Pulp & Paper Canada July/August 2013

Pulp& Paper Canada

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July/august 2013

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PULP& PAPER

July/August 2013 Vol. 114, No. 4 A Business Information Group Publication PRINT EDITION ISSN 0316-4004 ON-LINE EDITION ISSN 1923-3515

CANADA

OVER 100 YEARS OF SERVING THE INDUSTRY

COVER STORY

12 Industry Outlook: Uneven Growth

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Flush with cash and mounting demand for lumber products, forest products companies have the means and the opportunity to forge new business relationships and break out of traditional roles.

FEATURES

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T’s emerging role within maintenance’s 9 Ibest practices The coming ISO 55000 standard for asset management could require significant IT involvement.

10 Betting on biochemicals: Domtar

tch,

Truckloads of lignin are rolling out of Domtar’s Plymouth, N.C., mill. Taking a chance on large-scale production of lignin, Domtar has introduced this bio-based chemical to the market in a big way.

trol ion

ore put, visit

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16 PacWest: Maximize your assets

The industry’s Western conference delivered advice from experts and peers about reliability, maintenance and how to make the best of what you have.

12 20

IN EVERY ISSUE

4 Editorial 22 5 Opinion: FPAC 6 News 8 Opinion: FPInnovations 18 Technology News 20 Technology News – Paper Machine Clothing 21 Classified Ads 22 Bio-Economy MISSION STATEMENT: To promote the pulp and paper industry in Canada by publishing news of its people and their innovations in research, technology, management and financing, as well as forecasts of future trends.

Serving the industry since 1903.

For breaking news, visit www.pulpandpapercanada.com Cover image: Courtesy of www.naturallywood.com

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Editorial

Observations from the road

I

was on the road a lot in May and June, attending conferences and media events. While each voyage has a specific purpose and will result in an article, mingling with other people involved in our industry always leads to unrelated newsworthy tidbits.

My visit to Plymouth, N.C., to celebrate Domtar’s entry to the lignin market, included a tour of the fluff pulp mill. Our tour guide, as we approached the end of the NC5 fluff pulp machine, pointed out some new equipment. Roll handling was upgraded to convert what used to be a manual movement of the pulp rolls to an automatic function. The tour guide proudly told us that the company made the upgrade specifically to reduce the incidence of soft tissue injuries. “There’s no other payback,” he said.

Kudos to Domtar.

At the PwC conference, Don Roberts of CIBC Cindy Macdonald Editor suggested the Canadian industry should watch the development of cellulosic biofuels in the U.S. over the next 24 months. Seeing which companies fail and which succeed will teach us a lot, he says.

I also spent a couple of days in Montreal at the BIO World Congress, learning about biochemicals and biofuels. It seems that wood biomass cannot compete with other raw materials in the production of ethanol.

A source at FPInnovations told me there is some research being directed to high-value chemicals derived from wood, but it will likely take 5-10 years to develop a market.

The market for green chemicals appears to be governed by some combination of policy decisions, ever-changing societal perceptions and corporate strategies. Right now, chemical companies are showing an interest in bio-based chemicals, so at least the corporate element is in our favor.

After attending the BIO conference, I’m convinced that wood is not a serious contender as a raw material for commodity green chemicals. If an application for forest-based biochemicals does emerge, it is not likely to be a high-value, high-volume application.

Successful applications of wood-based chemicals will likely be unique to local circumstances, such as using bio-char to filter tailings from Alberta’s oil sands, or adding Canadian crystalline nanocellulose to drilling mud. Success will come from supply and demand and knowledge all occurring in the same region.

After all my work-related travel, I spent a couple of days in July becoming intimate with the operations of an urban trauma centre when a close friend was injured. For patient care, this particular hospital chooses disposable wash basins and urinals made of molded pulp. Very cool to see pulp products in an environment dominated by plastics.

Editor CINDY MACDONALD 416-510-6755 cindy@pulpandpapercanada.com Publisher JIM BUSSIERE 416-442-5600 ext. 3606 jim@pulpandpapercanada.com President, Business Information Group BRUCE CREIGHTON Vice President, Publishing ALEX PAPANOU Executive Publisher, Manufacturing TIM DIMOPOULOS

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Opinion

Remember the Pulp and Paper Pavilion at Expo ’67?

By David Lindsay, President and CEO, Forest Products of Canada

D

uring our 100th anniversary celebration at FPAC we’re having fun hearing from former employees and veterans of the forest industry from across Canada.

We established a Facebook page and are encouraging people to submit photos and share stories from the past. If you have some stories or photos you think would be interesting additions to our timeline, please pass them along.

As I travel the country telling people about our proud past and our promising future, I’m always interested to hear local stories of adventure and entrepreneurship. I hear quiet Canadian pride – pride in their community and the contribution they make to society. And I hear stories about interesting characters in our industry – we do seem to have lots of interesting personalities in this business.

One day I met a friend, George, for lunch and was telling him about my new job at FPAC. I explained

that 2013 is the 100th anniversary of FPAC and we had been looking through boxes of archives. One box contained costumes from the Pulp and Paper Pavilion at Expo ’67 in Montreal, back when the pulp and paper sector was Canada’s largest industry.

George looked at me and said, “My wife worked in that pavilion.”

What a small world! Of course, I immediately said that she had to come into the office, see some of the archive materials and tell us a little about her experiences as the lead hostess at the Expo ’67 pavilion.

A couple of weeks later Donna Haynal came into our office and told me the Pulp and Paper Pavilion was one of the biggest hits at Expo ’67.

The pavilion had three components.

The first pod was a skit with a mix of animation projected on the walls and live actors telling the story of the pulp and paper industry. The second pod was a live-action skit of a ‘wacky professor’ in a white lab coat explaining the science behind the pulp- and paper-making processes. Finally, as you exited, you could work with some interactive displays to make your own paper.

One of the most interesting discoveries from our walk down memory lane was that Donna still fit in her old hostess costume (her initials were inked on the inside collar). Here is a 1967 photo from Donna and a photo we took of her in the same costume in the FPAC office.

This is an excerpt from the President’s Blog, a Dialog about the Forest Sector. To read more, go to: www.fpac.ca/index.php/en/blog.

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Industry News Molded pulp plant planning upgrades, switch to natural gas A $16.5-million upgrade is in the works for CKF Inc., an East Coast manufacturer of molded pulp and foam products. The project will include a conversion to use compressed natural gas, which is expected to save the company up to $1.8 million per year.

