Paper Mart Emagazine December - January Issue 2021

CONTENTS December-January, 2021, Paper Mart

ITC-PSPD: New Leader Steps Up

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“We are very bullish about growth and have plans to strengthen our position through timely capacity additions in the near future.”

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Parason Machinery: Industry 4.0 is Paving the Way for the Digital Advancement of the Industry

Union Budget 2021: Pulp and Paper Industry’s Outlook

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“In my view, investing in skilled and honest people, taking actions that aim to deliver products to satisfy customers, and adopting new technologies to boost production are the keys to becoming a globally competitive domestic supply chain.”

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her third Budget — Union Budget 2021that aims to shore up an economy badly-hit by the novel coronavirus pandemic. Key industry leaders share their view and feedback. Here is a compilation: ...

JMC Paper Tech: Sustainable and TechDriven Paper Industry is the Future “While many are claiming technologies such as automation, IoT, and data analytics are the technologies of the future, I feel that they are the present. The future is here.”

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Saloni Paper Machines: Providing Engineered Solutions to Increase Productivity, Quality and Efficiency

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“In the paper industry, there are a number of areas where India has exerted its skill to become self-sustaining and there are some which still need attention.”

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Zenith Rubber: Bringing in Indigenously Manufactured PU Covering Rollers for Indian Paper Industry

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“Zenith Rubber Pvt. Ltd. has been supplying indigenously manufactured rubber rollers to the industry for more than 40 years. In fact, we are also exporting rolls to many countries.”

46 30 Scan Machineries: Evolving Through Innovation is the Key

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“Manufacturers must align themselves to their focused goals and invest in areas and strategies that would lead to accomplish their set goals.”

ANDRITZ PrimeFilter D Disc Filter: Upgraded Performance and Reliability

Valmet LignoBoost XS: Concept Development and Experience With First Plant Delivery

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The leading global developer and supplier of technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries, Valmet’s LignoBoost is a well proven technology for producing high quality kraft lignin.

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Major upgrades and a series of smaller innovations have been incorporated into the new ANDRITZ PrimeFilter D to improve performance and reduce maintenance.

The new design includes the latest bagless technology, which is well-proven in over 65 installations to date. The upgraded PrimeFilter D has been well-received already – 15 units have been started up and more orders are being received from leading papermakers.

56 NEWS

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N•E•W S•C•R•I•P•T

ITC-PSPD:

NEW

LEADER

STEPS UP

“

We are very bullish about growth and have plans to strengthen our position through timely capacity additions in the near future.

Mr. Vadiraj Kulkarni, Chief Executive at ITC-Paperboards & Specialty Papers Division

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N•E•W S•C•R•I•P•T Born to teacher parents in a town named Dharwad in Karnataka, Mr. Vadiraj Kulkarni studied Chemical Engineering from Regional College of Engineering, Warangal (now known as NITW). His journey with ITC began when he joined the erstwhile ITC Agrotech Ltd. back in 1996. He moved to ITC’s India Tobacco Division in 2001 and he became General Manager, Operations-Tobacco Division in 2013.

In November 2015, Mr. Vadiraj moved to Paperboards and Specialty Paper Business as Executive Vice President responsible for Manufacturing, Projects and Business Excellence. He took over as the Divisional Chief Executive of Paperboards and Specialty Papers Business with effect from September, 2020. Prior to this role, he was Chief Operating Officer of the business since November 2016.

He has worked across Agri, FMCG and Paper businesses across various locations in India, amassing a wealth of expertise in supply chain, manufacturing/operations, technology management, skill development, strategy formulation, sustainability, and Industry 4.0. His optimism and zeal shows when he talks about the vision he has for the Company’s further growth and correspondingly, as he charts his views about the indispensable steps to transform the Indian paper industry as globally competitive.

In a conversation with Paper Mart, that was both germane and freewheeling, Mr. Vadiraj Kulkarni, Chief Executive at ITC-Paperboards & Specialty Papers Division, talks about the newly added responsibilities he has on account of being the Chief Executive, the growth path of ITC-PSPD, and the capacity upgrade project of the pulp mill. Further in the conversation, he also presents his views on the ‘Make in India’ initiative, the strategies to boost growth of the Indian paper industry and reduce dependence on imports.

Paper Mart: Taking the helm as CEO of ITC-PSPD, what add-on does it get on the platter in terms of roles and responsibilities?

Vadiraj Kulkarni: In addition to the P&L responsibility and managing all the functions, to enable effective strategy formulation and execution, the new role comes up with the additional responsibility of chartering the future in terms of growth strategies and choosing suitable vectors for enhancing profitability.

PM: With this evolution and change, how do you conceptualize the growth path for the ITC-PSPD?

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ITC-PSPD has always built capacities in line with the projected demand through the rebuild of existing machines and addition of new machines, across its portfolio.

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VK: With the economy recovering post COVID-19, the paper industry is poised for healthy growth in line with projected GDP growth for the country. In addition, export opportunities too, are seemingly on the rise.

ITC-PSPD has always built capacities in line with the projected demand through the rebuild of existing machines and addition of new machines, across its portfolio.

Thus, we are very bullish about growth and have plans to strengthen our position through timely capacity additions in the near future. Our growth story is also anchored on developing bespoke products in the paperboard segment, thus, providing superior value to our customers.

PM: The Company has recently announced that it will be investing around Rs. 2,500 crore into the paper and paperboard business and expand the production capacity; please elaborate further on this and relate how important you think this move will be in driving competitiveness and growth?

VK: We have just completed the virgin paperboard machine capacity upgrade project and we’re about to commission the machine. This should immediately help us capture the growing demand of paperboards. Our project to set up a first-of-its-kind high pressure recovery boiler is progressing well, despite disruptions caused by the pandemic.

Moreover, the pulp mill capacity upgrade project is underway and we hope to commission the plant, sometime in the year 2022-23.

PM: With the upsurge in awareness about sustainability in packaging, the paperboard, and paper-based packaging

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The pulp mill capacity upgrade project is underway and we hope to commission the plant, sometime in the year 2022-23.

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segment has witnessed sharp growth; what are your projections about the further growth of the sector and the ways in which you have strategized to capitalize on the opportunity?

VK: We believe that this category offers a great opportunity for paperboards, specialty papers and paper industry. The industry is poised to significantly contribute to enhancing the circular economy quotient, thereby helping deal with the adverse impact caused by plastics in packaging and other industries.

There has been a keen interest, expressed by global majors in alternatives to plastics. The experience of COVID-19 pandemic on the world has further provided a fillip to this sustainability movement. At ITC-PSPD, we have been at the forefront of developing sustainable packaging substrates. We have met with early success and hope

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N•E•W S•C•R•I•P•T that our capabilities in product development, strength in R&D combined with synergies with ITC’s packaging and consumer businesses will aid our growth in this space.

PM: ITC has always been at the forefront in adopting many path-breaking technologies? Kindly elaborate on some of the recent ones?

VK: Yes, we believe that absorption of the world’s best technologies in manufacturing and experimenting with new technologies - enabling quantum improvements will help our business reap the benefits in terms of quality and cost. Our recent investment in a state-ofthe-art paperboard machine is delivering some of the finest products in the category. The investment in highpressure recovery boiler (project under way), will boost our sustainability quotient by substantially reducing coal consumption. We have also experienced significant benefits by adopting Industry 4.0 technologies (IIoT, Machine Learning, Advanced Analytics, Image Processing etc.) in various areas of operations.

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At ITC-PSPD, we have been at the forefront of developing sustainable packaging substrates.

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PM: What is your outlook on the ‘Make in India’ initiative for the sector? Also, what do you think are the prerequisites with regard to investments and policy framework to develop a globally competitive domestic supply chain in the Indian paper industry?

VK: As various industries want to contribute to this noble mission, so should the pulp and paper industry. We must reduce our dependence on imports and enhance our competitive advantage. Beyond the economic benefits to the industry and country, the paper industry with its integrated pulp mill(s), adds enormous value in creating farmer livelihoods and generating farm income in remote and backward areas. It also aids in the sequestering of carbon through the plantation programs.

Going forward, the industry can become a change agent in developing solutions to substitute single-use plastics.

To strengthen its position further, the pulp and paper industry must expand the farm-forestry and agro-forestry plantations program to ensure enough raw materials are available in the future. The industry must also provide attractive remuneration to the pulp wood farmers, so that the farmers remain interested in plantations. Leveraging fast changing technology can be leveraged by the industry to achieve globally competitive product quality and costs.

Additionally, imports must be discouraged through tariff and non-tariff barriers, to provide a fair opportunity for the industry to become competitive. PM

BEYOND BUSINESS: Key to success: Clarity in thought and focus on execution.

Best advice you have ever received: Do not judge any person without a first-hand experience: what you hear from others about him/her could have biases.

Favourite book: ‘My Experiments with Truth’ by MK Gandhi.

Kind of music you listen to: Soft romantic and light Hindustani classical.

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Our recent investment in a stateof-the-art paperboard machine is delivering some of the finest products in the category.

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Mr. Vadiraj Kulkarni

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Favourite movie: Bombay Creative pursuits: Singing, Reading, Writing.

One quote you live by: Keep it simple.

Union Budget 2021: Pulp and Paper Industry’s Outlook

F

inance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her third Budget — Union Budget 2021that aims to shore up an economy badlyhit by the novel coronavirus pandemic. Key industry leaders share their view and feedback. Here is a compilation:

The Union Budget 2021 clearly signals a move to return India to a higher growth trajectory after the record contraction caused by the pandemic. The announcements about infrastructure spending, health and wellbeing of the people and strengthening of the financial sector have clearly shown this intent.

The pattern of reforms is focused on boosting growth and removing bottlenecks across the industries. It will protect purchasing power, create more jobs and encourage demand.

Mr. P.S. Patwari, Executive Director & CEO, Emami Paper Mills Ltd.

Paper and paper board is a core industry that plays a vital role in the economic growth of our country.

The industry is expected to grow in the range of 12-15% in the coming year due to increased economic

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activities. Infrastructure spending and rural growth being the focus areas of this budget — all industries like FMCG, pharma, health and hygiene are expected to grow significantly. Subsequently, more than 75% of the paper and paper board industry producing packaging paper and board is also expected to witness a high growth opportunity.

Consumer awareness concerning eco-friendliness, sustainability, replacement of plastic, rise of e-commerce and growth in retail are again big boosters for the demand of packaging paper and paper board.

Indian paper mills are investing and would be required to invest more in the capacity building and technology upgradation of their facilities to address the demand growth.

U•N•I•O•N B•U•D•G•E•T The Union Budget 2021 is a path breaking budget in the sense that it has done away with the old custom of Finance Ministers getting overawed by the pressure of controlling fiscal deficit. Instead, it focuses purely on growth, thereby stimulating demand. The growth is expected due to considerable budget outlay in the areas of infrastructure, health, education, agriculture and defence.

This is the most prudent path for a developing economy like India. It will certainly drive various sectors of economy along with pushing the case for Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Mr. Pawan Agarwal, Managing Director, Naini Group of Industries

The creation of separate legal entity for handling bad debts of the banks is also a welcome step. The banks can

I feel that there is nothing concrete in the Union Budget 2021 — specifically for the traders. However, we are positive that the situation will be again examined by the government when the normalcy prevails.

For this session, the Government has focused only on the following sectors — corporates, MSME and service sector. In the present circumstances the government has completely ignored the traders.

Mr. Satya Pal Gupta, Chairman Narsingh Dass Group and Former President - Federation of Paper Traders Association of India

Business is not about industry and manufacturing alone. It can neither be limited to large or MSMEs, DISCOMs, HFCs, NBFCs, MFIs and so forth on one end and labourers, self-help groups and cottage industry on the other. There is a section in between the two, and that is the trader and or self-employed person,

now focus on supporting creation of quality assets without taking the stress for bad assets. Further, the enormous increase in expenditure has not been planned to be met by putting new taxes, as was the fear. The current level of taxes is already the lowest in the world and it will surely give suitable disposable income at the hands of both the individuals and the corporates. The budget has shown the right path, and the share market has already given a standing ovation. Now, it is up to the industry to sit up and start planning to reap benefits as this decade has taken a turn around the corner with this reformist budget.

wholesaler, retailer, shopkeeper, merchant, internal trade, call or name it in any way. Pre- and post-independence, successive governments have deliberately ignored the existence and welfare of this segment of the business sphere.

In deeply troubled times like the present one, it’s hard for traders to sustain. In an era where traders struggle with discrimination, it’s difficult to build a healthy economic culture.

Whatever the benefits and tax concessions that were announced during the Union Budget 2021 session, will only benefit the above three mentioned sectors. As the traders are not allowed to register as MSME - it is now imperative for the government to also recognize the trading fraternity.

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M•A•K•E I•N I•N•D•I•A

Parason Machinery: Industry 4.0 is Paving the Way for the Digital Advancement of the Industry “In my view, investing in skilled and honest people, taking actions that aim to deliver products to satisfy customers, and adopting new technologies to boost production are the keys to becoming a globally competitive domestic supply chain.” indigenously. That is our vision to make India ‘Aatmanirbhar’ in every aspect in the pulp and paper industry.

PM: What do you think are the different strategies and the kind of investment which is required to develop a globally competitive domestic supply chain in the Indian paper industry?

SCD: The main and most important investments in the paper industry include – in people, processes, and technologies. In my view, investing in skilled and honest people, taking actions that aim to deliver products to satisfy customers, and adopting new technologies to boost production are the keys to becoming a globally competitive domestic supply chain.

Mr. Shekhar C. Desarda Excerpts of the interview with Mr. Shekhar C. Desarda, Chairman & Managing Director, Parason Machinery Private Limited: Paper Mart: “Aatmanirbhar Bharat is not about being self-contained or closed to the world; it is about being self-sustaining, self-generating,” PM said with the message that India is walking the path of self-reliance. How do you relate the relevance of this viewpoint for the Indian pulp and paper industry?

Shekhar C. Desarda: The government led by PM Narendra Modi is doing every possible thing to make India self-reliant and selfgenerating. As an Indian, we must be a part of this marked transformation.

By and large, Indian paper mills should strive to enhance their technological capabilities and the level of competence in each and every

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By and large, Indian paper mills should strive to enhance their technological capabilities and the level of competence in each and every respect. Every organization should try to develop import substitute products, develop indigenous suppliers and focus on indigenization of entire value chain.

In my understanding, as a country we are capable of fulfilling all the requirements of our paper industry.

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respect. Every organization should try to develop indigenous product & supplier. In my understanding, as a country we should be thoroughly capable of fulfilling all the requirements of our paper industry

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PM: Please outline the recent product developments at your end and the upgradations you have introduced in the recent past at your production unit.

SCD: We have recently started a new workshop that is focused on manufacturing our new equipment -sharp edge drum pulper, twin disc filter, high consistency disc filter, and energy-saving rotors. We have also done new furnace upgradation for better quality and fast delivery.

Technically, we have upgraded our CNC machines for drilling, CNC pattern-making machines, and our R&D machine fibre analyzer. We have also upgraded our dispersion system with more automation features and our new screw press series is having provision of Ceramic Screw which is very big advantage.

M•A•K•E I•N I•N•D•I•A PM: Smart manufacturing together with Industry 4.0 is emerging as the next step towards calibrating manufacturing for the future. What are your strategies and outlook on this technology-driven approach to monitoring and improving manufacturing performance in the paper industry?

SCD: Industry 4.0 is paving the way for all types of businesses to become digitally advanced. This is a hightech revolution and our strategies are definitely going to strengthen the current process and enhance the future manufacturing process.

Recently, we have undertaken certain new methods such as Predictive maintenance system, IoT in Refiners and Pressure Screens, and other automation technologies that improves performance and efficiency of our equipment. We have also established “Parason Digital Solutions Lab” in our office, in coming years we will be offering Smart Automation solutions with each of our equipment and fiber line system.

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We have started manufacturing Molded Fiber Machines which gives us an opportunity to provide end to end solution for disposable tableware industry, this is an upcoming industry line that will surely replace Single Use Plastic one day.”

AVAILABLE

FOR SALE

”

PM: Modernization of the entire industry will require a huge investment to bring improvement in core competencies such as including a quantifiable increase in productivity, and quality improvement. What kind of trends do you foresee with respect to capacity expansions, quality enhancement, productivity improvements in the sector?

SCD: Expanding manufacturing capacities to meet future customer demands is necessary and it necessitates the requirement of adequate investments. To compete in the market, the overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) is crucial because the products are going to be known for their performance. It is also necessary to expand your horizons, and to expand the domains of manufacturing to seek improvements in the sector. Similarly at Parason, we have started manufacturing pulp mould lines which give us an edge in the disposable tableware manufacturing sector. PM

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M•A•K•E I•N I•N•D•I•A

JMC Paper Tech: Sustainable and TechDriven Paper Industry is the Future “While many are claiming technologies such as automation, IoT, and data analytics are the technologies of the future, I feel that they are the present.

The future is here.” technological trends to develop a globally competitive supply chain in the Indian paper industry. I am certain that we need to find the right balance between both human-centric and capacity-building infrastructure.

Further, as a socially responsible corporate, it is not only our obligation but a duty to develop infrastructure that ensures it is minimally disruptive for the environment. A sustainable, tech-driven pulp and paper industry that is run by young and dynamic professionals will ensure its long-term development capable of supplying quality products to the entire world!

