SCA Partners Voith; Starts Up World´s Largest Kraftliner Machine in Obbola, Sweden

The Voith XcelLine paper machine will produce 725,000 tonnes of high-quality kraftliner per year with basis weights between 100 and 200 GSM. Compared to the old line, it has increased SCA's production capacity by 270,000 tonnes.

November30,2022

Swedish forest industry company SCA's new kraftliner machine at its Obbola site is up and running.The machine started up by Voith at the beginning of November is touted to be the world's largest kraftliner machine. The state-of-the-art machine features a design speed of 1,400 meters per minute and a wire width of 10,200 mm. The Voith XcelLine paper machine will produce 725,000 tonnes of high-quality kraftliner per year with basis weights between 100 and 200 GSM. Compared to the old line, the new machine increases SCA's productioncapacityby270,000tonnes.

Talking about the new machine, Mr. Per Strand, Project Director at SCA said, “Thanks to the excellent cooperation with Voith, the start-up of the most modern kraftliner machine took place ahead of schedule. With this high-tech plant, we are setting new standards in the market. We are very pleased to have chosen Voith as our full-line supplier. The highly efficient solutions reduce our resource consumption and enable maximum productivity with the lowest overall production costs.”

As the leading full-line supplier to the paper industry, Voith supplied the complete line, the heart of which is a highly efficient XcelLine paper machine. In addition,Voith is responsible for all relevant auxiliary systems, from hall ventilation to roll transport, and together with Meri for a highly efficient water and wastewater management system. The XcelLine paper machine will be supplemented by a new BlueLine stock preparation system, which is scheduled to replace the existing systemnextyear.

Voith's BlueLine stock preparation plant will save up to 40 kWh per tonne of paper compared to conventional plants. In addition, the freshwater requirement is around 30 percent lower than the previous production. Upon completion of the project, SCA will take a big step towards a fossil-free industrial process.

Intelligent automation and digitalization solutions also ensure an optimal and thus more sustainable process. As the most modern kraftliner machine in the world, a range of applications from the Voith Papermaking 4.0 portfolio are used along the entire paper machine. “We are very proud to have successfully set up this major project with SCA.The plant sets new standards in terms of resource efficiency, productivity, safety and quality. We were only able to achieve this through our joint commitment, very good cooperation and the highest demands on both sides. PM 2 shows how the latest technologies in combination with innovative automation and digitalization solutions can lead to significant efficiency advantages,” added Dr. Michael Trefz, President Projects atVoith Paper. n

Metsä Board Invests in Biopower, Bringing Kyro Mill Closer to Fossil-Free Target

The expansion of the backpressure turbine and generator at the biopower plant will further increase Kyro mill's fossil-free electricity generation, enabling the board mill to reach its sustainability goals.

November

16,2022

Metsä Board's Kyro mill is investing to enhance its fossilfree electricity generation. The paperboard manufacturer will invest in a new backpressure turbine and generator at its biopower plant at the Kyro mill. Presently, the biopower plant generates one-third of the electricity consumed by the mill.

After the said investment in the new turbine, the share of captive power produced will rise to 50 percent. The Kyro mill is self-sufficient in heat. Moreover, 85 percent of the mill's electricity consumption is fossil-free. Since the share of fossilfuel-based electricity would further decrease after the investment, the mill would become more fossil-free in terms of electricity.

About the investment, Mr. Petri Huiko, VP Metsä Board Kyro, says, “By increasing the share of fossil free electricity, we are becoming more climate sustainable. The investment will also improve the safety of electricity work in the mill area and the predictabilityofthemill'selectricitycosts.”

The expansion of the biopower plant is projected to be completed by the end of 2024. In this modernisation and expansion project, the electrical equipment will also be replaced. Due to this, electricity production will be interrupted for about three months at the unit but heat production and the runningoftheboardmachinewillsustainitsoperations.

Metsä Board Kyro mill produces high-quality fully coated folding boxboards for packaging and printing segments. The mill only uses its own pulp in its production: BCTMP pulp from Metsä Board's Joutseno and Kaskinen mills, and chemical pulp is sourced from Metsä Fibre's mills. The recent investment is significant for Metsä Board's vision of achieving completely fossil-freemillsandproductsbytheendof2030. n