The government of Nova Scotia is supporting CKF Inc.’s plan to purchase new machinery and upgrade equipment. The province will lend CKF up to $8.7 million for the company’s $16.5-million expansion, and provide $2.6 million in incentives, if the company completes the capital upgrades.

“New equipment and the use of compressed natural gas will allow us to be more competitive, and a cleaner, greener operation,” said Michael Green, vice-president of finance at CKF. Green told the local newspaper, The Hants Journal, that the company plans to add a fourth moulding machine to the plant, upgrade sorting equipment and tap into the high demand healthcare sector — all

while operating in an increasingly environmentally-friendly manner.

CKF Inc. is a family-owned company that manufactures Royal Chinet and other molded pulp and foam products for retail, food service, and packaging industries in the Canadian and U.S. markets.

Brookfield sells off its stake in Twin Rivers Two New York-based private investment firms have acquired a controlling interest in Twin Rivers Paper Company, Inc. from Brookfield Asset Management Inc. Terms of the agreement with Blue Wolf Capital Partners and Atlas Holdings were not disclosed.

“We are turning our attention to building a growing, profitable business,” said Tim Lowe, newly appointed chief executive officer of Twin Rivers Paper. “We are focused on bringing new resources, operational expertise and a commitment to the future of the business.”

Twin Rivers produces specialty papers and lumber at facilities in Edmundston and Plaster Rock, New Brunswick, and Madawaska, Maine.

Supreme Court opposes random alcohol testing in Irving case A court case involving random alcohol testing by Irving Pulp and Paper Ltd. has been decided by the Supreme Court. The court ruled that the policy imposed by Irving at the company’s Saint John, N.B., kraft mill in 2006 was unreasonable and was properly rejected by a labour arbitration board.

Dave Coles, president of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada, says the decision is a victory in the battle to protect workers’ privacy rights.

According to CEP, in 2006, Irving Pulp and Paper unilaterally adopted a policy of mandatory random alcohol testing for employees in safety sensitive positions. CEP Local 30 filed a grievance challenging the policy after a worker was chosen randomly by a computer program to take a breathalyzer test.

J.D. Irving issued the following statement: “We respect the decision issued today by the Supreme Court of Canada. We will be reviewing the decision and have no further comment at this time.

“Our focus has and continues to be the safety of our co-workers and communities where we have operations.”

As part of an agreement with the new owners, the New Brunswick government may provide a repayable loan of up to $35 million with a matching loan from the majority ownership group. The New Brunswick government will convert preferred shares in Twin Rivers to common shares, representing 5% of equity of ownership in the company as well as a restructuring of an existing letter of credit.

Digital archiving, cellulosic biofuels among disruptive technologies A forecast of disruptive technologies in the pulp and paper supply chain has been released by Smithers Pira. The new study identifies and profiles the top 25 disruptive technologies most likely to impact the global pulp and paper supply chain over the next 10 years.

With transition tables highlighting each technology’s likely impact on the global pulp and paper supply chain, this report details how current and emerging trends will shape the industries.

Some of the top 25 disruptive technologies identified by Smithers Pira are: Internet shopping and e-commerce; news on the Internet; electronic books; innovative packaging; digital archiving; on-demand printing; tablet computing and texting; advances in computer power; green marketing and laws; cellulosic biofuels; and exporting of recovered fibres.

Ten-Year Forecast of Disruptive Technologies in the Pulp and Paper Supply Chain to 2023 is available as a hard copy, an electronic version, and a global intranet license. Smithers Pira is a global testing, consulting and information services business with expertise in the packaging, paper and print industry supply chains.

Supreme Court decides on tax implications of selling a timber licence

Catalyst brings new coated grade to market

A Supreme Court decision in late May decided a long-running tax battle between Daishowa-Marubeni International and the federal government in favor of the forest products company.

On May 23, 2013, the Supreme Court of Canada issued a decision in DaishowaMarubeni International Ltd.’s case dealing with the tax treatment of future obligations that are assumed by a purchaser of assets.

According to a commentary on the case from Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, at issue the Daishowa case was whether the estimated cost of reforestation obligations assumed by a purchaser of a timber licence should be included in computing the seller’s proceeds of disposition. The Supreme Court held that the estimated cost of the reforestation obligations should not be included in the seller’s proceeds of disposition.

Catalyst Paper has expanded its mechanical printing paper range with the addition of Ascent, a coated #3 paper. Made at the Port Alberni, B.C., mill on the only coated mechanical paper machine in Western North America, Ascent went from idea to market in the space of a few short months.

“Our product development team brought tremendous cross-disciplinary expertise to the initiative, along with the

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Industry News understanding that a new product had to be hands down excellent to meet the quality expectations of customers when there is so much choice in the marketplace,” said Tom Crowley, senior vice-president, sales and marketing.

Ascent is said to offer offers brightness, superior opacity and excellent printability making it suitable for magazines, catalogues, brochures and commercial and direct mail applications.

Demo plant for cellulosic ethanol receives operating funds Woodland Biofuels Inc. is receiving a contribution of up to $800,000 from the federal government to operate a plant that will produce low-cost biofuel from waste.

“We expect to the plant to show that we can produce ethanol from waste for about half of what it costs to produce gasoline at today’s oil prices,” said Greg Nuttall, president and CEO of Woodland Biofuels.

FedDev Ontario funding for Woodland Biofuels has enabled the company to attract up to an additional $2 million in venture capital financing through the MaRS Cleantech Fund.

The process used by Woodland Biofuels involves gasification of the biomass, followed by catalyzed pressure reduction to convert the syngas to ethanol.

Woodlands’ vice-president of engineering, Doug Gray, told KPMG’s In Business magazine (Feb. 2013) that the system requires no outside chemicals or extra hydrogen to produce the ethanol.

Metso pulp, paper and power units return to Valmet roots Metso will resurrect the Valmet name as it splits off its pulp, paper and power businesses from its mining, construction and automation units. Metso’s directors have approved a demerger plan to divide the operations into two companies: Metso Corporation and Valmet Corporation.

The company says a demerger offers the best potential for its businesses to utilize their respective strengths in their customer industries faster and more efficiently.

Pasi Laine will be president and CEO of the new company.

Metso Corp. was created in 1999 as the result of a merger between Valmet and Rauma. www.pulpandpapercanada.com

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Digester building at Fortress Paper’s sdissoving pulp mill in Thurso, Que.