Mr. Rajni Patel Excerpts of the interview with Mr. Rajni Patel CMD, JMC Paper Tech Pvt. Ltd.: Paper Mart: “Atmanirbhar Bharat is not about being self-contained or closed to the world; it is about being self-sustaining, self-generating,” PM said with the message that India is walking the path of self-reliance. How do you relate the relevance of this viewpoint for the Indian pulp and paper industry?

Rajni Patel: I firmly believe that it is the perfect timing for such a motivating initiative. In the context of the pulp and paper industry, I am certain that such an initiative can do wonders. Many studies have shown the potential of growth in the Indian subcontinent when it comes to paper products and how it could also be at par with the western economies.

Further, we have the perfect blend of opportunities at hand as technology is becoming omnipresent across industries and our young and dynamic workforce is renowned for its tech capabilities. Such a blend will

bring us unprecedented opportunities and help us deliver world-class products rife with innovation to countries all over the world.

PM: What do you think are the different strategies and the kind of investment which is required to develop a globally competitive domestic supply chain in the Indian paper industry?

RP: In today’s day and age, when many are focusing on increasing their technical capabilities, I believe that it is equally important to invest in the right talents who are capable of leveraging futuristic

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A sustainable, tech-driven pulp and paper industry that is run by young and dynamic professionals will ensure its long-term development capable of supplying quality products to the entire world!

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”

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We need to find the right balance between both human-centric and capacity-building infrastructure.

”

PM: Please outline the recent product developments at your end and the upgrades you have introduced in the recent past at your production unit.

RP: I am personally following our PM Shri Narendra Modi on various platforms and we are also following the initiatives like ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Vocal for Local’. We are looking forward for the best alternatives/options for these imported materials, which will greatly help us in providing the best qualitative products with lower cost. In the same manner, JMC had developed a Pressurized headbox and steel dryer cylinder with optional internal machining and grooving. Generally, these products are imported from China.

However, JMC can offer the best in-house manufactured products, which will give the best performance

M•A•K•E I•N I•N•D•I•A for which it is designed. In this way, JMC manufactured products will help to lower the import in the current market. It will be beneficial in terms of a long delivery period, easy availability and lower the overall product cost, accessible post sales and services for the same.

PM: Smart manufacturing together with Industry 4.0 is emerging as the next step towards calibrating manufacturing for the future. What are your strategies and outlook on this technology-driven approach to monitoring and improve manufacturing performance in the paper industry?

RP: While many are claiming technologies such as automation, Internet of Things, and data analytics are the technologies of the future, I feel that they are the present. The future is here. The faster we adopt these technologies, the faster we will be able to unlock unprecedented operational efficiencies and

production levels. It is crucial that we, as a country, develop a versatile workforce that is capable of learning such technologies while retaining a conceptual grasp of engineering as we need to find a fine balance between the two verticals. At JMC, we are always looking to include innovation in our product development efforts as we believe that such technological interventions will not only help us increase our production capacities, but also optimize our existing infrastructure, leading to a two-pronged improvement in our operations.

PM: Modernization of the entire industry will require a huge investment to bring improvement in core competencies such as including a quantifiable increase in productivity, and quality improvement. What kind of trends do you foresee with respect to capacity expansions, quality enhancement, productivity improvements in the sector?

RP: I think the trends that we will witness will be comprehensive.

While technical know-how of these new-age technologies seems like a luxury at present, tomorrow, it will be a necessity. We need to invest in industry-specific education that will yield more prepared individuals who can take the pulp and paper industry forward. As far as the manufacturers of this industry are concerned, it is important that we no longer resist technology and instead, upgrade our existing systems to leverage its benefits. Automation will help increase productivity and data analytics will herald an unprecedented age of meaningful information, leading to an increase in performance levels. Such technologies will help us take giant strides towards becoming a leading supplier of paper and pulp industry products across the world. PM

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VACANCY SENIOR SALES MANAGER | SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVE Job Location: Ahmedabad/Mumbai

Minimum 7 years of experience for Senior Sales Manager & 5 years of experience for Senior Sales Executive.

Candidates from Paper Industry will be given preference and they must be having experience of working under time pressure & strict deadlines.

• We also require LEADERS who can independently manage people.

• Salary: Commensurate to the talent and experience of the applicant.

Please send your detailed resume to: hramd@gemcorprecycling.com

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M•A•K•E I•N I•N•D•I•A

Zenith Rubber: Bringing in Indigenously Manufactured PU Covering Rollers for Indian Paper Industry “Zenith Rubber Pvt. Ltd. has been supplying indigenously manufactured rubber rollers to the industry for more than 40 years. In fact, we are also exporting rolls to many countries.” the Indian suppliers to the paper industry is China. As we all know, the cost of Chinese products may be the same but the Chinese government is extending various subsidies to the industry, for their survival and further development. The government’s intention to rule the global market has been made possible due to their policies which are very industryfriendly.

Mr. PS Paintal, Managing Director and Mr. HS Paintal, Chairman, Zenith Rubber Private Limited Excerpts of the interview with Mr. HS Paintal, Chairman, Zenith Rubber Private Limited:

has been forced to look for local alternatives to make their purchases for their day-to-day needs.

Paper Mart: “Atmanirbhar Bharat is not about being self-contained or closed to the world; it is about being self-sustaining, self-generating,” PM said with the message that India is walking the path of self-reliance.

How do you relate the relevance of this viewpoint for your industry in relevance to the Indian pulp and paper industry?

Zenith Rubber Pvt. Ltd. has been supplying indigenously manufactured rubber rollers to the industry for more than 40 years. In fact, we are also exporting rolls to many countries.

We do not import any material for our rubber rolls and all the rolls are manufactured from the domestic raw materials which are readily available.

However, for the PU rolls all the rawmaterial is imported. It’s a completely new and special technology and hence local manufacturers are currently not available.

HS Paintal: For the Indian pulp and paper industry, the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative is getting more and more relevant. The industry has been sourcing many consumables from China and Europe for the past few years. But due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the policy was introduced as a natural outcome of the global economic crisis, premised on the proposition of strengthening the economy. The paper industry

PM: What do you think are the different strategies and the kind of investment which is required to develop a globally competitive domestic supply chain for the Indian paper industry?

HSP: The main competition for

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In the same vein, India also needs to support the industry and the entrepreneurs who are facing tough competition with the Chinese products by implementing extra duty on them that are being exported to India with the intention of harming the local industry. Another aspect is the availability of capital for the investment at a lower cost which is a challenge in India. The country needs to make policies which are favorable to the industrialists and they will be able to get lower cost capital and more tax benefits in the early years.

PM: Please outline the recent product developments at your end and the upgradations you have introduced in the recent past at your production unit.

“

In our company, we have also adopted the same in a few machines wherein we have eliminated the need for operators and handed over the process to a computer system.

”

M•A•K•E I•N I•N•D•I•A

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We have already introduced PU rolls which are manufactured at our state-of-the-art Neemrana plant, though the complex raw materials are all bought from various foreign suppliers.

”

HSP: Zenith is at the forefront of developing technologies that are friendly for the customers, not only in usage but also on the pocket. We have been in the market for more than 40 years and during the time, we have been developing rubber compounds which are in line with the demands of the domestic paper industry. The paper industry has been increasing production by various means. The roller industry has contributed to this by providing rolls which are capable of taking higher loads for better moisture removal at early stages.

Accordingly, we have developed rubber to take higher loads on the same presses. A better pattern of blind drilling has also been introduced for better performances. A leap in the technology is the introduction of Polyurethane (PU) technology for rolls. These rolls are not only capable of taking higher loads, up to 400 kN/m but also have a longer regrind life. We have already supplied more than 100 rolls to various clients all over the country.

PM: Smart manufacturing together with Industry 4.0 is emerging as the next step towards calibrating manufacturing for the future. What are your strategies and outlook on this technology-driven approach to monitoring and improve manufacturing performance in the paper industry?

HSP: The modern industry has shifted from CNC (Computer Numerical Controlled-Computer based Machining) to AI (Artificial Intelligence)-based Machinery, and IoT (Internet of Things). The question being - why does the industry need this? The main reason for this development is removing the need for human interference from the processing in any industry.

Though controls had been given to computers, but there was a need for entry by the operator. Thus, with the development of technology, AI was introduced in the middle for controlling systems and processes, be it - single or repetitive. In our company, we have also adopted the same in a few machines wherein we have eliminated the need for operators and we have handed over the process to a computer system. In addition, we are quite modern in our approach and we’ve been adapting to the latest technologies for the benefit and growth of our company.

PM: Modernization of the entire industry will require a huge investment to bring improvement in

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core competencies such as including a quantifiable increase in productivity, and quality improvement. What kind of trends do you foresee with respect to capacity expansions, quality enhancement, productivity improvements in the sector?

HSP: The modernization of the pulp and paper industry is imperative to sustain the growth and be competent in the global marketplace. The industry is trying hard to lower the cost of production while developing better quality at par with the international standards.

Moreover, the industry is adapting to the best available technology in the industry and is also deploying new staff or training existing staff to use it. We, at Zenith Rubber Pvt. Ltd., are keeping an open mind at developing technology in line with the requirements of the industry and we are keen to give the best of the products to our esteemed customers.

Recently, we have already introduced PU rolls which are manufactured at our state-of-the-art Neemrana plant, though the complex raw materials are all bought from various foreign suppliers. We are also on the verge of introducing another latest product which is being developed with the help of foreign consultants for the printing industry. PM

KROFTA ENGINEERING LIMITED NEW Triple Wire Belt Filter Press (Gravity Table + Belt Filter Press)

Krofta introduces newer enhanced capacity Belt Filter Press.

A new innovative unique technique, which will improve overall efficiency for sludge dewatering SALIENT BENEFITS: Ÿ First in the Country : Launched by Krofta : Triple Wire Belt Filter Press (Gravity Table + Belt Filter Press) Ÿ To enable handling of Higher throughput Ÿ Ability to handle Higher Solids per day Ÿ More Space for Squeezing the sludge in wet zone Ÿ Evenly spread of Sludge helps in more dewatering & better drainage Ÿ Compact structure and modular design Ÿ Flocculator as inbuilt supply for better dewatering MODELS AND TECHNICAL DATA TYPE Length, mm Width, mm Height, mm Belt Area, m2 Belt Speed, m/min 3 Wash Water, m /hr.

Air Consumption, m3/hr.

Motor Power, kW

BFP 1.1 T 3500 1430 2200 21.5 2 – 10 8.5 1 0.75 + 0.55

BFP 1.6 T 3500 1930 2200 31.5 2 – 10 13 1 1.1 + 0.75

BFP 2.1 T 3500 2430 2200 41.0 2 – 10 16 1 1.1 + 1.1

BFP 2.6 T 3500 2930 2200 50.7 2 – 10 21 1 1.1 + 1.5

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Saloni Paper Machines: Providing Engineered Solutions to Increase Productivity, Quality and Efficiency “In the paper industry, there are a number of areas where India has exerted its skill to become self-sustaining and there are some which still need attention.” to deforestation and environmental issues. Thus, most of the paper mills have switched to waste paper as raw material which is majorly imported at high prices and ultimately increasing the product price. To overcome this, we, as an association, have to work on waste paper recovery policies and the system of our country. In the current situation, recovery of waste paper is around 38-40% in India which is around 70-80% in many countries.

Availability of the domestic waste paper will considerably help the industry to be more economical.

Mr. Jaikishan Sharma Excerpts of the interview with Mr. Jaikishan Sharma, Managing Director, Saloni Paper Machines Pvt. Ltd.: Paper Mart: “Aatmanirbhar Bharat is not about being self-contained or closed to the world; it is about being self-sustaining, self-generating,” PM said with the message that India is walking the path of self-reliance. How do you relate the relevance of this viewpoint for the Indian pulp and paper industry?

Jaikishan Sharma: It is very well said that ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ does not mean cutting strings with the world, but is about being self-reliant and making for the world. In the paper industry, there are a number of areas where India has exerted its skill to become self-sustaining and there are some which still need attention.

For example, currently, there are some machinery parts in paper machines like C.I. drying cylinders

which are mostly imported from other countries. While the Indian paper industry has the capability of producing them, it requires quite a huge amount of capital with respect to the ROI and risks; hence, it requires support from the government and industrial policy reforms to a great extent.

In addition, the availability of conventional and good raw material like bamboo, wood, etc., has become a real challenge to the paper industry and it can be afforded only by a few mills. Moreover, it also contributes

“

It is very well said that ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ does not mean cutting strings with the world, but is about being self-reliant and making for the world.

26 | www.papermart.in / December-January, 2021

”

PM: What do you think are the different strategies and the kind of investment which is required to develop a globally competitive domestic supply chain in the Indian paper industry?

JS: According to us, a major challenge would be to produce equipment and products at a price less or equal to what is already available in the global market with the same quality standards. Usually, strategy of mass production is followed in many countries which cut down the cost to a great extent. Although, our industry is moving towards this direction, it will take some time to attain the same because we have a varied range of demand at every stage of the paper industry from machinery (like design of machines for a very wide range of GSM) to end product which makes it a tailor-made production. Also, if we talk about the end product of the industry being odourless, an appreciable amount of investment is required for installing effluent treatment plants in the paper mills.

Further, automation at every stage

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i.e., from machine manufacturing to producing paper is required to achieve precision and quality within less time.

We, at SALONI PMPL, manufacture equipment from headbox to rewinder with the help of completely automated VMC and CNC machines and execute complete projects on DCS with automated features in the supplied machine.

PM: Please outline the recent product developments at your end and the upgradations you have introduced in the recent past at your production unit?

JS: Earlier, there were only a few mills, mostly the corporates which had the advanced and automated machines. However, we have gradually brought those concepts to many other organizations at a very affordable price with the best quality. With the prohibition of single use plastic and development of e-commerce, there is a potential increase in the packaging paper demand. To achieve this, we have designed high speed paper machines including bi-nip & tri-nip press sections for closed draw, unirun in the dryer section, autoloader, dilution in headbox and proper table design for better sheet formation and many more features for easy operation. Also, we have executed completely automatic paper

plants, reducing the breakdown and increasing the production of highquality paper.

PM: Smart manufacturing together with Industry 4.0 is emerging as the next step towards calibrating manufacturing for the future. What is your outlook on this technologydriven approach to monitoring and improving manufacturing performance in the paper industry?

JS: Connecting machines and processes in the paper industry has become very important for optimizing the production. It enables monitoring and automatic controlling that result in a highly efficient process. It gives a better idea of the on-going operation and provides a better customer experience. In our production unit as well, we have machines that are fully automated with monitoring systems to attain high precision and accuracy in our jobs. Many paper mills have also started to adopt the centralized and integrated monitoring and controlling of the complete plant sitting in front of just one screen with the help of IoT and networking.

PM: Modernization of the entire industry will require a huge investment to bring improvement in core competencies such as including a quantifiable increase in productivity,

28 | www.papermart.in / December-January, 2021

and quality improvement. What kind of trends do you foresee with respect to capacity expansions, quality enhancement, productivity improvements in the sector?

JS: When it comes to modernization and upgradation, customers look for odourless paper, minimum breakdown and operational easiness with considerable increase in the production and improvement in paper quality. A lot of awareness with respect to environment and pollution has been seen in the industry over the past few years for which the effluent treatment plants and pollution control systems have been implemented in the paper plants.

This will become a crucial part in the coming years in any of the paper projects at a very initial stage itself.

Also, with the increasing speed and capacity of the paper mills, concepts of multi-wires, closed draw and wide nip in the press section have become common along with switching over to automatic operations from manual.

Contributing to achieve the above, Saloni PMPL provides engineered solutions in all aspects including increase in productivity, improvement in quality and making the plant more energy-efficient by balancing the steam consumption, water and vacuum balancing of the complete paper machine. PM

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Scan Machineries: Evolving Through Innovation is the Key “Manufacturers must align themselves to their focused goals and invest in areas and strategies that would lead to accomplish their set goals.” and strategies that would lead to accomplish their set goals. That being said, it is always important to make sure to not place all your eggs in one basket.

PM: Please outline the recent product developments at your end and the upgradations you have introduced in the recent past at your production unit?

(From left to right) Mr. Vinod Nargunam, Director and Mr. Christy Selvan, Director, Scan Machineries Private Limited

Excerpts of the interview with Mr. Vinod Nargunam, Director and Mr. Christy Selvan, Director, Scan Machineries Private Limited Paper Mart: “Atmanirbhar Bharat is not about being self-contained or closed to the world; it is about being self-sustaining, self-generating,” PM said with the message that India is walking the path of self-reliance.

How do you relate the relevance of this viewpoint for your industry in relevance to the Indian pulp and paper industry?

Vinod Nargunam: The Indian pulp and paper industry is developing at a fast pace and increasingly aiming to achieve the European standards of manufacturing, designing and supply of products to compete at a global level. The whole concept of Make in India initiative (Aatmanirbhar Bharat) means Indian manufacturers can now compete with their products and offerings by adopting self-sustainable practices such as designing and manufacturing the product in-house with just a few critical components that can be acquired from abroad; and

as a whole single-handedly supplying a product that is fully designed and assembled within Indian manufacturers’ premises.

PM: What do you think are the different strategies and the kind of investment which is required to develop a globally competitive domestic supply chain in the Indian paper industry?

