decision is made, the Langerbrugge site will continue to serve our paper customers as usual until at least the end of 2024. The central location, experienced personnel and good access to recycled fiber remain core strengths of the site,” says Kati ter Horst, Executive Vice President, Paper division.

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

Valmet has progressed in reviewing its operations in Russia and implementing its exit plan.

Already in the spring, the company decided not to make any new sales projects in Russia. In addition, it cancelled EUR 70 million of its order backlog on March 31, 2022.

During the latter part of the spring, the evaluation of the options related to the withdrawal has progressed, and the company has initiated employee reductions, which will result in a 50 percent reduction in the number of employees in Russia in this first implementation phase.

Valmet will withdraw from Russia completely and will continue to implement the withdrawal in stages as the review of implementation options is fully completed.

Approximately 2 percent of Valmet's total net sales came from its Russian operations in 2021. In the spring of 2022, Valmet had a total of approximately 140 employees in Russia, working primarily in sales, engineering, maintenance and financial administration. Valmet does not have production in Russia. 

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 were 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

Containerboard manufacturer Papierfabrik Adolf Jass Schwarza GmbH has successfully integrated ABB’s latest L&W Autoline automatic testing solution into its production process, largely replacing manual laboratory measurements.

• Papierfabrik Adolf Jass Schwarza GmbH (Jass) has annual capacity of one million tons of corrugated base papers
• Installation of ABB’s next generation L&W Autoline automatic paper testing solution paves way for digitally centralized laboratory
• Jass moves from manual to automated testing for quicker, more frequent results and improved quality optimization opportunities

The move is part of wider digitalization project at the mill, which produces one million tons of corrugated base papers annually, and brings quality inspection closer to the production floor. Jass operators will gain reliable quality insights faster, enabling them to adjust the process and parameters to ensure increased efficiencies through fewer rejects, saving energy and raw materials usage.

Quality data from the L&W Autoline is collected in the mill's quality management system via integration with the ABB Ability™ System 800xA distributed control system and OPC communication, thus adding automated laboratory data to the mill's universal view of product quality.

“The integration of L&W Autoline automatic paper testing means we have completed the move from time-consuming manual paper testing so that our personnel can focus on quality adjustments and optimization for our end products,” said Dr. Uwe Weiss, Technical and Production Manager, Jass. “We are highly satisfied with its performance and already see the benefits of having more quality data in less time.”

“Reducing measurement uncertainty or test variability is at the heart of what automating paper testing systems can provide paper mills, enabling papermakers to make more informed decisions and take quicker corrective action,” said Felix Schäufler, Sales Specialist, ABB. “The addition of the new L&W Autoline, with the latest software standards, provides closer production control, therefore reducing the number of rejects and saving Jass both energy and raw materials.”

ABB’s next-generation L&W Autoline is the fastest and most reliable automated paper testing solution. It meets current industry standards (ISO/TAPPI) and delivers accurate and repeatable quality reports in minutes, allowing production to react faster to process disturbances.

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’s Process Automation business is a leader in automation, electrification and digitalization for the process and hybrid industries. We serve our customers with a broad portfolio of products, systems, and end-​to-end solutions, including our # 1 distributed control system, software, and lifecycle services, industry-​specific products as well as measurement and analytics, marine and turbocharging offerings. As the global #2 in the market, we build on our deep domain expertise, diverse team and global footprint, and are dedicated to helping our customers increase competitiveness, improve their return on investment and run safe, smart, and sustainable operations. go.abb/processautomation

Valmet has been chosen as the third most attractive employer by engineering students in Finland for the second year in a row. The ranking was published in Universum’s annual Talent Research, which is the biggest employer survey in Finland.

In recent years, Valmet has been actively developing its student and university collaboration in Finland and abroad. The focus has been on developing new trainee programs, establishing a global concept for university cooperation, collaborating with schools to make engineering as a subject more attractive to middle schoolers and continuing to run an active summer trainee program in Finland and Sweden. For the summer of 2022, Valmet is set to have close to 500 summer trainees working in Valmet locations around Finland.  

“It is a big honor to be recognized as an attractive employer. It means that we are on the right track and that our efforts to attract and build relationships with future talents are paying off. The students and trainees who work with us contribute significantly to Valmet’s working environment by energizing their colleagues and affording us a glimpse into the thoughts and feelings of a new generation. The dialogue that takes place within the organization is very meaningful for our summer trainees and our professionals,” says Julia Macharey, SVP, Human Resources and Operational Development, Valmet.

Information about the Universum Talent Research

Every year, university students vote for their ideal employers in Finland's largest career-related study – the Universum Talent Research. This year, over 13,000 students from different areas of study in Finland provided insight on company characteristics they find most attractive in a potential employer as well as who they perceive to be their ideal employer. Valmet was included in the ranking in the fields of Engineering, Business, Natural Sciences and, for the first time ever, Information Technology.