Pump failure delays Fortress co-gen project The turbine component of the co-generation project at Fortress Paper’s Specialty Cellulose mill in Thurso, Que., has operated successfully, but the failure of a highpressure water pump has delayed the completion of the project. The co-gen plant was expected to be operational by the end of the second quarter of 2013.

Fortress Paper announced July 2 that the water pump and a backup pump had failed. The pump will be either repaired or replaced.

Prior to this setback, the turbine component of the cogeneration project was successfully synchronized to the power grid and had operated up to 4 megawatts without incident, Fortress reports.

Fortress re-thinking Lebel-sur-Quevillon mill conversion Presenting their first quarter results, Fortress Paper executives expressed confidence that the company’s dissolving pulp mill in Thurso, Que., can reach its operational targets, but there’s less confidence about the company’s second mill conversion project. Engineering design for the Fortress Global Cellulose conversion project at Lebel-sur-Quevillon, Que., is almost complete, but Fortress CEO Chad Wasilenkoff said the company is reviewing its options for the mill and “due to changing economics and market conditions, there is no assurance that the FGC mill project will proceed to completion as previously planned.”

Wasilenkoff said the company is evaluating strategic options for the Fortress Global mill, such as joint ventures or partnership opportunities, and is comparing the Lebel-sur-Quevillon project with other options for shareholder value creation.

“The economics of LSQ make sense, but it’s going to be challenging for us taking this on 100%.” The current estimate of the cost for the conversion project is $250 million, plus an additional $70-$100 million for working capital.

A decision regarding the LSQ mill is expected early in the third quarter.

Domtar continues to expand personal care division Domtar has acquired the largest manufacturer and supplier of store brand infant diapers in the United States, Associated Hygienic Products (AHP), for $272 million.

“The acquisition of AHP will provide meaningful market expansion opportunities and innovative product development

capabilities with our existing Personal Care business, as well as synergies to the bottom line,” said John D. Williams, president and CEO of Domtar.

This is Domtar’s fourth transaction in the personal care sector in two years. Williams expects the company’s personal care division will reach more than $200 million in annualized EBITDA by 2017.

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Industry News Commissioning underway for biomass co-gen at Port Hawkesbury The biomass-fueled Nova Scotia Power co-generation plant at the Port Hawkesbury Paper mill has already produced some power and was expected to be in full production by the end of June, according to the Cape Breton Post.

Roger Burton, the utility’s senior director of projects, told the newspaper that testing is underway on the different components at the $200-million facility located at the Port Hawkesbury Paper site in Point Tupper, N.S. The facility will burn biomass to produce steam and electricity.

Resolute turns on turbine and green power output at Thunder Bay Resolute Forest Products Inc. officially inaugurated on May 14 a major power island producing green energy at its pulp and paper operation in Thunder Bay, Ont. The power island includes a refurbished and upgraded wood-waste boiler and a new 65-megawatt condensing turbine. Approved by Resolute in early 2011, the $65-million project took just over 21 months to complete.

“The power island is a strategic addition to Resolute’s Thunder Bay facility,” stated Richard Garneau, president and CEO. “It will reduce the mill’s energy costs as well as maximize our local woodlands, sawmill, pulp and paper, and energy operations by

fully utilizing forest-based biomass to produce green electricity.”

The green power produced will be sold to the Ontario grid under a power purchase agreement between Resolute and the Ontario Power Authority.

Catalyst sells Elk Falls mill site Catalyst Paper has sold its Elk Falls industrial site and related assets to Quicksilver Resources Canada Inc., a Calgary-based corporation with extensive natural gas holdings.

The $8.6 million sale includes a fully serviced, 400-acre industrial site and adjacent property near Campbell River. The site formerly housed the Elk Falls pulp and paper mill which began operation in 1952, was indefinitely curtailed in 2009 and closed permanently in 2010.

FPAC and members still committed to boreal agreement Despite animosity between some of the participants, the companies who signed the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement (CBFA) are still committed to its principles, says David Lindsay, president and CEO of the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC).

In mid-May, environmental groups involved with the CBFA declared they would no longer negotiate with Resolute Forest Products regarding areas in northwest Ontario and Quebec.

3D printing: new opportunities for packaging and biomaterials

By Jennifer Ellson, senior communications specialist, FPInnovations Although a relatively new development, 3D printing technology has already been used to successfully make objects from food to jewellery, to clothes and art pieces.

A 3D printer lays down thin layers of material much like regular printers, except it deposits layers on top of layers to create three dimensional objects.

Increasingly, they are being used to make items out of plastic, metal, glass, ceramic, and even food items like sugar, chocolate, mashed potatoes and living cells.

Although it was first invented in the mid 1980s, 3D printing has seen tremendous growth only since 2009 and is now becoming a “must-have” technology in many industrial fields.

The process is considered by the global research firm McKinsey as one of 12 disruptive technologies promised to deliver major economic impact to the future global economy.

FPInnovations has entered the 3D 8

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printing adventure by purchasing a 3D printer and using it to demonstrate the potential applications of new biomaterials such as cellulose filaments, crystalline nanocellulose and lignin.

“The increasing demand for printed electronics is bringing different industries together: printing, paper, packaging and electronics. This is creating new applications and markets for paper-based products as they are green, disposable and biodegradable,” said Xuejun Zou, research manager, Paper, Packaging & Consumer Products, at FPInnovations. “The emergence of 3D printing will help accelerate the acceptance of biomaterials derived from wood fibres in the marketplace to replace oil-based products.”

Anticipated products include prototypes, building system parts and molds which can be found in virtually every industrial sector. 3D printed objects incorporating biomaterials promise great benefits, such as the development of products that have enhanced physical properties (hardness, stiffness, satisfac-

tion of tactile impression) and biodegradability. One example in the electronics industry concerns 3D-printed interface components for electronic devices with a modified cellulosic nanomaterial that could integrate sockets, interactive features and actuators.

Printed electronics is a great example of technology where 3D printing can help decrease the time between R&D and market by many orders of magnitude.

True enough, biomaterials from the pulp and paper industry may be applied in the next generation of intelligent/smart packaging, flexible displays or low cost and disposable diagnostic devices, but investors and partners will need to experience the product’s potential before buying into the adventure. 3D printing promises to do just that.

For more information, please contact Xuejun Zou (xuejun.zou@fpinnovations. ca, 514-630-4132).

Additional reporting by Jean-Luc Bernier, scientific writer, FPInnovations. www.pulpandpapercanada.com

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Opinion

IT’s Emerging Role within Maintenance’s Best Practices

By Mike Harwood and Alistair Skey, Zellstoff Celgar

W

ithin the next year, new ISO 55000 standards are expected.