VN: The strategies and kinds of investments may vary from one manufacturer to another. It depends on their plans in the short term and in the long term as well. Manufacturers must align themselves to their focused goals and invest in areas

“

Our go-to motto has always been ‘Passion for Paper’ and we stand true to it by expanding our product line and conducting research & development in accordance with European standards for all of our products.

30 | www.papermart.in / December-January, 2021

”

VN: Scan Machineries has recently developed new products and upgraded its existing line of product portfolio that can impact the pulp and paper industry both in India and overseas. Our go-to motto has always been ‘Passion for Paper’ and we stand true to it by expanding our product line and conducting research & development in accordance with European standards for all of our products. Paper mills can now join hands and partner with Scan Machineries in providing full turnkey paper mill solutions, complete paper machine lines, all sections of paper machine, headboxes and winders.

Lately, Scan Machineries has been providing consultancy services for various pulp and paper mills.

PM: Smart manufacturing together with Industry 4.0 is emerging as the next step towards calibrating manufacturing for the future. What are your strategies and outlook on this technology-driven approach to monitoring and improve manufacturing performance in the paper industry?

Christy Selvan: Smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0 is indeed the future of manufacturing. Technologies as such have been evolving and changing, and will keep improving in the days to come. Manufacturers need to integrate these technologies into their manufacturing and production

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“

Smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0 is indeed the future of manufacturing.

”

processes. Product performance optimization and monitoring the health of components of products in real time and suggesting suitable actions for the same will also play key roles in the future.

PM: Modernization of the entire industry will require a huge investment to bring improvement in core competencies such as including a quantifiable increase in productivity, and quality improvement. What kind of trends do you foresee with respect to capacity expansions, quality enhancement, productivity improvements in the sector?

CS: The pulp and paper industry continues to modernize in different sectors that are critical by embracing

the latest technologies and enhancements in different segments to compete both in the Local and global market. On one hand, production capacities above 400 TPD and scaling to reach international production capacities are being sought after; on the other hand, manufacturing of all types of paper grades while empowering international standards and practices in the production lines especially in packaging grades can also be witnessed in recent times. PM

www.papermart.in / December-January, 2021 | 31

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HABER Technologies: The Paper Industry Needs to Embrace IoT and AI to be at the Forefront “As a country, we need to embrace deep investments in R&D and become a hub of innovation and intellectual property creation – which also applies to the Indian pulp and paper, and packaging industry.”

APN: We are a services company to the global pulp, paper, packaging industry as well as other process industries like food & beverage processing and metals and mineral processing. We have actively transferred all of our data to the cloud and we no longer use any on-premise software or data servers. Additionally, we have also implemented AI in our internal processes and R&D functions to develop new chemistries, some of which will be ground-breaking for papermaking.

Mr. Arjunan P N Excerpts of the interview with Mr. Arjunan P N, Co-founder & Vice- President, HABER Technologies: Paper Mart: “Aatmanirbhar Bharat is not about being self-contained or closed to the world; it is about being self-sustaining, self-generating,” PM Modi said with the message that India is walking the path of self-reliance.

How do you relate the relevance of this viewpoint for the Indian pulp and paper industry?

Arjunan P N: We live in an increasingly interconnected world where the goods and services’ supply chains are efficiently distributed across geographies. As a country, we need to embrace deep investments in R&D and become a hub of innovation and intellectual property creation – which also applies to the Indian pulp and paper, and packaging industry. This is critical not just

from the perspective of growth and profitability, but essentially for survival.

PM: What do you think are the different strategies and the kind of investment which is required to developing a globally competitive domestic supply chain in the Indian paper industry?

APN: Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence are the two prominent industry-changing technologies that will transform all the industries.

Our industry should get at the forefront and embrace these and other emerging technologies and be a trailblazer. In my view, it is 100% plausible that we can definitely lead in this space.

PM: Please outline the recent product developments at your end and the upgradations you have introduced in the recent past at your production unit.

32 | www.papermart.in / December-January, 2021

“

Additionally, we have implemented AI in our internal processes and R&D functions to develop new chemistries, some of which will be ground-breaking for papermaking.

”

PM: Smart manufacturing together with Industry 4.0 is emerging as the next step towards calibrating manufacturing for the future. What are your strategies and outlook on this technology-driven approach to monitoring and improve manufacturing performance in the paper industry?

APN: Data is the starting point.

Firstly, “sensorization” of the factory followed by data ingestion and storage in the cloud will be an efficient and secure way for organizing vast amounts of data. The second aspect is connected factories which share data across a network or send and receive intelligence from the cloud.

Third and the highest level is artificial

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“

HABER is a pioneer in bringing these cross-industry technologies together, greatly impacting productivity and profitability.

”

intelligence – the pulp and paper industries have such a large extent of dependent parameters or variables that are beyond human reproach to compare and analyze in real-time.

HABER is a pioneer in bringing these cross-industry technologies together, greatly impacting productivity and profitability.

PM: What kind of trends do you foresee with respect to capacity expansions, quality enhancement, productivity improvements in the sector?

APN: The efficient way to buy is no longer capital investments but purchasing technologies as services.

One-time investments in the latest

technology can be expensive and the risk of obsolescence is high. In HABER’s pay for performance model, the paper mill is protected against these high costs and risks. PM

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Works & office : Plot No. 5314, Phase IV, Ramol Cross Road, G.I.D.C. Vatva, Vatva, Ahmedabad - 382445.

(Rajesh Desai) +91 9825042710, 9227225579 E-mail : dspl@ymail.com / dsengineers_raj@yahoo.com www.papermillmachineryindia.com | www.papermillindia.com www.papermart.in / December-January, 2021 | 33

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Apcotex Industries: Pioneers in Versatile Range of Latex for Coating of Paper and Paperboards “Apcotex is constantly incorporating the latest manufacturing and processing technologies and introducing new products to meet the evolving customer requirements” - Mr. Manish Goel

Mr. Manish Goel, Vice President – Commercial/Sales, Apcotex Industries Limited

In an interview with Paper Mart, Mr. Manish Goel, Vice PresidentCommercial/Sales, Apcotex Industries Limited sheds light on the product range for the paper industry, the key strengths of the products, details about their manufacturing unit, the market presence, and the future roadmap of the Company going forward.

Paper Mart: Could you please take us through the business journey of Apcotex Industries Limited and an overview of the product range for the paper industry?

Manish Goel: Started as a division of Asian Paints in 1980, Apcotex Industries Limited has pioneered in the manufacturing of vinyl pyridine latex and carboxylated styrenebutadiene latex in India. Constituted as a Public Limited Company listed on the stock exchange as Apcotex Lattices Limited in 1990, its name was later changed to Apcotex Industries Limited in 2005.

The installed capacity of saleable latex at our manufacturing unit in Taloja (Maharashtra) has increased from 40,000 MTPA to 55,000 MTPA (wet) in 2015 and will further increase to around 70,000 MT in 2021. We have also completed the acquisition of Omnova Solutions’ Indian business of nitrile rubber and high styrene rubber to create synergy in 2016, and then, we entered into the XNBR latex business for gloves application. Now, we are planning to expand the XNBR latex capacity in 2021.

We are one of the pioneers in XSB

34 | www.papermart.in / December-January, 2021

latexes for paper and paperboard coatings in India suitable for all kinds of coatings and pigments. Recently, we have introduced a premium range of SA (styrene-acrylic latex) for better gloss and printability applications.

Our vision is to be a global leader in customer delight in terms of product quality, customer service and innovation, plant technology, cost competitiveness and sustainable environmental processes.

PM: Kindly shed some light on the various benefits and unique features offered by your product range?

MG: Our products are known for properties like excellent dry pick resistance, superior print performance of coated paper, high sheet gloss and print gloss and excellent rheology at high shear rate. Also, the benefits of the products include achieving good runnability at high machine speeds, versatile and suitable for all kinds of coating systems blade, bar and air knife coaters. This provides high wet and dry binding strength. Moreover, we have certain specialty products that are produced in compliance with FDA 176.170 and 176.180 as well as in compliance to the Chinese (GB) and BfR standards.

PM: Could you please outline the manufacturing capabilities of Apcotex Industries and share details about the infrastructure of your production unit?

MG: Our manufacturing plants are strategically located in Taloja, Maharashtra (50 km from Mumbai and 35 km from JNPT Port) and Valia,

Website : www.papermart.in | Emagazine : https://papermart.in/emagazine/

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Gujarat, close to Dahej and Kandla ports. The manufacturing facilities incorporate the state-of-the-art emulsion polymerization technology as well as an adequate monomer and finished goods storage facilities with efficient utility support. Additionally, the sophisticated DCS control systems ensure fine control over operating parameters.

PM: What is the current market presence of the company – both domestically and internationally? Are there any plans of furthering your domestic and global market presence in the near future?

MG: Our products are approved and demanded by all the major coated paper and paperboard manufacturers in India, such as BILT, ITC-PSPD, JK Paper, NR Agarwal Industries, Gayatrishakti Paper and Boards, Khanna Paper Mills etc. to name a few.

are also expanding our reach to the SEA and ME countries. Our products are already demanded in countries like Iran, Egypt, Indonesia, etc.

PM: What do you think are the kind of growth prospects of the paper industry?

“

Our products are approved and demanded by all the major coated paper and paperboard manufacturers in India, such as BILT, ITC-PSPD, JK Paper, NR Agarwal Industries, Gayatrishakti Paper and Boards, Khanna Paper Mills etc. to name a few.

We have a major global presence and currently exporting to 36 countries, and are a government recognized export house. Slowly and steadily, we

36 | www.papermart.in / December-January, 2021

”

MG: The Indian paper industry is poised for a growth of 8-10 percent — particularly due to the upsurge in the packaging paper as well as packaging boards with the ongoing rise of the e-commerce. However, the government has to support the proposition of the ‘Make in India’ initiative as well; as cheap imports, due to negligible or zero duty under certain FTAs, are making a particular dent in the overall business.

While the raw materials for latex attract certain import duties whereas the finished product is being imported from other ASEAN nations with zero duty, this, in turn, creates an inverted duty structure. Also, the paper manufacturers are pitching for anti-dumping duty for their finished products. We are certainly hopeful that the Indian paper industry has a long way to go.

PM: As some of the major concerns with respect to the characteristics are superior binding strength and improved inkjet print quality, how do you ensure that the product meets these key parameters?

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MG: Apcotex is constantly incorporating the latest manufacturing and processing technologies and introducing new products to meet the evolving customer requirements. A range of sophisticated laboratory analytical instruments, well-equipped pilot plant facilities and close interaction with renowned institutions helps the company in adding value for its customers.

We have a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for emulsion polymers and in-house pilot reactors for the developments and to scaleup operations. Our research and development laboratory is recognized by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Government of India. The R&D facility and manufacturing unit

“

We have a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for emulsion polymers and in-house pilot reactors for the developments and to scale-up operations.

”

is situated at the same site, and is led by highly qualified personnel to create synergies between product development and manufacturing.

Also, we can simulate certain print tests in our application lab such as – dry pick (medium and high viscosity

Journey Towards Excellence

38 | www.papermart.in / December-January, 2021

oil, process color inks, high tack inks), print gloss, wet pick and wet repellence, mottle (back trap mottle) mottle (water interference mottle), ink set off, stain length, helio test, and roughness test etc.

We also have tie-up with prestigious print houses where we can undertake pilot test runs along with our esteemed customers to have feedback on the product performance to further innovate as per the customers’ or end users’ requirements. Apart from that, we also engage experienced international experts for the continual improvements both in terms of – the application as well as our manufacturing capabilities.

PM: Has there been any recent development at Apcotex Industries that you wish to talk about? What is the future roadmap of the company going forward?

MG: We plan to increase our latex capacity to 70,000 MTPA at Taloja plant. As mentioned earlier, we have completed the acquisition of Omnova Solutions’ Indian business of nitrile rubber and high styrene rubber to create a synergy and entered into XNBR latex business for gloves application. Now, we plan to expand XNBR latex capacity. We wish to be the first-rate company in all the segments that we operate in as we relentlessly strive towards excellence. PM

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Aqwise Group: Turning Wastewater into Resources “Aqwise provides advanced water and wastewater treatment solutions built on a wide range of innovative biofilm-based processes.” plants – from small scale compact units to large scale facilities.

Mr. Suneet Kaul

Mr. Suneet Kaul, Director of SalesIndia, Aqwise Group enlightened us about the business story of the company, the various solutions they provide for the pulp and paper industry, the market reach, their product development process, and charts out the future plans in an exclusive conversation with Paper Mart.

Paper Mart: Could you please give us a glimpse into the business journey of Aqwise Group while presenting a brief rundown of the water and wastewater treatment solutions you provide for the pulp and paper industry?

Suneet Kaul: Aqwise is an industry leader in advanced biofilm-based water and wastewater treatment technologies — both anaerobic and aerobic, for industrial and municipal markets around the world. Its solutions are based on a wide range of innovative biofilm-based processes.

Aqwise’s technology, a product of over two decades of multidisciplinary theoretical and practical research and development, positions the company as a world leader in its field.

We deliver integrated, tailor-made solutions for both new and existing

The Company has a proven track record of more than 600 installations in a wide range of industrial and municipal sector applications in over 55 countries. We have a fullfledged R&D facility in Israel that has developed patented MBBR-based aerobic and anaerobic solutions such as AGAR® (Attached Growth Airlift Reactor) and DACS® (Downflow Anaerobic Carrier System), respectively. The AGAR® solution is a unique combination of an open and protected biomass carrier and a highly efficient aeration mixing design. It includes AGAR® MBBR and AGAR® IFAS to enable efficient BOD removal and intensive nutrient removal for both municipal and industrial clients.

DACS® is a high rate anaerobic process which utilizes a unique hydraulic design that improves the stability and performance of the treatment system.

It includes the DACS® high-rate anaerobic process and DACS® DANA process, to enable simple and effective removal of COD and energy recovery for various industrial sectors.

The pulp and paper industry is known for its high water consumption and requires meeting high levels of wastewater treatment to allow safe discharge and reuse in the production. We provide anaerobic, aerobic and hybrid solutions to meet these needs, and effectively utilize water and energy resources.

“

The Company has a proven track record of more than 600 Installation in a wide range of industrial and municipal sector applications, in over 55 countries.

40 | www.papermart.in / December-January, 2021

”

The solutions based on Aqwise technology offer numerous benefits and are used for new and upgradation of existing wastewater treatment plant, for BOD/COD and nitrogen removal and to increase the amount of nitrifying bacteria in existing activated sludge system using the Aqwise carrier in a hybrid plant to meet ammonia limits. Moreover, the Floating Carriers ensure faster and more stable processes in a high speed/load reactor in comparison with existing circulating systems with pellet of granulate sludge. With these favorable features, there is a significant improvement of efficiency in comparison with conventional technologies resulting in low CAPEX and OPEX. PM: Kindly outline on the markets you serve with your solutions and your plans with respect to expanding your reach to unexplored markets.

SK: Aqwise offers both aerobic and anaerobic solutions for a diverse range of industrial and municipal needs and delivers integrated, tailor-made solutions for both new and existing plants – from small scale compact units to large scale facilities. Water and wastewater treatment for the industrial sector requires an in-depth understanding of industry-specific production processes, compliance with applicable local regulations, integration with physical and chemical processes, and a high-level of expertise to ensure maximum quality effluent for discharge and reuse up to zero liquid discharge (ZLD).

Aqwise’s solutions portfolio is quite suitable for deployment in a variety of industries, demonstrating process stability in harsh and variable conditions, adapting to ever-changing production needs.

Aqwise MBBR Media

PM: Please elaborate on the market footprint of Aqwise Group in the Indian pulp and paper industry. What is your outlook on the Indian pulp and paper industry with regard to water treatment and recycling? Do you have any plans of expanding your presence in the Indian market?

SK: For many years now, the Indian pulp and paper industry has been continuously expressing the need to improve its water and wastewater treatment and management practices, and some paper mills have undertaken pertinent actions in this direction.

Since 2015, Aqwise has been active in this sector, and has supported dozens of paper mills with designs for ETP upgrade and retrofits, eventually with a number of successful applications.

We have substantial references of upgradation and Greenfield projects globally. In Italy, we have been successful references of 10 plants with our aerobic and anaerobic technology.

We are certainly well positioned to support the Indian paper sector with the increase in activity in this field.

PM: What are the different features and competitive strengths of your wastewater treatment solutions for the pulp and paper sector?

SK: A strong biological process knowhow and experience of successful installations has helped us in developing and providing customized solutions to the clients. With respect to the advantages, the solutions based on Aqwise’s technology are costefficient, has a small carbon footprint, and enables fast deployment. Besides, these solutions are scalable and has simple operation, are based on a

flexible and innovative technology, are environmentally-friendly and manifest a significant improvement of efficiency in comparison with conventional technologies resulting in low CAPEX and OPEX. PM: The pulp and paper industry is quite water-intensive and in view of the ongoing global water scarcity, and water usage restrictions, the reuse and water management techniques are becoming more prevalent and economical. How do you go about developing efficient technologies for wastewater treatment and water reuse?

SK: Aqwise’s technology, a product of over a decade of multidisciplinary theoretical and practical research and development, positioned the company as a world leader in its field.