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

OnQuality.Scanners and OnQuality.Sensors are successfully used in over 750 installations worldwide to continuously improve production and quality processes. Thanks to their compact design, the scanners can be installed extremely flexibly in existing and new plants. Based on the leading solutions, Voith now presents OnQuality 4.0, the next level for digitalization of the paper mill. The new system consists of all the important elements required for perfect quality measurement and control: a secure cloud solution with many analysis tools and functions, virtual sensors for online and real-time measurement, as well as location- and time-independent technology consulting. The OnQuality 4.0 system can be upgraded modularly for all Voith OnQuality systems already installed and is ready for use within a very short time.

• OnQuality 4.0 increases data transparency, enhances quality measurements, optimizes control strategies and thus leads to significant cost savings
• Analyses, dashboards and reports can be created with a few clicks and accessed on smartphones and tablets
• Latest generation of virtual sensors complement the classic physical sensor portfolio and provide new possibilities in online quality measurement

"With OnQuality 4.0, we are introducing the most advanced quality measurement and quality control system currently available for manufacturers of all paper grades," confirms Marc Stampfer, Global Product Manager QCS Scanners & Sensors at Voith Paper. "Time-consuming collection, search and conclusion of quality data and control strategies are a thing of the past. With our intuitive cloud solution, virtual sensors as well as remote technology consulting, the foundation for the digitalization of your paper mill is laid."

Perfect interaction between cloud solution, sensors and technology consulting
OnQuality 4.0 uses virtual sensors to overcome the limitations of classic physical online sensor technology. Using artificial intelligence, the virtual sensors continuously, reliably and in real time predict quality parameters such as tensile strength, stiffness and softness that can otherwise only be measured in the laboratory. The cloud platform collects and stores all relevant production and quality data and enables users to perform in-depth analyses through personalized dashboards. With just a few clicks, profile charts, color maps, maintenance cockpits, trends and reports can be intuitively created and viewed on mobile devices. OnQuality 4.0 thus quickly and directly shows deviations from the critical target quality and enables significant savings in resources, scrap and costs.

The OnPerformance.Lab (OPL) remote service center completes OnQuality 4.0, with OPL experts providing round-the-clock support for real-time emergencies. With the help of the in-depth know-how in the field of paper and control technology, tailor-made optimization measures are carried out together with the customer, such as for MD and CD controls and grade change processes. Consequently, the efficiency of the machine increases while costs decrease.

Further optimizations are planned for the future. Voith is currently working on visionary OnQuality.Scanner concepts, which are being developed as part of the Papermaking Vision design study. "With intuitive and state-of-the-art operating and visualization interfaces directly on the scanners; an intelligent light and alarm system; and an attractive, maintenance-friendly design, we will once again make everyday work much easier for operating and maintenance personnel," sums up Marc Stampfer.

Find more information here: Voith Quality Control System (QCS) OnQuality | Voith.

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.

Customers worldwide order products and services in real-time in the Voith Paper Webshop. In addition, to spare and wear parts, fabrics can also be purchased via the application with just one click for over a year now. Chandpur Enterprises Ltd. has been benefiting from the expansion of the product portfolio in the Voith Paper Webshop since March. "With the help of the personalized menu and the order history, we can now quickly identify our fabrics, order them and track the delivery status around the clock," says Mr Devesh K. Singhal, Technical Director of Chandpur Enterprises Ltd. "We are very satisfied with the Voith Paper Webshop and the cooperation with the Voith experts, who have been flexible to our requirements."

• Worldwide, the Voith Paper Webshop is already used by 180 customers
• Chandpur Enterprises Ltd. and other India customers have now also opted for the Voith Paper Webshop
• A fast, simple and personalized ordering process was the main reason for the decision.

In addition to Chandpur Enterprises, other Indian customers have already integrated the Voith Paper Webshop into their ordering process. In total, more than 180 customers already rely on digital applications. In the personalized "My Shop" section, the paper manufacturers can find all the necessary information from the original and current condition of the equipment as well as the order and quotation history, drawings, manuals and contracts.

F.l.t.r.: Praveen Batra (Head of Sales & Services FRS, Voith India), Devesh K. Singhal (Technical Director, Chandpur Enterprises Ltd.), Gaurav Singh (Senior Executive, Sales & Services FRS, Voith India) and Harsh Bakshi (Deputy Manager, Sales & Services FRS, Voith India).

Mr Devesh K. Singhal confirms the advantages: "Initially, we were not sure whether we should convert our previous ordering processes to the webshop and digitize them. However, we then decided in favour of the Voith Paper Webshop, because we were completely convinced by the functionality as well as the very clear user guidance. In addition, the onboarding process and subsequent registration of the individual users went smoothly. We are glad to have taken this step."

The Voith Paper Webshop is characterized by the highest data security standards. Different options can be booked depending on customer requirements. "Our goal is to enable our customers to optimize production with minimized downtimes," sums up Mr Gaurav Singh, Senior Executive Sales & Service India at Voith Paper. "One building block for this is the quick and easy ordering of fabrics. We offer customer-specific solution packages, which we are continuously developing further on a region-specific basis. The integration of the Webshop can be done smoothly for any customer worldwide."

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.