ISO 55000 is a set of three standards designed to create common language, concepts and measures of quality in asset management practice. It is an important step, as asset management impacts the financial performance, reliability, safety, environment and even the overall competitiveness of an organization. With so much at stake, the adoption of ISO 55000 to provide a structured asset management framework is critical. It can be anticipated that, like ISO 9000, ISO 55000 will become a standard that investors, insurers, and regulators will look for to ensure organizations are striving for best operational practices and performance.

The reason for the standard is clear: well-managed assets are essential for cost containment, price management, reliability, return on investment, and increased overall asset value. ISO 55000 compliance will help establish a competitive advantage by using a structured approach to asset management over an asset’s lifecycle.

This standard methodology for controlled asset management can drive cost savings and reliability improvement.

While the role of maintenance and reliability are clearly defined within the standard, the role of IT is less obvious. ISO 55000 does not define the role of IT; in fact, the standard is very agnostic in terms of what systems are used or should be selected to facilitate compliance. No doubt, to achieve compliance standard IT support such as system availability, communication systems and reporting are required, but a closer look at the standard implies significantly more IT involvement.

There are four key areas IT can focus on to help a transition to ISO 55000:

1. Detailed knowledge of enterprise asset management (EAM) system As you might expect, the ISO 55000 standard does not dictate that a particular set of IT products be implemented; rather, it outlines specifications for IT governance and control that are typically met using applications capable of encompassing the entire asset life cycle and making information easily available to all stakeholders.

This is the role of the enterprise asset management system (EAM).

Many asset management applications, such as IBM’s Maximo, SAP’s EAM, Invensys’ Avantis and others, have positioned themselves to support ISO 55000 initiatives. These complex asset management applications are very flexible in terms of maintenance practices, asset tracking, history recording, workflow, reporting and more. The issue becomes not whether such an application can be used for ISO 55000 compliance but if the IT team managing the system can configure it to do so efficiently.

Asset management reporting from within the EAM will require that data be readily accessible on asset condition, performance, activities, costs, and history. Further, asset lifecycle trending may be used as a basis for data-driven decision-making and creating a www.pulpandpapercanada.com

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predictive maintenance environment. From a financial perspective, information about lifecycle costs, capital investment criteria, and operating cost is essential. All of this information needs to be reported from the EAM and depending on the asset, perhaps even in real time.

It will be the responsibility of IT to keep these systems running, current, and configured to support ISO 55000 compliance.

Just how do IT members know how to configure an application for ISO 55000 compliance? That brings us to the second point.

2. Detailed knowledge of ISO 55000 In order to manage the asset management application effectively and to provide necessary asset reporting and standard compliance, it is very important for the IT team to have a clear knowledge of ISO 55000 and its goals and requirements. A detailed knowledge of the standard helps provide a better understanding of how the EAM application needs to be configured and managed. Familiarity with the standard enables IT to help align the asset management approach with overall business strategy and maximize uptime of mission-critical equipment. To do this, IT departments should understand: • asset management best practices; • the asset life cycle; • the relationship between asset management and risk management; • the functional condition and performance of assets; • the impact of downtime of an asset.

Perhaps most importantly, ISO 55000 awareness provides IT, and any others who study the standard, with an advanced level of understanding of the importance of asset management to the organization’s success.

3. Understanding of how an asset fits within the production environment To understand the types of reporting required and to support the asset within the ISO 55000 framework and the EAM, the IT team must understand how assets function within the production environment. Each asset may vary in terms of its importance to production and risk factor. Actively monitoring the condition of thousands of assets in a mill may be difficult, but pinpointing and focusing on those assets that are the greatest threat to production loss and downtime is a great place to start.

With knowledge of the standard and the asset itself and the ability to translate the ISO 55000 requirements into the EAM, it should be possible to: • Monitor the condition of key assets: Built into the EAM are systems to detect defects or build reports to identify trends to isolate the condition of an asset.

Continued on page 11 July/August 2013 PULP & PAPER CANADA

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Conference Report

Maximize your assets PacWest delivered advice from experts and peers about reliability, maintenance and how to make the best of what you have

By Cindy Macdonald, editor

S

peakers at PacWest’s opening forum had concrete suggestions for the mill personnel in the audience, suggesting they need to get out from the “tyranny of the urgent” and put in place better maintenance management systems.

The sage advice about mill operations and management continued throughout the four-day conference, dispensed by both experts and peers. The PacWest conference, an annual event of PAPTAC’s Pacific and Western Branches, ran from June 12-15 at Sun Peaks, B.C. The theme this year was “Improving performance through optimization and reliability.”

“A lot of us are finding this year that we are really focused on getting the most out of the assets we have, debottlenecking, etc.,” said conference chair Bill Adams (Domtar). The conference theme evidently struck a chord with other mill personnel.

Almost 50% of the conference delegates work in pulp and paper mills.

PacWest program chair, Brian Grantham (West Fraser – Hinton Pulp), said: “The value in this conference is the gems you find and send back to the mill to put into action.”

There were 26 papers presented at

PacWest, in addition to several short courses, PAPTAC community meetings, the trade fair and roundtable meetings for maintenance managers and pulp machine superintendants.

A closer look at maintenance Reliability experts speaking at PacWest commented that the manufacturing world is familiar with KPIs to measure performance, but when it comes to reliability and maintenance, most companies are only looking a high-level measures that do not specifically evaluate the performance of the maintenance department.

On the subject of maintenance business practices, Robert Landau, senior principal with Poyry Management Consulting, recommended the following performance indicators for the maintenance team: • schedule attainment (world class: > 95%), • emergency work (world class: < 5%), • work orders completed on time (world class: > 95%), • startup effectiveness (world class: > 95%), • rework (world class: < 5%).

Measures of this type give the maintenance

New technologies and equipment can be explored at the PacWest trade show.

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department a greater sense of accountability and transparency, says Landau.

Good maintenance business practices can reframe the definition of success for maintenance personnel, he added.

Ian McKinnon, as a principal partner in the training firm Reliabilty Solutions, teaches that if companies want reliability in their manufacturing operations, then maintenance and troubleshooting must always be performed in a known, precise, disciplined and documented manner. He noted that reliable manufacturing is not a core business value of most companies yet, although he has hopes that it will someday join safety and sustainability as core values for pulp and paper producers.

Capturing knowledge A concern frequently aired among mill personnel at PacWest is the amount of knowledge being lost as experienced staff retire. One person noted, “We lost 22 years of experience in the last year.”