With a strong biological process know-how and multi-disciplinary expert staff, we’ve been able to develop and provide customized solutions to our clients. Our MBBR-based solutions have helped customers significantly reduce both the construction and maintenance costs.

Solutions based on Aqwise technology offer numerous benefits, including significant improvement of efficiency in comparison with conventional technologies resulting in low CAPEX and OPEX and there are three possible design variations enable maximum flexibility referring client demands. Further, there is no sedimentation or blocking of sludge, no requirement of expensive mixing/separation devices, no sludge loss because of power peaks, and moreover, it allows for the possible use of existing tanks instead of a

42 | www.papermart.in / December-January, 2021

predefined special tank design.

Our solutions enable the users to retrofit, reuse and recycling of existing equipment, materials and resources. As a matter of fact, our entire range of processes and products is designed to generate a minimal physical footprint and ensure a nonintrusive impact on the environment. Our technology provides clients with cost effective and environmentally-friendly solutions.

PM: Has there been any recent development at Aqwise Group that you wish to highlight? What are your strategies and plans for the future growth of the company?

SK: Aqwise is developing methodologies to apply its technologies to new and challenging applications emerging in today’s water space, i.e. ground water contamination, micro-pollutants, low load applications, effluent reuse, etc.

We are also focusing on the development of new types of biomass carriers, which will bring technical and process advantages to our clients, in addition to cost savings. The Indian market may be a focus for these new carriers, given the need to compete in the market with local media. PM

“

We are also focusing on the development of new types of biomass carriers, which will bring technical and process advantages to our clients, in addition to cost savings.

”

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Kalpataru Papers: Laying Foundations in Europe for Better Sourcing

Mr. Dipesh Laddha, Director, Kalpataru Papers LLP

In an interview with Paper Mart, Mr. Dipesh Laddha, Director, Kalpataru Papers LLP, presents an overview of the company, the key strengths, the growth strategies, the plans to set up a presence in Europe, and how the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has created a crucial impact on the overall demand for packaging paper.

Paper Mart: Could you please give us an overview of Kalpataru and its market presence?

Dipesh Laddha: Kalpataru Papers LLP is one of the leading exporters and converters for the paper and packaging board based out of India. The company’s head office is located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and it also has an overseas office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. In Ahmedabad, we also have a converting facility with an in-house unit for polyextrusion tool, sheeter, high-speed slitters, pallet wrappers, and a guillotine system that caters to customized sizes for the international customers. Besides exports, we have a vested interest in domestic customers for whom we import sack kraft, bleached kraft paper, and food board kraft liner from Europe and South America.

“

The core strengths of our company are sourcing skills and understanding the nerve of the industry.

44 | www.papermart.in / December-January, 2021

”

Kalpataru’s plan to start business operations in Europe will be implemented in 2021.

Mr. Laddha is of the opinion that establishing a presence in Europe will present the company with more exposure and better opportunities to offer recycled paper from India and beyond the Middle East.

“

The way we’re adapting to online food delivery is creating a whole new vertical in the packaging industry, with an increase in demand for paper bags, disposables, food wrappers, and sustainable and hygienic packaging.

”

PM: What do you think are the key strengths of the Company that will enable you to make your mark in the packaging industry?

DL: The core strengths of our company are sourcing skills and understanding the nerve of the industry. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, there has been a significant shift in consumption patterns in both the international and domestic markets. Conventionally packaged products were majorly dominated with the mono cartons or the master corrugated box, however, nowadays, there has been a rise in innovation in the food packaging segment.

I•N•T•E•R•V•I•E•W Furthermore, the way we’re adapting to online food delivery is creating a whole new vertical in the packaging industry, with an increase in demand for paper bags, disposables, food wrappers, and sustainable and hygienic packaging.

The e-commerce packaging segment has soared to its highest point since the outbreak of the pandemic, but the food packaging industry is also gearing up with new products on the shelves.

PM: What are your future plans and growth strategies for the coming years?

DL: We are planning to expand our converting facility to meet the needs of both the export and domestic markets.

We realize and understand the fact that for a paper mill, there are many limitations to make different sizes suitable to the customer. Moreover, our plan to start our business operations in Europe will be implemented in 2021. Although the venture was planned for 2020, due to the outbreak of the pandemic, we could not execute it.

Establishing a presence in Europe will present us with more exposure and better opportunities to offer recycled paper from India and beyond the Middle East, and further, it will also enhance our sourcing of raw material from the developed nations.

PM: How the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the demand for packaging paper and how do you foresee the future?

DL: The pandemic has changed the entire dynamics of the packaging industry. In India, 90% of the mills producing paper are doing so by recycling the scrap/wastepaper and we are seeing a huge shortage in the recovery of recyclable waste. If we consider the post-pandemic scenario – the lowest grade of paper produced in India among the northern or southern region was priced around INR 2324 per kg/material produced out of the lowest quality of waste, whereas, now the lowest grade would be produced on the average price of INR 40 per kg. This shows how the entire cycle of wastepaper going back to the mills has been disturbed resulting in a bigger mess for the local industry.

Due to the surge in prices, the investment at the both level – paper mills and the traders has gone up significantly.

On the other hand, as China has banned the imports of recovered fibre like OCC (old corrugated cardboard), there has been a strong demand for OCC grades in India.

However, India is majorly using the OCC to produce the paper pulp for China which has also disturbed the domestic corrugated market to a great extent. PM

R.S.ENGINEERS

Manufacturers of : • Doctor Blades • Doctor Holders • Doctoring Systems

• Doctor Oscillation Systems • Felt Stretchers • Autoguides

Address : Plot No.19, SR.NO.2608, Shanta Gulab Industrial Park, Besides Damanganga Industrial Park, Karvad, Vapi-396193 Cell : +91 9898130415, +91 9227830415 Email : ayaz@rs-engineers.com, sales@rs-engineers.com Website : www.rs-engineers.com

www.papermart.in / December-January, 2021 | 45

T•E•C•H•N•I•C•A•L A•R•T•I•C•L•E

Valmet LignoBoost XS: Concept Development and Experience With First Plant Delivery The leading global developer and supplier of technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries, Valmet’s LignoBoost is a well proven technology for producing high quality kraft lignin.

February 12, 2021

Lignin extraction from kraft recovery cycle has been increasingly gathering attention in both old and modern mills around the world. Transforming the usual pulp mill concept into a multiproduct biorefinery, lignin extraction processes are currently presented as a debottlenecking alternative, capable of increasing pulp production and as a sustainable bioproduct process with potentially high-end marketable products.

Sustainable alternatives to debottlenecking pulp mills are evolving as we encounter a favorable pulp market with environmental concern over the usage of fossil-based products and fuels. Lignin extraction is emerging as a potential pathway for both environmental and economic gains.

Separated lignin can be a source of additional revenues in pulp mills. Lignin can be used as a biofuel either for mill consumers (lime kiln, biomass boilers) or externally in replacement of traditional fossil fuels. There is more and

46 | www.papermart.in / December-January, 2021

more interest to use lignin in the field of green chemicals with new high-value applications, such as biopolymers, adhesives or carbon fiber production.

LignoBoost is a commercial lignin extraction process where precipitation, filtration and washing are used to separate lignin from black liquor. It is currently one of the main paths for transforming traditional pulp mills into biorefineries with additional sustainable co-products.

Full-scale Valmet LignoBoost lignin extraction plants are already in operation with successful results. Moreover, a demonstration-scale lignin extraction plant has been developed, aiming at customers that are willing to enter lignin business but are still prospecting applications and future market opportunities for lignin-based products. The first Valmet LignoBoost XS solution has been supplied to one of the major Brazilian pulp companies and started its operation in November 2019.

T•E•C•H•N•I•C•A•L A•R•T•I•C•L•E

LignoBoost XS plant concept LignoBoost XS: Compact concept Since lignin extraction plants are relatively new technology to many pulp mills, it is important to develop cost-effective and practical solutions that suit each mill’s specific needs.

In this case, the traditional lignin extraction process had to be adapted and turned into a cost-competitive compact skid-like installation, named LignoBoost XS that can be easily transported and installed at mill site.

In this installation, all process filtrates and waste streams were designed for an open circuit concept since the plant was built at a customer R&D facility and no mill process integration was considered. Independent process utilities (water, compressed air, chemicals) were installed at the facility to supply project’s demand.

Plant delivery at customer The main goal for this project was to provide an effective way for the customer to produce lignin, evaluate end markets, and develop the best pathway for a future lignin business including a large-scale commercial plant.

Time schedule for the project was 12 months: The project was approved in late 2018, assembly started in August 2019 and skid transport for installation on site happened in October 2019. Plant commissioning started in late October 2019 and it took about 20 days for the plant to be ready to start up, including cold and hot commissioning.

New technology plants are specially demanding regarding startup phase, requiring lots of equipment testing and process tuning.

Conclusion Lignin business is showing up as one great pathway to a sustainable and economically viable new way for kraft

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LignoBoost XS plant at customer site pulp mills to take in near future towards biorefinery status.

The technology for lignin extraction is already working on commercial scale plants and market development is advancing in promising way.

LignoBoost XS is presented as a viable alternative for mills desiring to test and pursue new business lines with lower investment and risk.

The compact installation concept of LignoBoost XS was proven to be functional and the ease of construction, transportation and installation makes this approach a promising alternative for introducing the technology to new customers.

Valmet authors: Guilhermo Magalhaes, Henrik Wallmo, Anders Littorin, Anna Borg and Felippe Rosa

KROFTA

NEW MEGACELL

Krofta introduces State of the Art Technology: NEW DAF especially designed for Paper Industry.

A unique technique, far enhanced compared to circular machines.

MEGACELL PRODUCT RANGE:

SALIENT BENEFITS:

Ÿ 50-70% savings* in Civil Cost

Model Number

Maximum Flow(m³/h)

Power (kW)

Megacell-5

50

0.37

Ÿ Higher capacity Product at Low

Megacell-10

100

0.37

Foot Print (Required lessor land space)

Megacell-15

150

1.1

Megacell-20

200

1.5

Ÿ Much Lower running Power cost

Megacell-25

250

1.5

in comparison to Present DAF Technology

Megacell-30

300

1.5

Ÿ Excellent Output performance Ÿ Cheaper installation cost* Ÿ A very compact unit

Megacell-35

350

1.5

Megacell-50

500

1.5

Megacell-65

650

1.5

Megacell-75

750

1.5

Megacell-100

1000

3.0

compared to Sedicell

*As per Krofta Terms and Conditions.

Krofta Engineering Limited Durga Bhawan, A-68, FIEE Complex, Okhla Industrial Area Phase-II, New Delhi – 110020.

EPBX : +91-11-4724 2500 E-mail :krofta@kroftaengineering.com Web : www.kroftaengineering.com

T•E•C•H•N•I•C•A•L A•R•T•I•C•L•E

ANDRITZ PrimeFilter D Disc Filter: Upgraded Performance and Reliability Major upgrades and a series of smaller innovations have been incorporated into the new ANDRITZ PrimeFilter D to improve performance and reduce maintenance. The new design includes the latest bagless technology, which is well-proven in over 65 installations to date. The upgraded PrimeFilter D has been well-received already – 15 units have been started up and more orders are being received from leading papermakers.

When engineering the new PrimeFilter D (Figure 1), ANDRITZ specialists evaluated the performance of over 600 disc filters the company has installed around the world, spoke with customers, and re-examined the design from endto-end. The result is a disc filter that is perfectly suited for thickening all kinds of pulp and operating at higher consistencies, and for producing excellent quality filtrate when applied as a save-all for fiber recovery in PM white water systems.

Figure 1: New ANDRITZ PrimeFilter D 1

Main feed

2

Feedbox

MAJOR UPGRADES TO TECHNOLOGY

2

1 1

The PrimeFilter D fuses several key technological innovations into one unit to improve throughput and reduce both investment and operating costs.

HHw for even the most demanding thickening applications. HHw stands for High consistency, High freeness, and a wider distance between discs. This enables PrimeFilter D to handle higher feed consistencies and higher freeness pulps. ANDRITZ’s integrated feedbox with patented infeed chutes (Figure 2) provides individual feed for each disc in the PrimeFilter D. A new feature is the ability to add an optional second feed at the bottom of the vat to avoid creating a “dead zone” for pulps with high drainage rates while keeping the vat bottom properly diluted.

Figure 2: Advanced feed system for PrimeFilter D Feed consistencies with the PrimeFilter D can be considerably higher than a standard disc filter. This comparison (Figure 3) shows the feed consistency range at any given CSF of the PrimeFilter D compared to a standard ANDRITZ DF38 unit.

In the HHw design, there is more Figure 3: Feed consistency range for a PrimeFilter D versus standard disc filter DF38

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T•E•C•H•N•I•C•A•L A•R•T•I•C•L•E distance between the discs and the outlet chutes. This creates fewer rubbing forces on the surface of the fiber mat and reduces the tendency

for the mat to peel off when the disc sector is submerged.

Disc guiding rolls with internal bearings ensure smooth, stable, and

guided rotation of each filter disc.

This results not only in smoother operation, but also longer life of the filter internals.

The HHw technology allows PrimeFilter D to reach higher specific loads for a given feed consistency.

(Figure 4) shows that raising the feed consistency from 0.75 to 1.1% results in a 30% increase in specific production (in terms of bone-dry metric tonnes per day). Or, if the production is not needed, the filter could be smaller (30% less filter surface area) to achieve the same production load.

Figure 4: PrimeFilter D - Specific production v/s feed consistency

Conical Cell bagless sectors for uniform fiber mats, long life and less maintenance: The Conical Cell bagless sector design of the PrimeFilter D (Figure 5) offers significant improvements in terms of operation and maintenance.

Since the sectors are basically flat, they produce a very uniform fiber mat that is easily doctored off in one piece.

The way the plates are manufactured results in a 5% increase in effective filtering surface compared to a flat sector fabric. The open design is easy to clean.

Figure 5: Conical Cell bagless filter sectors – close-up view

ANDRITZ Conical Cell bagless sectors

Compare this to the performance shortcomings inherent in other bagless sector designs, particularly “corrugated” sectors. The asymmetrical corrugated design creates hydraulic flow impingements. The fiber mat is not uniform due to the peaks and valleys of the corrugations. This lowers the maximum rotational speed and therefore limits the capacity of the filter. Overlapping areas in the sector interior makes cleaning more difficult, and there is a tendency for inside scaling.

Because of this, the Conical Cell sector allows a filter to run faster than a corrugated sector. An example is shown in (Figure 6), where the maximum rotational speed of a corrugated sector is 1 RPM for this grade of pulp. The PrimeFilter D’s Conical Cell allows the disc to rotate in a range of 1.4-1.8 RPM for that same grade, accounting for a production boost of 15-20%.

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Figure 6: Rotational speed – corrugated v/s Conical Cell bagless designs

T•E•C•H•N•I•C•A•L A•R•T•I•C•L•E Two-level shaft sealing for improved reliability and filtrate quality: A significant technical improvement in the PrimeFilterD is its advanced double sealing arrangement (Figure 7). The sealing is outside the filtrate valve making it easy to access. This eliminates the possibility for fibers to enter the filtrate directly. Ease of access allows the seal to be exchanged without removing the filtrate valve housing, covers, and sealing support. In addition, no realignment of the filtrate valve is necessary after a seal exchange.

A rubber hose inside the shaft seal is inflated with compressed air to provide uniform surface contact with the sealing ring around its entire circumference. Other filters utilize an asymmetrical three-point spring system that creates uneven sealing forces, which can cause uneven wear of the seals and a shorter lifetime.

Figure 7: PrimeFilter D two-level shaft sealing

A RANGE OF OTHER DESIGN IMPROVEMENTS The PrimeFilter D has a simple, ruggedized system for installing and locking the disc sectors into place with guide bars at each end. Integrated into the base of each sector is a tapered positioning plate (Figure 8) that guides the sector into position in the shaft. A rugged rubber seal covers the sector foot flange to ensure sector-to-shaft sealing for stable vacuum and enhanced filtrate flow.

Knock-off nozzles have been redesigned to make it easy to flush out fibers and deposits. A simple hand lever engages the easy-cleaning function while the filter is in operation.

Figure 8: Tapered positioning plate

THE COMPLETE PACKAGE The new PrimeFilter D delivers superior throughput and operation (Figure 9). The uplift in production can be a 30% gain per disc surface area. Inlet consistencies up to 2% are possible. Up to 30% less pumping energy is consumed due to less water in the suspension and reduced water recirculation requirements.

The fiber mat created on the ConicalCell bagless sectors is optimum in terms of formation and uniformity. The bagless sectors eliminate the need to shut down to change filter bags and the improved design for aligning and supporting disc sectors ensures overall smooth operation.

54 | www.papermart.in / December-January, 2021

Figure 9: Summary of the main benefits of PrimeFilter D

N•E•W•S

Innovative Bio-Based Products for Sustainable Future: CEPI Study CEPI has presented the first Europe-wide study about pulp and paper industry biorefineries with a dedicated webinar attended by close to 100 participants from industry and press.

January 26, 2021 The study carried out by NC Partnering identified 139 biorefineries spread throughout Europe, with the biggest number of them located in Austria, Finland, France, Germany and Sweden.

These biorefineries bring to the market new bio-based products for a myriad of industrial value chains such as aviation, civil construction, printing and publishing, packaging, food, automotive & batteries, cosmetics, personal hygiene, electronics, pharmaceuticals & medical applications, furniture, chemicals, textile, and energy.

