World’s largest kraftliner machine starts up at SCA’s Obbola mill

The world’s largest kraftliner machine has been started up by Voith at SCA’s Obbola mill in Sweden.

The machine has the capability to produce 725,000 tons of high-quality kraftliner per year. Compared to the line it replaced, the Voith machine increases SCA´s production capacity by 270,000 tons.

“Thanks to the excellent cooperation with Voith, the start-up of the most modern kraftliner machine took place ahead of schedule,” says Per Strand, project director at SCA commenting on the SEK 7.5bn project that started in 2019. “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.”

Voith supplied the complete line, the basis of which is an XcelLine paper machine with a design speed of 1,400 metres per minute, a wire width of 10.2 metres that produces kraftliner with basis weights of between 100 and 200gsm.

Voith is also responsible for the automation of the line and all relevant auxiliary systems, from hall ventilation to roll transport, and together with Meri for a water and wastewater management system.

The XcelLine paper machine will be supplemented by a new BlueLine stock preparation

SCA’s mill at Obolla in Sweden, now home to the world’s largest kraftliner machine with capacity for 725,000 tons a year system, which is scheduled to replace the existing system next year. Voith has supported the SCA team throughout the start-up with a comprehensive training programme. In addition, SCA relies on a long-term service and efficiency partnership with Voith, resulting in maximum productivity from the line.

For the production of paper, SCA sources virgin fibre from its own forests which cover 2.6 million hectares, and are said to capture 10.5 per cent of Sweden’s total carbon dioxide emissions each year.

Furthermore, the new OCC plant is focusing on sustainable production. Voith’s BlueLine stock preparation plant is said to save up to 40 kWh per ton produced compared to conventional plants. The fresh water requirement is around 30 per cent lower than the previous production.

To ensure high production line availability, SCA also ordered a spare and wear parts package from Voith and its subsidiary Meri.

“It was very good that we started the spare parts process so early,” says Per Asplund, project manager at SCA. “Everything went smoothly and efficiently. In addition, the good documentation from the technical teams helped us a lot. Now we have a perfectly matched package that also meets the highest standards in terms of safety.”

Europe’s largest forest owner, SCA operates a pulp mill at Östrand and two kraftliner mills at Obbola and Munksund, also having businesses in wood pellets, wind energy, liquid biofuels, wood products and logistics. Based at Sundsvall in Sweden, SCA has 4,000 employees and sales of about SEK18.8bn a year.