Peter Lovell of Canfor’s Prince George Pulp and Paper, commented that the mill’s implementation of an asset management program “put us on the path of knowing that we can’t rely on just the engineers

Reliabilty expert Ian McKinnon says maintenance and troubleshooting must be disciplined and documented. www.pulpandpapercanada.com

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Market Trends

Betting on biochemicals By launching large-scale production of lignin, Domtar has introduced this bio-based chemical to the market in a big way.

By Cindy Macdonald, Editor

T

ruckloads of lignin are rolling out of Domtar’s Plymouth, N.C., mill.

Employees in the lignin separation facility call the trucks headed to external customers “money trucks”, as opposed to the loads destined to be used within the mill site as a bio-based fuel.

Already, Domtar has completed commercial transactions for lignin with both regional and international customers, for prices in the range of US$600-US$900. The company says it has more than 100 active customers or potential customers engaged.

“We are very committed to the longterm future of this business,” said Domtar CEO John D. Williams at the ribbon-cutting ceremony in June for the new lignin removal plant.

Domtar’s long-term goal for the BioChoice lignin product line is to have mul-

rently produces about 30 tons/day of lignin, using Metso’s LignoBoost process. Production is expected to be 75 tons/day by the fourth quarter.

But even with commercial quantities available, it will take time to build market demand. Domtar senior vice-president Mike Edwards summarized the whole market development quandary for biochemicals this way: “Until we get a higher value for the lignin, it’s hard to justify [the investment].”

More lignin, more pulp

The mill in Plymouth has undergone various transformations since its inception in 1937. Under Domtar’s reign, the mill was repurposed in 2010. An investment of US$85 million changed it from a facility with two fine paper machines and a fluff pulp line to one that produces strictly fluff pulp (444,000 ADMT/y). CEO Williams says the switch to fluff pulp “has enabled us to build out our business and invest in our customers,” referring to the genesis of Domtar’s personal care business, which includes the purchase of the Attends line of personal incontinence products and diaper manufacturer Tour participants are shown here beside the vacuum press Associated Hygienic that is used to squeeze excess moisture from the lignin cake.

Products. This new revtiple mills producing multiple grades, from enue stream is expected to bring in EBITDA different wood sources, including modified of US$200 million by 2017. “This has had or upgraded lignin grades. a huge influence on the whole strategy of The Plymouth lignin separation plant our organization,” Williams states. has been operational since March. It curThe changeover to fluff pulp left the 12

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Domtar CEO John D. Williams with plastic parts molded from lignin. The injection molding was done by the National Research Council’s Industrial Materials Institute in Boucherville, Que.

C o o F I L

mill uniquely suited to this lignin project because the process was out of balance, with the recovery boiler loaded to more than 100%.

Because the lignin removal process reduces the load on the recovery boiler, it has the potential to allow the mill to produce more pulp.

Since starting up the lignin separation facility, the mill has been able to increase the operating rates of the recovery boiler.

“We’ve incrementally been able to push up the solids burning at the recovery boiler,” says Marty Brian. “We’re optimistic. The early returns are positive.”

In its latest configuration, the Plymouth mill is also leading the charge for Domtar’s fibre innovation projects. Bruno Marcoccia, director of R&D for the company, explains that in order to penetrate a market with a new product, you have to first demonstrate you can produce it regularly and with consistent quality. That’s the job of the crew at Plymouth. www.pulpandpapercanada.com

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LignoBoost_

L

s n o i t a l u t a r g n o C p u t r a t S e h t n o s ’ d l r o W e h t f o l a i c r e m m o C t s r i F f o n o i t a l l a t s n I TM t s L ignoBoo Technology

USA

L

The Metso Team

Domtar Plymouth North Carolina

Successful cooperation - world’s first Domtar successfully started-up the world’s first commercial installation of LignoBoost technology. The equipment is integrated with the Plymouth North Carolina pulp mill.

The LignoBoost process separates and collects lignin from pulping liquor. This is an important breakthrough for Metso’s patented LignoBoost technology and provides the Plymouth NC mill with numerous benefits.

www.metso.com

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13-06-20 10:42 13-07-31 11:41 AM

Cover Story

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK:

UNEVEN GROWTH Change is afoot. Flush with cash and rising demand for lumber products, forest products companies have the means and the opportunity to forge new business relationships and break out of traditional roles.

By Cindy Macdonald, editor

I

f you’ve been hearing “things are looking up for the forest products industry,” it probably refers to the lumber sector, not pulp and paper.

The global wood products industry may be entering a “super-cycle” of flat log supply and rising demand, but in pulp and paper growth is less vigorous. “The longerterm trend is still not a rosy picture for some paper grades,” says Bruce McIntyre, a consulting partner at PwC. “Bright spots for mature markets are tissue products and adult incontinence products.”

McIntyre was one of the experts speaking at PwC’s Global Forest Products Outlook Conference in Vancouver last May. He is Canadian leader of PwC’s forest, paper and packaging practice.

Rhetoric at this year’s conference was less about transformation of the forest products industry, and more about how to take advantage of the opportunities presented by changing conditions in the industry.

Michael Vermette, a partner and senior vice-president at PwC notes that many things have changed in the pulp and paper sector since the last period of good times.

“It’s a very different landscape today from what it was seven years ago.” Major restructurings have occurred (Resolute Forest Products, Catalyst Paper) and we’ve seen a significant new owner emerge in the pulp 14

market (Paper Excellence).

In times of rapid growth, says Vermette, companies are going to have to figure out the optimal business combinations to overcome challenges.

“Ask yourself, are we ready for the great opportunities that are about to present themselves to the forest products industry?”

Conference participants were also advised that consolidation of the forest products industry and its supply chain is not over. McIntyre notes that forest products companies’ current cash position will likely be used to pursue consolidation. As well, foreign companies are eyeing Canadian acquisitions.

Kevin Clarke, former CEO of Catalyst Paper Corp., agrees. He expects the consolidation of the manufacturing base and the sales channel will happen at the same time.

Companies have more cash The forecast from Craig Wright, chief economist for Royal Bank of Canada, is for 3.5 to four per cent global growth overall, with established economies running a few points less. He said some of the more extreme risks that were a concern six months ago have resolved themselves.

Wright noted that corporations are sitting on more cash than usual, equal to about 30 per cent of GDP. Consequently, we should see more of this money put

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to work as share buybacks, mergers and acquisitions.