The most common bio-based products are man-made fibres, biodiesel and bio-naphta, lignosulphonate and tall oil products.

The purpose of this study is also to identify the value of these emerging bio-based products. The turnover generated is close to EUR 2.7 billion, which corresponds to almost 3% of European pulp and paper industry sector turnover as a whole.

Based on investment plans and R&D programs, we expect this share to grow in the future.

The pulp & paper industry has the ambition to become the European hub for the bio-based economy, integrating wood fibre, bio-based products and novel recycling.

The key will also be to use the entire potential of raw materials and by-streams of the forest-based sector – which also means paper for recycling – for a broad range of high added value bio-based products.

Representational image: Biorefineries

“The EU Green Deal and the 2050 climate neutrality target require an ambitious shift in the way we produce and consume in Europe. Bio-based products offer solutions to many value chains, also reinforcing the strategic autonomy of Europe by supporting Made in Europe businesses based on raw materials principally sourced in Europe.” commented Jori Ringman, CEPI Director General.

Thanks to their immediate climate mitigation effect, biobased products and the bioeconomy play an essential role in achieving the European Green Deal objectives such as climate neutrality.

EU regulation and the EU industrial policy can support industry transformation by creating the appropriate investment conditions for the European bioeconomy to thrive. 

Growing Demand for Packaging and Hygiene Papers Impacts Overall Paper and Board Consumption Despite the slowing down of the European economy and the sanitary restrictions, most of the mills ran without disruptions in 2020; even if some operated at reduced speed because of lower levels of demand.

February 10, 2021 According to preliminary figures, the demand for packaging paper and board continued to grow in 2020 especially materials used for transport packaging and corrugated boxes, as they benefited from the e-commerce boom related to the sanitary crisis.

The production of packaging grades is estimated to have increased by 2.1% compared to 2019. They are essential to

56 | www.papermart.in / December-January, 2021

Packaging and Hygiene Papers

YUNDA PAPER MACHINERY

Supplier of Complete Set of Stock Preparation and Approach System in China Established in 1981, Yunda specializes in researching and manufacturing of stock preparation equipment. The main products include the Waste Paper Bales Dry Separating & Screening System (patented in China), Chain Conveyor, Drum Pulper, D Type Continuous Pulping System, Drum Coarse Screen, Super Screen, Waste Paper Reject Classified Treatment, Mid Consistency Pressure Screen, Low-Pulse Inflow Pressure Screen, High & Mid Consistency Hydrapulper, HD Cleaner, Fiber Sorter, Reject Sorter, Double Disc Refiner, Disc-Thickener, Flotation Deinking Machine, Conical Refiner, and Hot Disperser System, etc.

Star Products

Drum Pulper

Chain Conveyor

The Waste Paper Bales Dry Separating & Screening System

Mid Consistency Pressure Screen

Double Disc Refiner

Mid Consistency Hydrapulper

Agitator

D-type Continuous Pulping System

Headbox Screen

SSC Super Screen

Recruitment: Sales Engineer Job Requirements: 1. Bachelor degree or above, major in Pulping and papermaking or other related fields.

2. Min. 5 years' experience in pulp and paper or relevant industry.

3. Fluency in speaking and writing English. Whoever can also speak Chinese has priority.

CV receiving email: info@zzyunda.com

Zhengzhou Yunda Paper Machinery Co., Ltd. Address: 168 Shiji Ave., Xuedian, Xinzheng, Henan, China Tel.: +86-0371-62581860 Fax: +86-0371-62586686 Web: www.en.zzyunda.com Email: info@zzyunda.com

N•E•W•S transport and deliver supplies, such as medicines or food.

The output of carton board plus other packaging board – mainly used for retail packaging - and the production of wrapping grades – used for paper bag production – remained unchanged.

Domestic demand for hygiene papers has been relatively positive in 2020, despite the COVID-19 restrictions affecting the ‘away-from-home’ markets. Tissue and hygiene products are of vital importance to citizens and offer the safest option, particularly to implement the recommendations issued by national governments and the World Health Organization (WHO). Sanitary and household paper manufacturers’ output increased by 1.9% compared to 2019.

“The European pulp and paper industry’s priority in 2020 has been to ensure that EU citizens can access the products they need for hygiene, health and food purposes. We have been relentlessly working with other industries along the value chain to guarantee security of supply to citizens. Our industry data now shows that crisis and the periodical lockdowns have accelerated consumption patterns change and will have a long-lasting impact on markets,” commented Mr. Jori

Ringman, CEPI Director General.

The overall paper and board consumption was impacted by the economic recession and decreased by 6.6%. The European GDP declined by7.4% in 2020, after +1.6% in 2019. CEPI member countries’ paper and board production decreased by 5.0% in 2020, compared to the previous year, mainly due to COVID-19 pandemic impacting global demand.

The pandemic has also accelerated the structural decline of graphic grades. The overall production of graphic grades fell by more than 18.0%. Newsprint and printing & writing papers decreased by 20.5% and 18.4% respectively. Demand from publishers, offices and commercial printing has declined dramatically. Permanent mill closures or machines conversions have been announced, to adjust to the situation.

The utilization of paper for recycling by paper companies in the CEPI area decreased by 2.1% compared to the 2019 level.

The pandemic impacted the availability and quality of paper for recycling throughout 2020. 96% of European paper for recycling utilization is supplied domestically. Exports went down by 8.4% according to preliminary statistics. 

China Imports Almost 7 Million Tonnes of Recovered Paper in 2020 Chinese paper makers have been increasingly importing recycled pulp as an alternative. They either buy it abroad or build facilities to make it on their own.

February 17, 2021 China’s recovered paper imports have been shrinking year after year since the country announced a ban on recovered paper imports from 2021. But Chinese paper mills have found ways to deal with this new situation.

According to a report from EUWID, Chinese paper mills went on one last buying spree for recovered paper in Europe just before the country’s ban on importing solid waste took effect.

Statistics from China Customs indicate that the highest amount of recovered paper all year was imported in December 2020.

A total of 1.1 million tonnes of recovered paper had been shipped to People’s Republic in the final month of last year. By comparison, the monthly average for the period from January to November 2020 stood at just 584,000 tonnes.

China has not accepted solid waste from other countries since 1 January 2021. The government unveiled this ban, which seeks to promote and propel collection within China’s borders, back in 2017, with imports falling year after year since then. The year before the import ban took effect, 2020, was no exception. Chinese buyers purchased approximately 6.9 million tonnes of recovered paper abroad last year, down from 10.9 million in 2019, 17 million in 2018 and 26 million tonnnes in 2017.

Imports of recycled pulp as an alternative Industry insiders have been looking for alternatives around the globe since it became known that China would stop

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Recovered Paper

importing recovered paper. Suppliers have found alternative buyer in other Asian countries such as Indonesia, India or Malaysia. Chinese paper mills, for their part, started to establish pillars in other countries in order to perform the first stages of production there.

In this context, Chinese paper makers have been increasingly importing recycled pulp as an alternative, i.e. recovered paper that has already been processed for paper production, as this material can still be imported. They either buy it abroad or build facilities to make it on their own.

The USA, for example, has shipped 289,000 tonnes of recycled pulp to China last year, which was 33.6 per cent more than in 2019, according to statistics from the American Forest & Paper Association. 

N•E•W•S

Shree Pawan Group to Set up 250 TPD Kraft Paper Mill in Assam The upcoming mill is envisaged to be the largest kraft paper factory in the Northeast region with a manufacturing capacity of 250 TPD. January 18, 2021 Shree Pawan Group of Industries has laid the foundation of one of the largest kraft paper mill in Assam. The production capacity of the mill would be 250 TPD with a pulping capacity of 320 TPD. The upcoming paper mill will be commissioned at Kamalpur in Assam.

The unit will also manufacture four forms of poly pipes - gas pipes, water pipes, PLB Duct Pipes and PPR Pipes.

Assam’s Industries and Commerce Minister Mr. Chandra Mohan Patowary laid the foundation stone of kraft paper mill and poly pipes unit at Kamalpur, Baihata Chariali. 

Representational image: Kraft paper

Ambani Paper Orders Fiber Recovery and ETP from Krofta Engineering Limited Morbi-based Ambani Paper has awarded an order for delivery of Fiber Recovery and Effluent treatment plant to Krofta Engineering.

February 24, 2021 Ambani Paper, one of the new and largest duplex board installations coming up in Morbi has ordered fiber recovery and ETP (Effluent treatment plant) from Krofta Engineering Limited.

The scheme entails the use of Krofta’s unique Sedicell for Ambani Paper’s fiber recovery which allows the mill to recover most of the fiber and reuse most of the water in the process.

Part of the clear water will be used for showers through the use of Krofta’s spray filter which is again a unique product in today’s time where water is excessively stressed.

BOD/COD is always a constraint and here Krofta has provided diffused aeration system to allow reduction of BOD/COD followed by secondary clarification which will ensure BOD/ COD reduction as well as a reduction in color and odor which is a very pertinent problem today in the industry.

Ambani Paper Signs Contract with Krofta Engineering for Fiber Recovery and ETP.

Ambani Paper has also selected tertiary filtration of the sand filter and carbon filter to remove further turbidity and color in the final effluent. Moreover, keeping in mind the concern for paper mills in sludge handling, Ambani Paper has chosen Krofta’s Triple Wire Belt Press as a solution to dewater the sludge for proper disposal. 

Bain Capital in Talks to Acquire Parksons Packaging for INR 3000 Crore Parksons Packaging has appointed Credit Suisse as its investment banker for the transaction, which is likely to be concluded in the next three months.

February 4, 2021

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N•E•W•S According to the media reports, Bain Capital is in talks to buy the Indian packaging company Parksons Packaging Ltd. for more than INR 3000 crore.

The Daman-based Parksons Packaging — India’s largest independent folding carton manufacturer that also makes paper-based labels, leaflets and corrugated boxes, recorded INR 500 crore revenue in 2019-20. Kedaara Capital purchased a significant minority stake worth INR 200 crore in the company in 2015.

Parksons has steadily ramped up its business over the past three years and the pandemic has pushed up demand for packaging. The discussion for a complete sell-off of Parksons is in advanced stages. Kedaara will also get an exit — as reported in a leading daily.

Parksons has appointed Credit Suisse as its investment banker for the transaction, which is likely to be concluded in the next three months. However, queries emailed to Parksons and Bain Capital remained unanswered.

Parksons Packaging

Rising demand for packaging of household, medical, edible and lifestyle products is a key reason leading private equity firms to look at deepening their foothold in the packaging industry, especially in emerging economies such as India and China. 

#PaperIsGoodAgain with Trident Copier Paper Trident Group has launched the digital campaign to showcase the range of responsibly manufactured and environment friendly copier paper.

March 01, 2021 Advocating for guilt-free use of paper, Trident Group has launched digital campaign #TheGoodPaper to showcase its environment friendly range of copier paper. Responsibly manufactured, Trident Copier Paper, a SUPERBRAND in India, has the unique advantage of being made of wheat straw and veneer chips (carpenter waste), making it – The Good Paper.

The use of wheat straw, which is essentially the agro waste left after wheat harvesting translates into extra income for over one lakh farmers in India who supply it to Trident. Through this method, Trident Paper is able to save 1.82 million trees from being cut every year, thereby reducing carbon emission through its highly advanced manufacturing process.

Trident has released the first part of a three-part film series campaign which aims to normalize not feeling overridden by guilt while using copier paper. The film is a tribute to the farmer who is seen surprising his daughter with her favourite doll. He is able to provide for his family because of the extra income he has generated with the sale of the wheat straw. While a young kid by using Trident paper has unknowingly contributing to the betterment of the environment. Divya Dutta, the highly talented Bollywood and National Award winning actress has lent her emotive voice to these finely crafted stories.

Speaking on the launch, Mr. Abhishek Gupta, Vice Chairman, Trident Limited said, “At Trident, we are committed to the cause of responsible manufacturing as we believe that business is not a profit making machinery divorced from the societal and environmental context in which it operates. We are immensely proud of what we have been able to achieve with Trident

62 | www.papermart.in / December-January, 2021

A still from the new ad film campaign, titled #TheGoodPaper

Paper but most of all we are grateful to be able to contribute to the lives of farmers of the country. We are excited to share this film series with the world and hope that it encourages our audience to do their bit to help the environment and choose the good paper.” 

N•E•W•S

Publishers Seek 5 Percent Waiver on Customs Duty on Newsprint Cost of paper used to publish newspapers and magazines has jumped 20 percent in the past three months due to demand-supply imbalance following the pandemic, prompting news publishers to rush to the government seeking waiver of 5 percent import duty to help cut cost.

January 18, 2021 As reported in PTI, newsprint cost has jumped 20 percent in the past three months due to the Covid-19 pandemic, publishers have reportedly claimed in a representation given to government.

Publishing industry was facing headwinds from a slowing economy even before the pandemic, was hit hard when most readers stopped buying newspapers and magazines on fears of them being carriers of viruses.

While there are no medical studies that have established the virus transmission theories, sales did not pick up even after lockdown restrictions were relaxed. Now, the rising cost of newsprint created due to a drastic fall in supplies after 3 million tonnes of manufacturing capacities were either closed or converted to brown paper grades worldwide has dealt a second blow that is threatening the survival of the industry.

Newsprint cost has jumped 20 percent in the past three months.

Indian Newspaper Society (INS) President Mr. L Adimoolam has stated that most newspapers have stopped sending the hard copies to the rural areas with readership of less than 50 copies, to reduce the distribution cost.

Moreover, leading domestic newsprint producers such as Emami Paper Mill, Khanna Paper and Shree Rama Newsprint have already increased their prices by Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 per tonne.

In a representation to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, INS has suggested cutting customs on import of newsprints.

INS also wants a fiscal stimulus package for the industry or raising tariffs of government advertisements by 50 percent.

Requesting to remove 5 percent customs duty, the INS stated that the tax would yield Rs 200 crore to the government exchequer in the next fiscal. “But, in view of the grim situation, it would be a great relief for the print industry.” 

It is estimated that the print media would take two-three years to recover from the current situation. The Indian publishers continue to be dependent on imported newsprint due to insufficient domestic capacity/output and poor quality.

BillerudKorsnas and Tetra Pak Together Aims to Achieve 100 Percent Recyclable Packaging BillerudKorsnas and Tetra Pak are long term partners in the quest to achieve package that is hundred percent from renewable resources.

February 24, 2021 Through close and enduring collaboration BillerudKorsnas and Tetra Pak aim to push the figure of renewable material from wood fibre in carton packages towards 100 percent.

Already the figure is about 70 percent. New innovations to further increase the sustainability of packages are since long top of the agenda for both companies.

“Our mission is to challenge conventional packaging for a sustainable future. 70 percent renewable is a good start, and the only way that we can solve the major sustainability challenges we face is to do it together”, says Malin Ljung Eiborn, Director Sustainability and Public Affairs.

100 Percent Recyclable Packaging

www.papermart.in / December-January, 2021 | 63

N•E•W•S The collaborative innovation takes the form of a number of defined projects where experts from the two companies work together. BillerudKorsnas also work together under the auspices of Treesearch, a Swedish collaboration platform for fundamental research, knowledge and competence-building in the field of new materials and specialty chemicals from forest raw material. It involves academia, industry, private foundations and the Swedish government, and aims to turn pioneering fundamental research into high-tech innovations to meet the climate challenge.

“Treesearch is important because we can get advanced

research on new materials and new applications, but also because we have an opportunity to build competence, with skilled people coming into the industry who will be able to develop more innovative products in the future”, says Malin Ljung Eiborn.

“We want a package that is hundred percent from renewable resources. We need a lot of innovation to find these new materials that can create a good barrier. We have to act together to transform the industry. And there are so many challenges, so much innovation to do”, says Eva Gustavsson, Vice President Materials & Package at Tetra Pak. 

Hayat Kimya Expanding its Tissue Production in Integrated Turkey and Russia In this association between Hayat Kimya and KÖrber, multiple Perini Constellation™ S8 lines are installed in a new, 210,000-tonne capacity plant.

February 23, 2021 In Russia, consumer demand for innovative, premium quality tissue products has risen dramatically, driven by tissue manufacturer Hayat Kimya’s leadership in innovation, product differentiation, and quality. As part of its strategic response to the increasing demand, Hayat Kimya is expanding its production in Turkey and Russia with the installation of multiple Perini Constellation™ S8 lines supported by Körber Business Area Tissue’s reliable customer care.

In addition to lines in Turkey, Körber is supporting Hayat Kimya’s installation of Perini Constellation™ S8 lines in a new, 210.000-tonne capacity plant, set for completion by fall 2021 in Kaluga, Russia, just outside Moscow. Hayat Kimya’s investment in the new lines, including wrapping, bundling, and embossing equipment, will make the company the largest tissue manufacturer in Russia and help catering for the increasing demand for premium tissue products in the Russian market.

Alessandro Granucci, Regional Sales Manager for the Körber Business Area Tissue commented “Hayat Kimya introduced premium quality, better-rolled bathroom tissue in three, four, and even up to six plies, elevating consumer expectations while also meeting market demand for such high-quality tissue. Now, one or two-ply products are rarely, if ever, found in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Today’s consumers demand premium options, and Hayat Kimya is well-positioned to meet their expectations as well as to continue its leadership position in the market.”

