Line rebuild for Thailand’s Hiang Seng Fibre Container

What is described as a complex and highly technological rebuild of Hiang Seng Fibre Container’s PM5 line at its Bangkok mill in Thailand will be carried out by A.Celli/PMT.

The Italian engineers will rebuild the PM5 headbox, converting it from single to double-layer with the aim of improving the testliner printability. The intervention, scheduled for the first quarter of 2024, will also increase the flexibility of the lines to make the best use of the different furnishes.

Sarunyou Tejavibulya, owner and managing director of Hiang Seng, says: “I’ve worked with

PMT for a long time, and their service has always been great.

Pulping line upgrade for South Africa’s largest paper packaging mill

South Africa’s Mpact Operations is to have a pulping line upgraded by Andritz at its Mkhondo Paper Mill in Mpumalanga.

The upgrade will increase the line’s capacity and improve the paper’s strength properties, helping the customer respond to the strong domestic and international demand for highquality sustainable packing solutions.

Brian Smith, project director at Mpact explained: “With the technological solution proposed by Andritz, we can increase our mill’s performance and make our production more sustainable at the same time. In addition, we get everything from a single source –three good reasons for choosing Andritz as a partner.”

Andritz will upgrade the whole neutral sulphite semi-chemical pulping (NSSC) line, which processes eucalyptus and pine to provide fluting and linerboard for the production of containerboard. The comprehensive Andritz system comprises key equipment for the wood processing, cooking, washing and refining sections to increase the line’s capacity from 225 bdmt/d to 365 bdmt/d and at the same time enhance product quality.

● A new chipping line will provide better chip size distribution to secure a homogenous cooking result with minimal amounts of fines for improved material efficiency.

● The conversion of the cooking system will maximise fibre quality and pulp cleanliness.

● The use of clean condensate to generate fresh steam for chip pre-steaming will provide clear environmental benefits in terms of fresh-water usage and primary steam utilisation.

● Excellent washing results with the new generation Compact Press technology will lead to high humidity resistance of the product.

● Andritz TwinFlo Prime refiners will optimise the fibre quality prior to washing and thus the product quality. Using waterlubricated bearing technology, the latest LC refiner allows a more environmentally-friendly operation.

● An Andritz PrimeFilter D will ensure superior preparation of

When I heard that they were now member of the A.Celli Group, I was excited to see what they could do. I have to say, the solution they proposed was exactly what we needed to improve the quality of our testliner. I know I can count on A.Celli to continue to improve Hiang Seng’s performance.” clear and super clear filtrate. Andritz will also provide supervision over the erection, commissioning, and start-up as well as the training of the operating personnel. Start-up of the upgraded line is scheduled for the first half of 2025.

Established in its present form in 1968, Hiang Seng Fibre Container produces a wide range of paper and corrugated products. It is one of the largest integrated paper and packaging manufacturers in Thailand, supplying about 30 percent of the domestic market.

The upgrade to the pulping line is part of the bigger mill upgrade project which Mpact announced in December 2022 with the approval of a SAR1.2 billion (€60 million) capital investment project at its Mkhondo Paper Mill. It forms part of Mpact’s portfolio optimisation and strategically positions the mill to meet the increasing demand for high quality, sustainable, fresh produce packaging solutions driven by robust growth in the South African export fruit sector.