According to Wright, most commodities are above their 25-year averages right now (such as pulp, zinc, potash, lumber).

There’s been a long 10-year run of rising commodity prices, but Wright thinks this is starting to level off.

His forecast for the US dollar exchange rate is a little softer than parity, about 95 to 97 cents through to 2014.

Wright says he does not expect to see interest rates reach five per cent in the next 10 years. But, “at some point interest rates need to go back to normal. Keeping rates too low for too long is a risk.”

Supply/demand imbalance Each year in May, the PwC conference joins forces with a few other forest industry events in Vancouver to form the Global Forest Products Summit. During another summit event, delegates at the Wood Markets Global Softwood Log and Lumber Conference heard that the super-cycle is still considered to be two to three years away. Current market volatility is tied more to supply chain disruptions than to the longer-term supply/demand gap being forecast.

In short, the factors distinguishing the super-cycle from a normal recovery focus around flat (or even declining) global log www.pulpandpapercanada.com

13-07-31 11:41 AM

Cover Story

supply occurring at the same time as global wood demand hits new highs.

Western Canadian companies, for example, have been exporting large amounts of wood products to China while the U.S. market languished. But will happen as the U.S. market picks up?

The experts say a generally upward trend in lumber prices could last up to five years if the U.S. housing market and global economy recover, and as the greatly reduced North American forest industry tries to expand to meet what is expected to be steadily growing demand. If the tension in timber supply and lumber production remains tight, then lumber prices will hit all-time highs starting as early as 2015.

B.C. wood supply: looking ahead While the impact of the B.C. Interior’s mountain pine beetle outbreak on local lumber production is now well-known, independent consultant Murray Hall provided a broader perspective on the aftermath of the outbreak for the Wood Markets audience. As B.C.’s wood supply diminishes, a decline in Interior sawlog production will result in a reduction of residual wood fibre (chips, sawdust and shavings).

This will adversely affect the pulp, composite panel, and pellet industries in the B.C. Interior and pulp mills on the coast, which have required increasing quantities of Interior residuals in order to operate.

In 2016-2018, “there’s a gap between residual chip supply and pulp and paper mill demand,” says Hall. “So Interior pulp mills will be doing whole log chipping.

That is the reality.”

There are not enough residuals for pellet mills either, he explains. “They will be grinding roadside material to make pellets.”

Murray is bullish on pellets. “Europe is not going to turn back from their reliance on pellets.” He is confident Canadian pellet suppliers can keep their costs down to be competitive, because “there are very few places in the world that have the fibre basket to produce pellets.”

Staffing, green energy concerns Green energy, biofuels and bioproducts were the subject of much discussion among the international panel of CEOs assembled for the PwC conference. www.pulpandpapercanada.com

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&

FACTS FIGURES

An assortment of statistics cited by presenters at the PwC Global Forest Products Outlook Conference.

$56 billion annual Canadian forest industry economic activity $0.95-$0.97 value of Canadian dollar vs. US, to 2014, according to forecast of Royal Bank’s chief economist 50 m3/ha productivity of Brazil’s

planted forests, according to Bracelpa

14 million ha projected increase in Brazil’s planted forests from 2010 to 2020, according to Bracelpa 240-300 million ha

additional area of global forest that needs to come under commercial harvesting by 2050, according to WWF’s 2011 Living Forests report

6 average number of times the fibre in a cereal carton has been recycled, according to Dave Scheible Dave Scheible, CEO of Graphic Packaging International Inc., is in a business that relies heavily on recycled fibre. Burning biomass is a one-time use, and pellets are a “bad plan that doesn’t work without subsidies,” he comments.

Scheible went on to say that shale gas is not going away, and will continue to pull manufacturing back to the U.S. “[America’s] energy profile is definitely coming down, and will continue to do so for the next 10 years.”

Brazilian pulp producer Fibria undertook a survey of the bio-economy several years ago, according to Marcelo Castelli, CEO. The company found 17 pathways, and selected those that were the best fit for Fibria, he noted.

One of those pathways is pyrolysis. Fibria took an equity position with Canadian pyrolysis firm Ensyn and formed a joint

venture for the development of facilities to produce cellulosic liquid fuels and chemicals in Brazil.

Castelli says Fibria also created a corporate venture capital fund. “We always have funding for good ideas.”

In Canada, the green electricity market for pulp mills is nearing its end, says Jim Lopez of Tembec. He believes governments and utilities will have to pass along the higher costs of green electricity to consumers, and that there will be a backlash.

Canadian industrial firms are dependent on cheap electricity, reasons Lopez, and there’s a danger if our governments put all their focus on un-economical forms of energy.

Thinking along the same lines, Dave Scheible, of boxboard producer Graphic Packaging International, notes: “When our customers say sustainability, the mean ‘take out cost’.”

The work force was a chief concern for North American CEOs, but less so for executives representing Europe and South America. Kevin Clarke, former CEO of Catalyst Paper, comments that the industry’s greatest opportunity and its biggest risk is hiring, training and motivating the workers of the future.

For Catalyst, the transfer of knowledge has to happen in the next six years, he says due to the rate of attrition. “The transfer of knowledge has to be different than it was in the past, it has to be more effective.”

Similarly, Jim Lopez, CEO of Tembec, notes that a labour shortage plagues many Canadian businesses. At a recent meeting of executives from various industrial sectors, Lopez says, it became obvious that the skilled labour shortage is not an emerging issue, it’s an existing problem.

For the immediate future, pulp and paper industry executives will find themselves reacting to external forces – a changing wood supply, labour shortages, and declining markets for some paper grades.

As PwC’s Micheal Vermette said, the glory times are returning for forest products, but they will not be the same as 2005, and the industry’s leadership needs to adapt.

With input from Alice Palmer, consultant, for Wood Markets conference coverage.

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Cas SMA

UPM bette start capt ence othe prod nece sure

5.0 We’ll just let our customers explain it... “...for our company, SMART Roll has evolved into a production optimization and process tool, similar to the reel scanners, where process variation is evaluated and immediate action can be taken. This was simply impossible before SMART. I recommend evaluating SMART Roll on your paper machines, and experiencing firsthand how it might be a good fit to optimize your process.” “...our entire mill exclusively uses SMART Technology to control the presses on our machines. We no longer use the gauges on the control panel.”

Figu pres play time (To s out.) over prop = inc prov issu

“...since adopting SMART Technology in our presses, we’ve eliminated the guesswork and trial and error when identifying and correcting issues. We have refocused SMART from a “trouble-shooting tool” to a key component of our standard process control intelligence.”