Körber’s reliable solutions and customer care support Hayat Kimya’s delivery of on-demand, premium-quality products in a global tissue industry facing challenges such as – pulp price volatility, a scarcity of skilled operators, and growing demands for sustainability and overall operational efficiencies. As industry partner, Körber supported its continued growth into the largest tissue converter of Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe.

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In Photo: Mr. Lütfi Aydin, Paper Group Director, Hayat Holding. Image: Hayat Kimya

Hayat Kimya Global Tissue Production Director Lütfi Aydin values the longstanding advantages of the Körber partnership as highly as he does the technologies. “We strongly believe in Körber equipment,” he said. “It’s truly the best technology available for optimizing production efficiency and achieving best quality.”

Perini Constellation™ S8 lines’ proven advantages include enhanced product quality, simplified line operations and increased operational efficiencies. These benefits make them the right choice for Hayat Kimya — and have led to sales of more than 100 Perini Constellation™ S8 lines worldwide over the past five years. Perini Constellation™ S8 solutions offer the most uniform rewinding at all speeds and perfect rolls from the first to the last sheet. As a result, customer satisfaction for product quality is close to 100% and over 85% of global customers reported improved operational efficiencies of at least 10%. 

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Toscotec to Supply Tissue Machine for MEPCO’s New Tissue Mill in KAEC Toscotec will supply the new line on a turnkey basis to MEPCO, including two OPTIMA 2600L slitter rewinders designed to ensure superior bulk and softness preservation.

February 25, 2021 Toscotec and MEPCO (Middle East Paper Company) have signed a turnkey supply contract for a high efficiency AHEAD 2.2L tissue machine. The tissue machine will have a production capacity of over 60,000 tons per annum of tissue jumbo rolls, covering a wide range of basis weights. The AHEAD 2.2L machine features a TT NextPress shoe press with an upgraded design, a third-generation TT SYD Steel Yankee Dryer, and top efficiency TT Hood-Multigen with cogeneration integrated air system.

Toscotec will supply the new line on a turnkey basis, including two OPTIMA 2600L slitter rewinders designed to ensure superior bulk and softness preservation. The manufacture of the machinery will take place in Lucca, Italy starting from the first quarter of 2021, and is expected to complete within 12 months. The test-run of the new line is scheduled in the first quarter of 2023, followed by commercial production.

MEPCO announced entering the tissue jumbo roll manufacturing in December 2020. A lucrative opportunity to fill a significant import gap in the local market, which enjoys population growth and high GDP per capita, but limited local supply.

Sami Safran, CEO of MEPCO, commented: “This is the first milestone in our new tissue project. We are progressing according to the planned timeline. Signing the machinery supply contract with Toscotec puts us at comfort about the product quality and efficiency, which are essential to position

Toscotec Tissue Machine

our products perfectly in the market. We think big, and have an ambitious vision to realize. MEPCO enjoys an international reputation for being among the lowest cost producers of containerboard. With the expertise of its management team, it has a concise plan to extend its cost efficiency techniques to the tissue manufacturing business. With Toscotec as our partner of choice, I am looking forward to realizing the maximum potential of this milestone project”.

Alessandro Mennucci, CEO of Toscotec, said: “We are delighted to receive a new order for a state-of-the-art turnkey operation from such an important group as MEPCO. It is also a milestone for Toscotec, who is entering the Middle East market with an advanced high-speed tissue line designed to manufacture premium quality tissue, with a high level of energy efficiency ensured by the integration with the cogeneration system”. 

Asia Pulp & Paper Introduces F&B Packaging Paperboard From Foopak Bio Natura Foopak Bio Natura Cup stock is FDA-certified and meets the standards with the FTC’s Green Guides for biodegradability and compostability.

January 21, 2021 Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) announces launch of a plastic-free takeaway F&B packaging paperboard from Foopak Bio Natura, a perfect paperboard that fits company’s environmental friendly goals.

This paperboard is appropriate to be used in the innovative Butterfly Cup design, which will eliminate the need for plastic lids and straws. Moreover, Foopak Bio Natura Paperboard is 100 percent compostable, biodegradable and recyclable.

Suitable for hot food and beverages, Bio Natura Cup makes use of an innovative biodegradable water based coating, a sustainable alternative to petroleum based coatings. This eliminates the need for expensive plastic separation in the recycling process, which many recycling facilities are unequipped to handle. 

Foopak Bio Natura Paperboard

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International Paper to Sell Kwidzyn Pulp and Paper Mill to Mayr Melnhof for EUR 670 Million International Paper will engage in a consultation process with the appropriate employee representatives and expects the transaction to close in the third quarter of 2021.

February 12, 2021 International Paper has entered into an agreement to sell the Kwidzyn pulp and paper mill and supporting operations to Mayr-Melnhof Karton AG for EUR 670 million (approximately USD 812 million) in cash, subject to closing adjustments for net debt and net working capital.

The Kwidzyn mill employs approximately 2,300 people and has the annual capacity to produce 740,000 metric tons of folding boxboard, uncoated freesheet, specialty kraft papers, and market pulp on four machines.

Mayr-Melnhof explained that the acquisition of Kwidzyn forms part of its strategy to grow in high quality virgin fiber based cartonboard with innovative, sustainable and cost effective FBB (Folding Boxboard) grades.

The Kwidzyn mill is an integrated production facility. Its pulp mill has an annual capacity to produce about 400,000 tons, and the paper mill operates four paper machines that produce cartonboard. The flagship machine produces FBB with the capacity to produce 260,000 tons per year.

Kwidzyn Pulp and Paper Mill in Poland.

According to Mayr-Melnhof, the Kwidzyn mill recently entered the MF (machine finished) kraft paper segment through the conversion of one of its paper machines to serve the growing demand for flexible fiber-based packaging products.

Production of this machine is increasing up to an annual capacity of 75,000 tons.

In addition, Kwidzyn operates two copy paper machines that produce UWF (uncoated woodfree) grades with an annual total capacity of 410,000 tons. 

Stora Enso Will Close its Virdia Operations in the United States The decision to shut down the Virdia operations is in line with company’s strategic choices in R&D to drive future growth and value creation from forest-based materials.

January 29, 2021 Stora Enso has decided to permanently close its US-based Virdia operations during 2021. Virdia was acquired in 2014 and has focused on conversion of cellulosic biomass from sugar cane bagasse into refined sugars. The operations have consisted of a research centre in Danville, Virginia and a demo plant in Raceland, Louisiana, which will both be closed.

The closure is in line with Stora Enso’s strategic choices in R&D to drive future growth and value creation from forest-based materials. Furthermore, company’s innovation work focuses considerably more on applications further down the value chain instead of being a raw material supplier. There will be a stepwise process for discontinuing the operations and closing the sites during 2021. The employee impact will be approximately 65 Stora Enso employees and 18 contractors.

The asset write downs and provisions were booked as items affecting comparability (IAC) of EUR -53 million in Stora Enso’s fourth quarter 2020 results. A further EUR -6 million of items

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Raceland B2X plant

affecting comparability are expected to be recorded in the Q1 2021. The closure will not have material impact on Stora Enso’s sales.

N•E•W•S In its US-based operations, Stora Enso has been studying alternatives for separation technologies that enable cellulosic biomass, such as bagasse, to be converted into highly refined sugars. The company has gained insights from this research for its innovation work, which will be of benefit in future applications. The intellectual property belongs to Stora Enso for further use by the different businesses in the company.

Stora Enso is committed to a safe and orderly closure of operations and will honour existing contractual obligations and liabilities with relevant stakeholders as required and deemed appropriate. Stora Enso will provide support for its local employees throughout the shutdown process. 

Metsä Group to Build a New Bioproduct Mill in Kemi, Finland New Kemi softwood and hardwood pulp mill is to be built at a cost of EUR 1.6 billion.

February 11, 2021 Metsä Fibre, part of Metsä Group, has made the investment decision to build a new bioproduct mill in Kemi, Finland. The value of the investment is EUR 1.6 billion and it is the largest investment ever made by the Finnish forest industry in Finland.

The construction phase will take approximately two and a half years, and the mill will be completed during the third quarter of 2023.

Kemi bioproduct mill will increase the annual value of Finland’s exports by approximately EUR 0.5 billion, and the positive annual income effect in Finland from wood sales and domestic purchases will also be approximately EUR 0.5 billion.

Wood required by the mill will be procured from sustainably managed forests, and the origin of the wood is always known.

The Kemi bioproduct mill will use approximately 7.6 million cubic metres of pulpwood a year, which is 4.5 million cubic metres more than the current pulp mill in Kemi. Wood is planned to be procured mainly from Finland.

many other bioproducts.

The Kemi bioproduct mill will be built using the best available technology. The technological level meets and even exceeds the EU BREF requirements.

The main partners for the construction project are Valmet, ABB, AFRY and Fimpec. The project will be implemented as buyer-driven subcontracting, which also allows for the participation of smaller companies.

Of the total investment to the Kemi bioproduct mill, EUR 1.6 billion, 40% will be financed with domestic equity and 60% with debt financing. 

The Kemi bioproduct mill will produce some 1.5 million tonnes of softwood and hardwood pulp per year, as well as

New Bioproduct Mill

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Zhejiang Jingxing Paper Orders Valmet IQ Steam Profiler and DNA Machine Monitoring Systems The order was included in Valmet’s orders received of the fourth quarter 2020. The delivery will take place in the first quarter of 2021.

February 9, 2021 Valmet will supply Valmet IQ Steam Profiler and Valmet DNA Machine Monitoring systems with condition monitoring analysis and diagnosis services to Zhejiang Jingxing Paper Co., Ltd. in China. The systems will be installed on Jingxing Paper’s paper machines PM12 and PM16 to provide effective moisture profile management and predictive condition monitoring, and to improve production runnability and end-product quality.

The Valmet IQ Steam Profiler is a multi-zone steambox system that provides unique profiling accuracy through its electromechanical actuator with position feedback. It features advanced steam injection technology that maximizes steam absorption efficiency and temperature increase to provide increased dryness after the press.

Valmet

Valmet condition monitoring solutions produce real-time machine health information for effective planning and scheduling of maintenance operations. 

Shanying Paper Orders Another OptiConcept M Containerboard Making Line from Valmet The order is included in Valmet’s orders received of the fourth quarter 2020.

The value of the order will not be disclosed.

January 18, 2021 Valmet will supply a new OptiConcept M container board making line with extensive packages of automation and services to Shanying Paper, Guangdong at its Zhaoqing mill in China. The new board making line (PM 53) will produce test liner grades and continue the expanding of Shanying Paper’s business in Guangdong area.

The new order of PM 53 is following Valmet’s OptiConcept M board making line deliveries of PM 52 to the same site, which was announced in October 2020, and Shanying Huazhong PM 21 and PM 23, which have already been started up. In addition to these, Valmet has supplied six other board making lines to Shanying International.

Valmet’s delivery for PM 53 is quite similar to the delivery of PM 52, and it will include a high-speed container board making line from broke collection to a reel and a winder. OptiFlo Foudrinier headboxes, OptiFormer Multi forming section, OptiPress Center press section and OptiRun Single dying section are included to produce high-quality base board.

These are followed by an OptiSizer Film sizer, an OptiCalender Hard calender, and OptiReel Linear reel combined with transfer rails, an OptiCart Stream parent roll cart, and an OptiWin Drum two-drum winder. A wide scope of board machine process ventilation systems is included, too.

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Valmet will supply another OptiConcept M Containerboard Making Line to Shanying Paper in China.

The wide automation package includes Valmet DNA automation system for process and drive controls as well as runnability and condition monitoring and Valmet IQ quality management solution. The delivery will also include comprehensive Valmet Paper Machine Clothing, spare parts and consumables packages.

The 9,300-mm-wide (wire) board machine will produce test liner grades. The design speed of the machine will be 1,200 m/ min and the daily capacity is approximately 1,500 tonnes. 

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Jiangsu Bohui Achieves World Record Production With Andritz HC Refiner at Dafeng Mill in China The world record was achieved with the ANDRITZ TX68, the world’s largest HC refiner, as part of the second P-RC APMP system despite a defined single-line capacity of 750 admt/d. The TX68 refiner with an advanced feeding system is the centerpiece of the process and the latest innovation by ANDRITZ in HC refining.

January 14, 2021 In close cooperation with its customer Jiangsu Bohui Paper Industry, international technology group ANDRITZ recently achieved a milestone in high-consistency (HC) refining by processing a peak capacity of 1,300 admt/d of local hardwood chips per day and achieving sustainable production of 1,150 admt/d at the mill in Dafeng, China.

ANDRITZ supplied two separate fiberlines with capacities of 1,500admt/d and 750 admt/d, respectively, featuring the well-proven P-RC APMP (Pre-Conditioning Refiner Chemical Alkaline Peroxide Mechanical Pulp) technology for the new chemi-thermo-mechanical pulping system. With a total capacity of 2,250 admt/d, this system is the largest worldwide.

Jiangsu Bohui Paper Industry Co., Ltd. is a subsidiary of Shandong Bohui Paper Industrial Co., Ltd., a listed company established in 1994 focusing on the production of ivory board, culture paper, linerboard, paper for gypsum plasterboard, and market pulp for the papermaking industry. 

Andritz HC Refiner.

Smurfit Kappa Unveils Innovative New Packaging Portfolio for Online Beverage Market The new eBottle product range offers beverage businesses a suite of fit-for-purpose and bespoke packaging solutions which address the key challenges for their e-commerce channel.

February 1, 2021 Smurfit Kappa has launched a new range of eBottle packaging solutions for the rapidly growing online beverage and liquids market. The new portfolio includes a variety of sustainable solutions for single and multi-pack products, including the Rollor bottle pack, BiPack, and Pop-up insert.

The surge in e-commerce due to the Covid-19 pandemic is evident across all sectors and the beverage market has also seen a significant impact. In particular, online sales for alcoholic beverages has increased by 34% in Europe driving a demand for sustainable, durable and consumer friendly packaging that protects the product during shipment.

Key challenges for the beverage e-commerce channel are product damage, sustainability, consumer experience and the ability to accelerate growth using the right packing processes.

Innovative Packaging Portfolio for Online Beverage Market.

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N•E•W•S Consumer research carried out by Smurfit Kappa also shows consumers are continuing to push for higher standards.

The research found that over two thirds (69%) of consumers prefer paper-based packaging, around half (59%) of consumers want the parcel to be easy to open and 1 in 10 consumers will reconsider re-ordering in the case of damage.

The innovative range, combined with focus on e-commerce processes, supply chain and consumer experience, have all contributed to increased sales and greater efficiencies for the customers.

Smurfit Kappa also offers a host of automated solutions to optimize packaging processes in addition to the eBottle range.

The launch of this new product portfolio is the latest addition to its range of Better Planet Packaging, designed to be more sustainable and coming from a renewable and recyclable raw material. Businesses are already benefitting in the alcoholic beverage segment.

InterDrinks is an eMerchant selling more than 2,500 different types of beers and beer products. Smurfit Kappa introduced a flexible and unique packaging solution that accommodates all the various sized products sold by InterDrinks. It also includes automated assembly that mounts the packs as required. 

ABB Partners With ACA Systems to Offer New Online Porosity Sensor for Paper Mills ABB boosts portfolio with ACA Permi sensor, which provides online air permeability measurements and acts as early warning system for unwanted process changes.

January 19, 2021 ABB has entered into a partnership with ACA Systems, the leading supplier of porosity sensors, to offer paper mill customers a proven technology that stabilizes the process to enable excellent roll quality when measuring online porosity.

The single point ACA Permi sensor uses a continuous air flow method that is 50 to 100 times faster than other systems available on the market to reduce air permeance variations, enabling better product quality, optimized energy usage and reduced raw material costs.

The multiple advanced calibration features improve the accuracy of the measurements while also enabling faster grade changes, improving overall runnability. This accuracy means that the level of fines can be better controlled while monitoring the direct effect of refining, retention, broke addition and vacuum levels.

ACA Systems’ ACA Permi porosity sensor.

When stabilized air permeability is at the desired level, the roll is considered highest quality. In contrast to laboratory measurements that take 5 to 10 points from the produced roll, ACA Permi measures more than 10,000 points in real time and makes a sophisticated, statistical analysis on the quality of the roll.

“Our customers have reported faster grade change times of between 15 percent and 50 percent when controlling the roll quality with ACA Permi. This is a major benefit for operators focused on minimizing production loss and maximizing return on investment,” said Vesa Kukkamo, CEO of ACA Systems.

Under the partnership, ABB will supply the user-friendly ACA Permi to customers as the porosity option within its own portfolio. It is designed to be used in paper mills with requirements for online porosity measurement as a standalone solution or as part of the quality control systems (QCS) package.

It serves ABB’s L&W installed base by providing a replacement for the soon-to-be obsolete Porolog while augmenting the current QCS offering with the industry-leading porosity measurement that is easily integrated into the QCS for data, display and control. When combined with QCS, it can leverage the ABB Ability™ Quality Management System with its System

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800xA backbone. It also has potential to be installed and used with ABB’s remote support.

The sensor offers a wide measurement range that usually requires one single calibration, so there is typically no need to change parameters or physical parts for various grades. Plus, the automatic cleaning cycle and smart construction make for easy maintenance and installation. The measurement signal is also compatible with all mill-wide systems and cloud services.