From the pioneers of intelligent nip technology.

Xerium.com/SMART

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Figu chan roll. was sure fact Afte redu side the c ~2.5

of y.

Case Study SMART® 5.0 PM 6 UPM Schongau, Germany UPM Schongau recently upgraded to SMART 5.0 on PM 6 for better control and visibility of nip conditions. (Fig. 1) Upon initial start-up following the SMART 5.0 installation, the SMART system captured a number of process changes including pressure differences, edge overloading, nonuniform distribution of nip load, and others. SMART 5.0 provided rapid and accurate information so production engineers could make immediate adjustments where necessary, and acknowledge the need for other corrective measures to be performed at scheduled downtimes.

caused by differing cover hardness or a changed diameter of the installed spare roll cover. As an isolated effect this would not have any negative influence to the runnability or productivity, but the width reduction and overloading effect would have gone undetected without SMART.

Fig. 3 - Nip width vs. roll cover & felt changes

Fig. 1 - UPM Schongau PM 6 - 1,400 MPM Figure 2 shows a sectional enlargement from the long-term nip pressure measurement phase over a period of several days. It displays the measured nip pressure prior to the scheduled PM downtime for changing felts and its changed condition after start-up.

(To simplify the graph the actual period of downtime was filtered out.) With SMART 5.0, it’s immediately clear that there is an edge overloading condition on tending and drive sides which reduced proportionally during the break-in period of the felts, (green areas = increased pressure level). The insight and accuracy that SMART provided enabled engineers to quickly isolate the edge overload issue and accelerate corrective action.

Fig. 2 - Nip pressure vs. felt change Figure 3 shows the measured nip width prior to shutdown for changing of the bottom and pickup felts and double suction press roll. (Again, to simplify the graph, the actual period of downtime was filtered out.) SMART captured a minor change in the measured nip width after start-up of the paper machine, despite the fact that there was a change of PMC and RC at the same time.

After the break-in period of the felts, the nip width was significantly reduced, and a slight overloading effect on tending and drive sides was documented (more red = shorter nip width). Through the change of the double suction press roll, the nip decreased by ~2.5 mm, or ~10% of the prior nip width. That reduction could be

PPC JulyAug2013.indd 17

The SMART system provided UPM with real-time measurement information, which has never before been available, leading to an accelerated trouble-shooting process. Further quality improvements on PM 6 include the 3rd / 4th press and calender.

“We’re very satisfied with the SMART System. It provides us with greater information to speed up our troubleshooting. We plan to invest in additional SMART Technology systems for other positions.”

Stephan Carda, Production Manager of PM 6 UPM Schongau, Germany.

In summary, each grade of paper produced has an individual pressing environment in which an optimized peak pressure range has been established. Armed with this knowledge the Papermakers can utilize SMART 5.0 technology as a practical engineering tool to ensure the press section operates within this designed peak pressure range. Before SMART 5.0 technology, this was only possible through indirect analytical modeling based on inputs from the roll cover, clothing, and machine parameters. SMART 5.0 accurately identifies and isolates issues for rapid analysis and decision-making to improve the productivity and efficiency of the paper machine. Now, the papermaker will know whether the press nip is performing at peak optimization levels by observing the peak pressure range as a function of nip width. In addition to the press section, SMART technology is also suitable for nip analysis with; couch press rolls, soft calenders, multi-nip calenders, super calenders, size presses, and lamination and finishing applications.

At the end of 2012 Xerium had already sold more than 330 SMART Roll applications worldwide on a wide variety of Stowe roll cover concepts and paper machine types for practically every paper grade.

Authors: • Stephan Carda, Dir. Production PM 6 UPM Schongau • Bill Butterfield, CTO, Xerium Technologies Inc. • Andreas Päch, Dir. Mkg & Application Engineering Forming Fabrics and Rolls, Xerium Europe

For more information visit Xerium.com/SMART.

13-07-31 11:41 AM

Technology News Alberta mill adds fiber recovery stages to NBSK hydrocycloning

Noss Canada has received an order for new fiber recovery stages from a kraft pulp mill in Alberta. The new components are to be installed in the mill’s pulp cleaning system.

The new fiber recovery stages will replace the existing ones with the aim of considerably improving the fiber recovery rate.

The new equipment will complement the existing Noss approach flow system, installed ahead of the pulp dryer headbox in 2004.

Noss Canada 514-697-2029, www.noss.com

Two-layer headbox for lightweight containerboards

The cost-effective OptiFlo two-layer headbox makes it possible to produce lightweight containerboard with only one hybrid forming unit or with a Fourdriniertype former. The latest two-layer hybrid forming headbox supplied by Metso came on stream at Liansheng Paper PM5 in Fujian province, China, on October 2012 with excellent performance.

The OptiFlo two-layer headbox tackles the challenges faced by boardmakers by combining lower basis weights, faster speeds and higher ash contents resulting from increased use of recycled fiber. This novel solution provides excellent layer coverage, considerably lower residual variation in basis weight and excellent formation with no streaks or tiger stripes.

The wet end operating costs of Liansheng Paper’s PM5 (headbox pumping cost, forming section drive power and vacuum power costs) are also lower with the two-layer headbox concept.

The 7.25-m-wide PM 5 produces recycled light weight liner using local OCC as furnish on a basis weight range of 100-140 g/m2.

The design speed of the production line is 1,200 m/min and the annual production capacity yields 350,000 tonnes.

“The biggest advantage of PM 5 is the OptiFlo two-layer headbox, which enables the production of three-layer board by two forming units. Power consumption is also lower than expected,” says Xue Ron Jun, project manager at Liansheng Paper.

According to Metso, in two-layer headbox applications it is very important to guarantee layer coverage. All the hydraulic components of the OptiFlo headbox have been designed to minimize slice jet and board sheet disturbances. The design of the OptiFlo layering headbox hydraulics produces smooth forming board activity, without any mixing of individual layers.

The liner quality has been very good at Liansheng. According to Xue Ron Jun, the internal bond between the layers of the

High-strength, repulpable tape 3M introduced at PaperCon 2013 Repulpable Super Strength Single Coated Tape R3177. The new tape delivers the highest tensile of all single coated tape offered by 3M and can be used for core starting and roll tabbing of coated and uncoated printing and writing papers.

R3177 is also suitable for use in the tough applications of core starting, temporary butt splicing and roll tabbing of paper board, liner board and fluff pulp stock used in food packaging. It allows the tape to stretch under stress and holds rolls closed better through stops and starts of automated roll handling.