“ACA was strategically chosen for its leadership position, attained through extensive expertise in this space, and abilities to provide continuous measurement and strong service capability. The ACA Permi delivers more accurate, faster measurement results and therefore a higher quality output, which we know is crucial for our customers,” said Ad de Brouwer, Product Manager at ABB.

N•E•W•S ACA Permi’s unique measurement head design, tailored with special coatings for challenging applications such as decor paper, provides excellent contact with the web and eliminates the leakage of air, dust and other disturbances. Both vacuum and air blow methods are available, resulting in a very high correlation between the ACA Permi and any lab standard.

The sensor suits a wide range of paper grades, including sack paper, MG-kraft paper, cigarette paper, security paper, decor paper, photo base paper, thermal paper, carbonless paper, saturating paper and base paper before coating. 

Roll Cover Technology from Voith: Latest Development AiroDry H for Guide Rolls in the Dryer Section The new roll cover technology has excellent load-bearing properties and its smooth surface finish ensures gentle handling of the paper sheet.

February 23, 2021 The new AiroDry H guide roll cover is resistant to abrasion, corrosion and static. Its temperature-resistance up to 130 °C ensures performance within the dryer section.

Guide rolls are used throughout the paper machine and must therefore meet a wide variety of requirements. In the dryer section, the primary task is to safely guide either dryer fabrics or the paper sheet through the machine. Once the rolls become corroded, worn, or contaminated, there is an increased risk to paper machine efficiency through sheet breaks.

The life of the dryer fabrics could be reduced either by contamination from the guide roll or by abrasion. Guide rolls which are in an extreme condition could break causing unplanned downtime. With several decades of expertise in roll covers, Voith therefore complements its product portfolio for guide rolls with the new AiroDry H roll cover.

Advanced technology for guide rolls AiroDry H is made of a fiber composite material. It has antistatic and highly abrasion resistant properties. It is temperatureresistant up to 130 °C, higher than the surrounding temperatures which guide rolls are subjected to. The new roll cover has excellent load bearing properties and its smooth surface finish ensures a gentle handling of the fabrics.

Carl Taylor, Global Product Manager Dryer Section Fabric & Roll Systems at Voith explained “The introduction of AiroDry H is the result of a long development program to find the optimum fiber composite guide roll for the dryer section.

The new AiroDry H guide roll cover is resistant to abrasion, corrosion and static. Its temperature-resistance up to 130 °C ensures performance within the dryer section. Image: Voith

The new roll cover is resistant up to high temperatures of 130 °C. AiroDry H is a very competitive cover for guide rolls that are already in poor condition and cannot easily be thermal coated. AiroDry H offers a good alternative and opens up new possibilities.”

Excellent material properties AiroDry H is available for all dryer sections and can be used on both steel and carbon rolls. It provides a cost-effective solution for extending the service life of damaged or corroded guide roll shells. Along with Voith’s individual clothing and doctor blades, a tailored solution can be found to raise the performance and safety of paper machines. 

Vietnam to Audit Companies That Are Using Imported Recyclable Materials As part of the recent Law on Environmental Protection, the Vietnamese Government is getting tougher on regulating imports - specifically recyclable materials.

February 22, 2021 According to the media reports, Vietnam’s Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment has written to the country’s provinces and cities ordering them to audit companies that

are using imported recyclable materials.

Due to this letter, the country’s provinces and cities must

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N•E•W•S now report to the Ministry the companies that are importing materials and how they are using imported recyclable materials in production.

The provinces and cities must prepare reports on how they will manage this process and provide it to the Ministry by 1 March. 

Recyclable Papers

Coca-Cola to Begin Testing its First Paper Bottle Coca-Cola is testing alternatives to replace the millions of tons of plastic it uses every year.

February 12, 2021 Coca-Cola will start the trial of its paper bottle as part of a longer-term bid to eliminate plastic from its packaging entirely. After several years of development, Coca-Cola will now test the bottle on one of its 500 brands—a drink called Adez sold in Hungary.

Earlier in 2020, Coca-Cola partnered with the Danish company — Paboco (“Paper Bottle Company”) to manufacture a 100% paper-based bottle. However, the prototype is made from an extra-strong paper shell that still contains a thin plastic liner.

The bottle is formed out of a single sheet of paper fiber to help make it strong enough to withstand the pressure of the bottling process, with the label printed directly on the bottle itself. The first version in the pilot has a thin plastic liner to keep the paper dry, but eventually, the bottle will use a liner made from a plant-based material; the cap can be made from paper. The material avoids the carbon footprint of manufacturing plastic from fossil fuels, and the final product will be fully recyclable.

Coca-Cola Paper Bottle.

But the goal is to create a 100% recyclable, plastic-free bottle capable of preventing gas escaping from carbonated drinks.

The challenge — barrier must also ensure no fibres flake off into the liquid. This would pose a risk of altering the taste of the drink, or potentially fall foul of health and safety checks. 

Graphic Packaging International Launches Paperboard Innovation ProducePack ProducePack range is proving to be a viable commercial solution for the customers and can make a positive contribution to the environment.

February 10, 2021 Graphic Packaging International has announced the launch of ProducePack, a sustainable paperboard packaging range of solutions for fresh produce. Aligned with Graphic Packaging’s Vision 2025 to be better stewards for the environment, the innovative carton offers brands and retailers an eco-friendly solution for a variety of applications with an artisan look that

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protects, preserves and presents fresh produce, from field to store.

ProducePack, available in multiple different configurations and structures, can offer comfortable carrying handles, beautiful branding and product differentiation in the otherwise

N•E•W•S monotonous produce aisle. Additionally, ProducePack offers another level of hygiene protection as the produce is prepacked and can reduce excessive handling in store.

The fully scalable ProducePack range is designed to support brands and retailers around the world on their journey to plastic reduction and replacement. The patented intelligent design enables easy stacking through reinforced corners with visually stunning shelf appeal that grabs the eye of the consumer. The innovative carton range can be hand- or machine-packed for small scale or mass production and is available now in the United States and Europe. 

ProducePack range

Garnier Launches its Solid Shampoo Bar in Recyclable Cardboard Box By using an FSC-certified cardboard, Garnier supports forest management that respects people and nature.

February 10, 2021 Garnier has re-launched its Ultra Doux line of shampoos, which now come in a solid bar format, in recyclable and FSCcertified cardboard packaging.

According to the media reports, the launch represents the Garnier’s first no-waste shampoo and boasts 94 percent plantbased ingredients pressed into a solid shampoo bar. The shampoos are available in five versions to suit all hair types and do not require plastic wrapping.

With these Ultra Doux shampoos, Garnier presents a new line of sustainable beauty products free of plastic packaging. It’s yet another step forward in its commitment to greener, and more sustainable beauty. By using an FSC-certified cardboard, Garnier supports forest management that respects people and nature.

Garnier also conducted a comparative Life Cycle Analysis to measure the product’s impact throughout its entire lifecycle, and the results show “considerable” environmental benefits compared to a standard shampoo bottle.

Ultra Doux line of shampoos in cardboard box.

The study found the launch offers an 80 percent reduction in primary packaging, a 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emission and a 90 percent reduction in packaging fossil energy consumption. 

Refillable Antiperspirant Cases Made With No Single-Use Plastic Packaging The easy-to-use, refillable antiperspirant cases, manufactured with no single use plastic, include a refill made with 100 percent FSC certified paperboard packaging.

February 9, 2021 In an effort to help reduce plastic waste, Secret and Old Spice are launching innovative refillable antiperspirant cases at select retailers in February 2021.

As reported in a leading daily, both brands will expand their offering of aluminum free deodorants in recyclable paper tube packaging made of 90 percent recycled paperboard, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

The easy-to-use, refillable cases, manufactured with no single use plastic.

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N•E•W•S Available in refillable antiperspirant, the first from a major brand, this new product line now offers consumers a way to eliminate plastic waste without compromising on 48-hour sweat protection. Each refill starter kit has a suggested retail price of USD 10.00 and Refills have a suggested retail price of USD 8.00, making this one of the most affordable refill options on the market today.

Old Spice and Secret were the first major brands to introduce all-paper, plastic-free, deodorant solutions in May of 2020.

Following the success of that limited-edition pilot, both brands are expanding this offering nationwide with an aluminum free deodorant formula. Featuring a signature push-pop design, these innovative paper tubes are fully recyclable. Consumers can crush the empty paperboard and drop the package right into their recycling bin. 

Hahnemühle Launches Sustainable Artist Papers Made From Hemp, Agave and Bamboo Hahnemühle has launched innovative ‘Natural Line’ papers at CAA Digital Creative Days.

February 12, 2021 For the first time Hahnemühle, together with its partners of the Creative Art Allience Schmincke and da Vinci, organized the CAA Digital Creative Days — where in sustainable premium artist papers made from hemp, agave and bamboo were launched.

With the new papers Hemp and Agave as well as the already established and popular Bamboo paper, Hahnemühle focuses even more on resource-saving papers. The high number of environmentally friendly fibres bamboo, hemp and agave used in the production of the papers is unique on the market.

With the product launch of the mixed media paper Bamboo in 2008, consisting of 90% bamboo fibres and 10% rags, the company is increasingly focusing on fast-growing and sustainable fibres for artists’ papers. Over the years, other Bamboo papers and books for various painting techniques have been added to the range. Today, Hahnemühle’s “Natural

Natural Line Papers

Line” includes the artist papers Agave Watercolour for watercolour painting, Hemp Sketch for sketching, Bamboo Mixed Media for various painting techniques and Bamboo Sketch again for sketching. 

Mondi Launches AegisPaper Sustainable Packaging Solutions Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, says its AegisPaper thin films can replace plastic and are highly recyclable.

February 10, 2021 Mondi has successfully developed a new recyclable functional barrier paper range. Designed with protection in mind, this range of certified recyclable barrier paper solutions is fully integrated across Mondi’s value chain—from paper production to the barrier application—and can run on existing filling lines for form-fill-and-seal (FFS) applications.

Mondi’s AegisPaper range reduces the amount of plastic used by replacing it with a renewable resource that has specific mechanical properties, such as puncture resistance, flexibility, printability and barrier protection. The coatings technologies applied to these papers create custom barriers against grease and water vapour and ensure sealability. AegisPapers are suitable for numerous packaging applications within the dry food, frozen food, pet food, confectionery, secondary packaging, toy, e-commerce, flower packaging, and DIY industries.

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Mondi’s AegisPaper

N•E•W•S The functional barrier paper can replace plastic packaging that has traditionally been used for FMCG and consumer products.

In a first step, Mondi’s collaboration with a European dry pasta producer will reduce the plastic used by 90% and save them 7.5 tonnes of plastic film per year for one of their product ranges.

This pasta packaging and other commercialised solutions will be entering the market in the first half of 2021. The paper and coatings are all produced and applied in Europe.

Within AegisPaper, there are three grades available for different applications and requirements: •

AegisPaper Select offers a wide range of custom barrier properties

•

AegisPaper 95/5 food is certified as fully recyclable and has the best mechanical properties for food applications

•

AegisPaper reduce provides the thinnest functional barrier paper to reduce amount of packaging material needed 

Toscotec to Supply AHEAD 2.2S Tissue Line to Europap Tezol Kağit in Turkey This is a repeat order for Toscotec who already supplied a TT SYD steel Yankee dryer installed on their PM1 in 2012. The new line is scheduled for start-up in mid-2022.

January 18, 2021 Toscotec will supply AHEAD 2.2S tissue line to Europap Tezol Kağit in Turkey. Europap Tezol Kağit will boost capacity with a Toscotec-supplied AHEAD 2.2S tissue machine at its integrated production base in Mersin, Turkey.

The AHEAD 2.2S machine has a sheet trim width of 2,920 mm, a maximum operating speed of 2,100 mpm, and an annual production capacity of over 40,000 tons. It is equipped with TT NextPress with upgraded design, third-generation TT SYD, TT Reel-BulkyReel for optimal preservation of bulk and softness, and high efficiency TT Hood with automatic balancing system.

The supply features the complete stock preparation system and Toscotec’s patented TT SAF® (Short Approach Flow) equipped with a double dilution system to ensure electrical consumption reduction. The scope also includes Toscotec’s proprietary DCS system, electrification and controls, as well as dust and mist removal systems. Two OPTIMA slitter rewinders

Europap Tezol Kağit

fitted with an automatic shaft puller complete the supply.

Toscotec will provide a complete service package with detailed mill engineering, erection supervision, commissioning, training, and start-up assistance.

The AHEAD 2.2S machine will allow Europap Tezol to achieve its target of production increase and prime quality. 

Papresa Orders Complete Blueline OCC System From Voith This project marks the first milestone of Papresa’s ambitious investment and development plan.

January 18, 2021 Papresa, a leading producer of newsprint in Southern Europe, selected Voith to deliver a complete stock preparation system for its mill in Rentería, Spain. As a full-line supplier, Voith will provide the full scope BlueLine OCC system that is scheduled for start-up in the last quarter of 2021, with a total capacity of 700 tons/day.

The scope of supply is completed by a multi-year service agreement for services and consumables.

The decision to execute a conversion program towards the growing products for packaging will expand Papresa’s product portfolio offering, especially towards the Asian market. It also aims to grow our sales network in Europe. 

Papresa mill

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N•E•W•S

Mondi Launches its Sustainable Development Action Plan: MAP2030 Company’s 2030 commitments is build on its previous achievements and align with the UN’s sustainable development goals timeframe.

January 27, 2021 Mondi, a leading global packaging and paper company, today announces its 10 year sustainability action plan, MAP2030, designed to tackle global issues across the value chain. The commitments focus on three key action areas: circular-driven packaging and paper solutions; created by empowered people, taking action on climate. All areas are aligned to the UN Sustainable Development goals as part of Mondi’s focus on being sustainable by design.

Each action area of Mondi’s Action Plan 2030 (MAP2030) has three commitments underpinned by targets and KPIs. Circular Driven Solutions: Committed to making innovative packaging and paper solutions that keep materials in circulation and prevent waste. This includes a target to make 100% of its products reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.

Created by Empowered People: Developing an empowered and inclusive team who can contribute to a better world. A key target is to increase female representation across all levels at Mondi from 21% to at least 30% by 2030. This requires four in ten hires to be women throughout the next decade.

Taking action on Climate: Focusing on climate resilience through its forests and operations for the future of the planet.

Targets include reducing its greenhouse gas emissions in line with science-based targets and maintaining zero deforestation in its wood supply as its business grows.

MAP2030 is built on a foundation of responsible business practices spanning business ethics and governance, human rights, communities, procurement and environmental impact.

Each area has commitments and targets to guide our action,

Mondi’s Action Plan 2030

including work on human rights due diligence; ongoing investment in our communities; 100% of wood fibre compliant with credible standards; and detailed air emission and water targets to minimize our environmental impact.

The plan builds on the progress of Mondi’s existing sustainability work, which saw the Group move to science-based targets for scope 1 and 2 emissions and supports the business strategy with sustainability at its heart. Mondi has already reduced its CO2 emissions by 45% since 2004 and was recognised in 2020

by CDP as one of only 10 companies worldwide with a ‘Triple A’ score on its environmental performance related to climate, forests and water security. 

Berthold Technologies: Moisture Measurement of Wood Chips The determination of moisture in dry fibrous material is important to keep the boiler efficiency constant. Especially in summer, when the wood chip stockpiles are moistened, the water concentration can vary drastically.

February 2, 2021 The Berthold LB 568 analyzer provides an online and real-time moisture measurement of digester-fed wood chips. The LB 568 generates multiple microwaves in a wide frequency range, emitted by an antenna below the conveyor. The microwaves penetrate the wood chips and are received by a second antenna above the belt. When penetrating the wood chips, the microwave signal‘s characteristics change in terms of attenuation and phase shift. These changes directly correlate to the wood chip moisture. Variations in layer thickness and bulk density are compensated with the use of a radiometric bulk density compensation system component. The complete

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Berthold LB 568 analyzer

N•E•W•S system thus provides a stable and reliable moisture reading.

The microwave moisture analyzers are installed at the feeding line to the digester and the transmitter is mounted close to the LB 568s. Depending on the sampling representativity and measurement conditions a typical accuracy of better than ±1.0 % (1 sigma) can be achieved.

These advantages are used to make critical applications more reliable:

•

Accurate moisture leads to accurate bone dry solids addition leads to accurate digester chemical charge

•

Measurement independent of wood species

•

Operates reliably at moisture levels up to and above 50%

•

Transmission measurement provides representative sample as opposed to traditional surface only measurements 

Mondi Launches New Release Liner Paper-Based Everliner Products The liners are lighter in weight and are created with FSC® or PEFC® certified paper which further ensures responsible sourcing.

February 12, 2021 Leading global packaging and paper group Mondi is introducing a range of new paper-based release liners that are made using recycled and light-weight materials and provide a more sustainable solution for a range of applications.

The new products have been created with FSC® or PEFC® certified paper to ensure responsible sourcing and, being lighter in weight, they offer a sustainable solution for labels, tapes, envelopes, and industrial usage.

EverLiner labelite is a lighter option to standard glassine for label applications, with the same thickness of 58 gsm glassine but engineered to a reduced weight of 47 gsm. This result in 20% less raw material used to produce the liner. The mechanical and transparency properties of the EverLiner labelite are also comparable to standard 58 gsm glassine. Furthermore, its lighter weight allows for optimized transportation. With Mondi using paper from an integrated production process with manufacturing and converting taking place in-house, this leads to a significant reduction in the product’s overall carbon footprint.

EverLiner M R is the first release liner on the market using a recycled base paper. The machine glazed paper (MG) with 70% FSC® recycled certified content reduces the number of fresh fibres used and is FSC® certified so ensures responsible sourcing. In the first cooperation with a European label producer, Mondi was able to achieve a significant CO2 reduction for their customer.

Mondi EverLiner

Andrea Lackner, R&D Director Release Liner, Mondi, comments: “Our aim is to create sustainable alternatives with no need to change the silicone system in order to offer products that are effective in usage, work for our customers and ultimately help protect the environment. By using recycled fibres, reducing the amount of material used, and looking at the whole production and logistics process, we have been able to create new highly effective options that manufacturers can choose from, depending on their product application and specific needs. We apply our EcoSolutions approach, to support customers develop sustainable packaging solutions and are committed to reducing raw material usage.” 

Valmet Delivers Process Islands and Automation Systems to Metsa Fibre’s Bioproduct Mill The order is included in Valmet’s orders received of the first quarter 2021. The value of the order covering the core equipment supplied by Valmet, is about EUR 350-400 million.

February 19, 2021 Valmet and Metsa Fibre, which is part of Metsa Group, have finalized the agreement for the key technology delivery covering all main process islands and automation systems

for Metsa Fibre’s Kemi bioproduct mill in Finland. The new bioproduct mill will have an annual pulp production capacity of 1.5 million tonnes and in addition produce various other

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N•E•W•S bioproducts. The new totally fossil fuel free mill is scheduled to start-up in the third quarter 2023.

Valmet will deliver the full production process from wood handling to baling, designed to produce softwood and hardwood pulp, as well as automation system for the whole mill including features from Valmet’s Industrial Internet (VII) offering. In addition, as part of the project, Valmet delivers a rebuild of the existing fiber line.

Valmet’s project delivery includes engineering and supply of the main process equipment, as well as management of construction and start-up partly with an Open Book delivery model. Project’s degree of Finnish origin is estimated above 60%.

Metsa Fibre

The mill will feature leading process technology and the most advanced automation systems. Valmet’s delivery includes the wood handling, cooking and fiber line, pulp drying and baling, evaporation, recovery boiler, recausticizing, lime kiln, biomass dryer, gasifier, ash crystallization, mill-wide non-condensable gases (NCG) handling solution and electrostatic precipitators

(ESP) for the recovery boiler and lime kiln. Valmet will also deliver the sulfuric acid plant with an extended scope of supply including construction. In addition, Valmet will deliver rebuild of the existing fiber line including new chip feeding and washing systems. 

ABB Delivers First-of-its-Kind Winder Safety System for New Zealand Paper Mill Oji Fibre Solutions has selected ABB to install automation and winder systems to improve operator safety at Penrose Mill in Auckland.

February 18, 2021 Oji Fibre Solutions, a leading producer of market pulp, paperboard and fiber-based packaging, has appointed ABB to supply a specially-designed winder safety system – the first of its kind in New Zealand – as well as a winder drive control system and DCS880 drives. With the mill’s existing winder equipment installed more than 30 years ago, the upgrade will help Oji Fibre ensure safe and efficient future operations, in line with recently updated safety requirements .

ABB Delivers Winder Safety System for New Zealand Paper Mill

The new system features a range of winder safety improvement steps and devices including mechanical guarding (perimeter personnel access control via a retractable fence that keeps operators away from the danger zone), electrical controls (power interlocks), hydraulic controls (with redundancy), optical (safety light curtains) and safe speed monitoring.

The creation of safety zones allows operation in one zone to continue when another zone is infringed, improving uptime at the mill.

by Oji Fibre’s Fullcircle recycling service. Finished products are supplied mainly to the New Zealand, Australian and Asian markets.

The automation of manual tasks – such as hands-free threading, set change with automatic sheet cut off, automatic gluing or auto-measuring slitters - also reduces the risk of injury and failure by eliminating hands-on tasks. All of these automatic upgrades both increase winder throughput and remove the operator from exposure to potential hazards. The improved features are all supported by a new operator control panel with safety programmable logic controller (PLC) and new human-machine interface (HMI).

“These measures also had to be benchmarked against national and international standards. We are proud to have redesigned and rebuilt Oji Fibre’s safety system in line with New Zealand’s latest requirements, making operations safer, more intelligent and more productive.”

Penrose Mill, which has an annual output of more than 85,000 tons of containerboard liner uses recycled sources collected

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“Our focus was to supply the equipment while simultaneously designing a safety system that would allow Oji Fibre to operate effectively to safely meet its customer requirements,” said Shane Archer, Local Division Manager, Process Industries, ABB New Zealand.

The investment with ABB will further future-proof the Oji Fibre site, which has taken steps to diversify its packaging portfolio in recent years. ABB will also complete all factory acceptance tests and commissioning remotely. 

N•E•W•S

Mondi Starts Up New Speciality Kraft Paper Machine at Štětí Mill in Czech Republic The company has invested EUR 67 million to set up speciality kraft paper machine in its Štětí mill to cater to European paper-based shopping bag market.

January 20, 2021 Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, has started up its new speciality kraft paper machine at its Štětí mill in the Czech Republic. The EUR 67 million investment in the machine makes it Europe’s first dedicated paper machine for speciality kraft paper grades made out of fresh and recycled fibre for retail and online shopping bags.

The paper machine will produce up to 130,000 tonnes of speciality kraft paper per year, meaning Mondi will have the largest product portfolio for consumer shopping bags in Europe. This includes white and brown virgin grades and now recycled paper grades that can be used in a range of bag applications from fashion stores to online grocery platforms and home deliveries. The EcoVantage two-ply paper produced on the new machine consists of recycled and sustainably sourced fresh fibres and is 100% recyclable.

The European speciality kraft paper market is expected to grow strongly driven by legislation to eliminate waste caused by plastic shopping bags and consumer preference to move

Shopping paper bags

away from single use plastic.

The paper produced will have a trim width of 4.4m, with a substance range from 70g to 135g, and the fibres used for production are sourced from sustainably managed forests.

The combination of Best combination of fresh and recycled fibres is available to offer required strength to hold groceries and fashion goods. 

Toscotec to Supply Two TADVISION Machines to Hengan Group in China Toscotec’s TADVISION® line is designed to ensure superior bulk, softness and absorbency.

February 24, 2021 Toscotec will supply two TADVISION® tissue machines to Hengan International Group at its Shandong and Hunan mills in China. With this order, Hengan breaks through the barrier of conventional and textured tissue in the Chinese market, aiming to manufacture top quality structured tissue with the highest bulk, softness and absorbency properties. The startup is scheduled for 2022.

The new lines will be the first real TAD (Through Air Drying) machines manufacturing structured tissue to be installed in China. The Fujian-based Chinese Group is thus set to lead the transformation of the Chinese tissue market towards top quality tissue.

Both TADVISION® machines will have a trim width of 3,650 mm and an annual production capacity of over 40,000 tons.

This project strengthens the cooperation between Toscotec and Hengan International Group, who in 2017 successfully fired up two Toscotec-supplied MODULO-PLUS ES tissue lines at its Changji mill in Xinjiang province.

Hengan and Toscotec during contract signature; in the first row (from right to left): Hui Ching Chi, Hengan Executive Director and Operation Management Director and Michael Zhao, General Manager of Toscotec Paper Machine (Shanghai); in the second row (from right to left): Liu Xuan, Hengan Chief Papermaking Engineer, Hui Lin Chit, Hengan CEO, Mike Yin, Toscotec Paper Machine (Shanghai) Sales and Project Support and Chen Wenzhi, Hengan Purchasing Manager.

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N•E•W•S Hui Lin Chit, CEO of Hengan Group, says, “Hengan always pursues innovation and top quality products; as a result, it leads the development of the Chinese tissue and hygiene market. After scrupulous evaluation, we selected Toscotec as the partner to support us to achieve our new target.”

Alessandro Mennucci, CEO of Toscotec, says, “We are very pleased to partner with Hengan on this strategic project.

Toscotec’s new TADVISION® machine represents the cuttingedge technology they need to bring about a historical change in the Chinese market.”

Michael Zhao, General Manager of Toscotec Paper Machine (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., says, “The Chinese tissue market has been tackling the issue of overcapacity in recent years. Our latest TADVISION® machine will enable Hengan to manufacture a completely differentiated and top quality product. This will allow them to both set apart from the fierce red ocean competition of conventional tissue, and to open up and lead an entirely new, blue ocean structured tissue market.” 

Voith Modernizes and Expands Stock Preparation Plant for Modern Karton PM 3 in Ergene, Turkey The order includes Voith’s BlueLine stock preparation components, including IntensaMaXX, IPU reject pump and IntensaScreenDrum. Additionally, Voith will also supply a new stock preparation line for pulp and recovered paper.

March 02, 2021 Modern Karton, the largest manufacturer of cardboard packaging and packaging paper in Turkey, recently signed a contract with Voith for the extension and modernization of its existing OCC line. Within the scope of the contract, Voith will also supply a new stock preparation line for pulp and recovered paper. The new order follows the successful upgrade and expansion of the existing DIP line.

Modernization and capacity increase of existing OCC line The objective of the modernization project is to increase production by 30 percent and to allow the processing of recovered paper with a maximum contaminant content of 12 percent. This means that the increasingly poorer quality recovered paper used by the mill can be readily processed while at the same time improving the cleanliness of the finished stock.

The order comprises Voith’s BlueLine stock preparation components, including IntensaMaXX, IPU reject pump and IntensaScreenDrum for disposing of the contaminants from the existing pulper. Voith’s scope of supply also includes a protector system, HiClean HCL5 EcoMizer cleaner system for sand removal, LT3 lightweight contaminant cleaner, InfiltraDiscfilter and several IntegraScreens for fractionation and fine screening.

New stock preparation line for pulp and recovered paper The scope of supply for the new stock preparation line comprises various components from the BlueLine product range. As an alternative to pulp, high-quality recovered paper can also be processed. This new stock preparation line provides the greatest possible flexibility for manufacturing the top ply of the white top testliner. In addition to installing the BlueLine stock preparation components, Voith will also be responsible for the basic and detailed engineering as well as on-site services.

Voith will also implement an innovative water management control system that automatically controls the complete

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Image: Voith

water system for the entire production line in a wide range of operating conditions. This contributes significantly to helping achieve consistently low fresh water consumption and wastewater volume.

Upgrade and extension of existing DIP line completed To improve the quality and allow lower quality recovered paper to be processed, the existing DIP line was rebuilt by Voith in 2019. Among other aspects, the rebuild included an additional bleaching stage, another EcoCell flotation unit and an InfiltraDiscfilter. Moreover, the slot screening was retrofitted with a new IntegraScreen, and existing screening machines with rotors and screen baskets were upgraded to reflect the latest state-of-the-art technology.

“We are confident that our ambitious project goals will be met in full as a result of awarding the contract to Voith,” says Hamdullah Eren, CEO of Modern Karton. “Voith Paper had already done a great job on the previous PM 5 project and upgrade of the existing DIP line. The technology supplied was outstanding. This is why we decided to award the new order to Voith as well.” 

N•E•W•S

Ahlstrom-Munksjö’s CelluStraw™ Receives Compostability Certification CelluStraw™ runs well on high-speed converting machines, and its wet-strength and mechanical resistance deliver excellent product integrity.

February 24, 2021 Ahlstrom-Munksjö’s CelluStraw™, a biodegradable and renewable fiber-based solution for paper straws, has received compostability certification from the Biodegradable Products Institute®.

Ahlstrom-Munksjö works to create innovative products that provide high performance as well as sustainability benefits for customers and consumers. As part of the company’s continuous commitment to sustainability, CelluStraw™ papers are now BPI® certified, in addition to carrying OK compost HOME and OK compost INDUSTRIAL certifications, qualifying compostability in a home environment and in industrial facilities.

These certifications facilitate the possibility for AhlstromMunksjö customers, whether converters or brand owners, to achieve their own sustainability goals. By using a scientific process, BPI officially certifies compostable products that meet ASTM D6400 and ASTM D6868 standards for compostability.

BPI Certification proves that a material will compost in a composting facility, leaving behind no toxic residue or microplastics.

The CelluStraw™ offering consists of specialty papers developed for the inner and outer plies of paper straws.

CelluStraw™ runs well on high-speed converting machines, and its wet-strength and mechanical resistance deliver

Ahlstrom-Munksjö’s CelluStraw™

excellent product integrity. CelluStraw™ is made of responsibly sourced natural fibers and also comes with Chain of Custody Forest Certification under the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®), SFI®, and PEFC® certification schemes. In addition, CelluStraw™ carries BRC Food Safety Certification and meets BfR and FDA 176.170 food safety requirements for cold drink uses and is recyclable according to EN 13430 requirements and conditions. 

Kadant Announces Global Launch of Foundations™ Fiber Product Line With the goal of creating a more sustainable and profitable process for paper producers, the Foundations product line incorporates pulping, detrashing, and screening technologies used in recycling and fiber processing.

February 25, 2021 Kadant Black Clawson LLC and Kadant Lamort SAS, subsidiaries of Kadant Inc. has announced the global launch of the Foundations fiber product line. The integrated stock preparation product portfolio was developed to address the application challenges facing the fiber processing industry today including highly variable raw material, alternative fibers, dirtier furnishes, getting more with less, and short supply of industry knowledge and dependable support, among others.

With the goal of creating a more sustainable and profitable process for paper producers, the Foundations product line incorporates pulping, detrashing, and screening technologies used in recycling and fiber processing. In addition, the portfolio features cleaning solutions to maintain high quality and strength of the finished products using Kadant’s proprietary

Kadant Inc.

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N•E•W•S fiber fractionation processes to ensure optimized pulp fiber separation. This all leads to fiber, power, and water savings for the mill.

“We have been delivering process technologies for stock preparation systems for nearly 150 years,” said John Eklund, vice president of sales and marketing at Kadant Black Clawson.

“Through the Foundations fiber product line, we provide mills with comprehensive and efficient fiber processing technology to solve application-specific challenges with technical expertise and support from end-to-end.”

The Foundations fiber product line includes the Hydrapulper® pulping and Hydraflow™ detrashing systems along with coarse, fine, and approach flow screening solutions provided

through a core of mainstay systems, including the Ultra-V™, Periscreen™, and FiberNET™ pressure screens. The line’s comprehensive cleaning offering includes the new power saving, high consistency XCEL™ NT system.

“The Foundations product line’s advanced technologies are backed by Kadant’s deep and innovative industry expertise and thousands of proven product installations,” commented Marcello Giorgi, Kadant Lamort’s global sales and marketing director. “Mills around the world are seeking the Foundations fiber product line as the preferred solution to meet their demanding performance targets. More than just products and technologies, the Foundations fiber product line is rooted in the deep industry expertise, forward-thinking consultative value, and pride-of-purpose passion of Kadant’s people.” 

Voith Launches New PU Roll Cover for Press Rolls The IntensePress PU roll cover design is characterized by its resistance to chemicals and temperature, making it the ideal choice for use on press rolls in pulp machines and twinwire presses.

March 2, 2021 Problems are often encountered with conventional rolls when processing pulp. The rolls cause high specific pressures as well as a short nip. To prevent this, Voith is now offering new polyurethane (PU) roll cover that has been developed for press rolls: the IntensePress. This has been specifically designed for use in the demanding applications of pulp machines and twin-wire presses.

The decisive advantage of IntensePress is its high chemical resistance. Furthermore, it is characterized by a high level of temperature resistance. Both features increase the running time of the roll, simplify work processes, and thus increase the machine’s productivity. The high chemical and temperature resistance are made possible by a new type of polyurethane.

To provide customers with the best possible output when using IntensePress, Voith is investing in individually tailored advice.

The roll cover’s PU surface is modified according to individual requirements, for example, to achieve a greater open surface and thus increased dewatering performance and a higher dry content. IntensePress can also ensure a wider nip and, in doing so, minimize the specific pressure. Voith determines what the optimal nip load will look like for each customer, taking into account the individual operating conditions.

IntensePress can be used on all current machines on the market. The Chinese pulp and paper manufacturer Asia Symbol Rizhao has already used the roll cover for a test run.

IntensePress has also increased the productivity of the machine, and the service life of the forming fabric has been increased from one month to two, resulting in less downtime and reduced costs.

IntensePress has also been used successfully in Sweden, where the roll cover was tested in the Södra Cell Mösterås pulp mill and scored particularly well in terms of abrasion and temperature resistance. With IntensePress, the machines can

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IntensePress is optimally designed for use in all common pulp machines and twin-wire presses.

now reportedly be left to run uninterrupted between annual mill shutdowns. Previously, this was impossible on account of the high wear to the wire drive roll. As IntensePress can handle the high temperature in this position, interim shutdowns are no longer necessary. In addition, IntensePress maintains its strength and thus prevents polygonization of the roll. The test run reportedly showed that the service life of the roll could be increased from between eight and 10 months up to 12 to 18 months. 

S•U•B•S•C•R•I•P•T•I•O•N F•O•R•M

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