3M’s line of single coated tapes for paper mills also includes two other tapes. R3187 offers the thickest high-tensile strength and elongation for printing and writing papers.

R3127 is the thinnest for core starting and roll tabbing of lightweight newsprint, tissue paper and paper towel stock.

All three tapes comply with FDA regulations for repulpable tapes which may become components of food packaging.

3M, www.3M.com

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lightweight linerboard produced by PM5 is excellent.

Hybrid forming with layering technology is a viable alternative technology for the production of lightweight containerboard grades, bringing the speed range up to 1,400 m/min. The new OptiFlo two-layer headbox technology is a compact, highspeed alternative to separate-ply multiFourdriniers. It offers lower investment costs than gap forming, and is suitable for rebuilds.

Metso, www.metso.com

Kemira adds GE water technology to its product line

Kemira’s Paper Segment can now furnish GE Water & Process Technologies’ boiler and cooling water chemical product technologies to the pulp and paper industry.

Kemira is actively expanding and broadening its pulp and paper offering.

“Adding boiler and cooling treatment strengthens Kemira’s commitment to be a highly valued resource to our customers in every area of the mill”, says Joe Stockman, director of boiler and cooling treatment for Kemira’s Paper Segment.

Kemira customers will be able to utilize the GE Water & Process Technologies Service Reliability Center which provides monitoring of customer’s key process variables.

Kemira 514-457-0000, www.kemira.com

Concentrated optical brightener

Clariant has launched a highlyconcentrated, urea-free liquid optical brightening agent (OBA) for printing and writing papers. Disulphonated Leucophor® ACK contains no environmentally-harmful additives, decreases OBA requirements for papermakers, and lowers transport costs and carbon footprint, according to the company.

Leucophor ACK is an ultra-concentrated aqueous solution specially designed to give state-of-the-art effectiveness while satisfying the most demanding environmental requirements. The unique, patented, urea-free optical brightener is primarily intended for stock application in sized and unsized papers.

Free of additives such as urea and glycols, the REACH-registered brightener contributes less to the overall nitrogen and COD content of backwaters and effluent.

From an efficiency perspective, papermakers look to use less active agent to achieve good brightness or whiteness for their application. The highly substantive, ultra-concentrated stilbene brightener exhibits impressively high build www.pulpandpapercanada.com

13-07-31 11:41 AM

Technology News up, even at extremely low concentrations, thanks to its strength and high affinity to the paper fiber.

Compared to current disulpho chemistries, Leucophor ACK shows improved performance on stock addition to both virgin and recycled fiber, and in pigmented coating applications, particularly those containing PVOH as a secondary binder, Clariant says. Leucophor ACK also allows greater flexibility and higher solids’ contents in CMC and starch/ CMC pigmented coatings.

Leucophor ACK liquid is also particularly suitable for unsized tissue, as well as neutral-sized and heavy loaded papers, the company says. It is also said to be one of the most effective OBAs for use in wood-containing grades, such as improved newsprint and SC grades.

Clariant Canada, www.clariant.com

Dryer rebuild nets 17% capacity increase

Andritz has successfully completed a rebuild of PM2’s dryer section at Smurfit Kappa’s Hoya mill in Germany. As a result, Smurfit Kappa – one of the leading producers of paper-based packaging in the world– is able to achieve its goals for capacity, product quality, and energy consumption.

Andritz’s scope for rebuilding the testliner and fluting machine at Hoya included complete dismantling of the old dryer section and rebuilding it with new frame and rolls; installation of a PrimeRun web stabilization system; and installation of ropeless tail-threading (PrimeFeeder).

A PrimeCoat Film film press replaced the old size press and a new energy-recovery hood was installed.

Even with the reduction in basis weight for the lighter weight packaging paper, capacity was increased by 17%. In addition formation was improved and energy consumption was significantly reduced.

For the project’s second phase, PM2’s output was increased by another 17%.

Andritz Pulp & Paper moved the reel and enlarged the after-drying section by adding PrimeDry ST and PrimeDry www.pulpandpapercanada.com

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DT dryers along with a PrimeRun web stabilization system. The new components have a design speed of 1,200 m/min, at a width at reel of 7,600 mm.

Andritz, www.andritz.com

Measurement of chemicals and fibre

Recent innovations include the new TCT-2531, an open flow sensor for low fiber consistency applications such as measuring fiber losses; the Optical Bleach Plant for enhanced productivity and chemical savings in the fiber line; and the completely new Mütek PCD05, the industry standard for charge measurement.

The Mütek PCD-05 is the successor to the PCD-04 and is available in three different versions. Worldwide, the PCD has established itself as the standard tool for charge measurement in the paper industry and for chemical suppliers alike. The level of chemical additives such as fixing agents or interfering substances can be determined quickly.

BTG Americas Inc. 770-209-6940, www.btg.com

Kadant expands stock prep with Noss addition

Headbox upgrade is 100th for GL&V

Kadant Inc. has completed the acquisition of certain assets of the Noss Group, a Sweden-based developer and supplier of screening, hydrocycloning, and deaeration systems and equipment for both virgin and recycled fiber lines as well as for approach flow systems. The Noss product line extends Kadant’s stock-preparation product offerings.

Noss’ integration into Kadant is expected to provide customers with increased accessibility and expanded technical resources utilizing Kadant’s global platform.

Kadant Inc. is a supplier of stockpreparation, fluid-handling, and doctoring, cleaning, and filtration products.

Kadant Canada Corp. 877-369-6111, www.kadant.com

Entry-level shaft alignment system Hamar Laser’s Stealth Series S-660T threeaxis wireless laser shaft alignment system offers good value in entry-level shaft alignment laser systems. The powerful Couple6 shaft alignment software runs on the new generation PC industrial tablet with Windows 7 Professional operating system.

The unit enables highly accurate measurement of offset and angle simultaneously using two laser fans and two PSDs, providing full operating range

GL&V Canada has won an order to supply a new BTF™ headbox to United Corrstack, Reading, PA. Start-up is set for the fall of 2013.

The headbox upgrade at United Corrstack is part of a modernization project designed to improve product quality, increase sheet width and increase production while reducing overall cost-per-ton. GL&V notes that, in this age of rapidly changing technologies, the success of their BTF technology underscores the obvious technological advantages of the system when compared to traditional headbox equipment.

GL&V has a worldwide installation list of 188 BTF units, 87 of which are BTF Dilution Profiling Retrofits which have been integrated into existing headboxes of every description.

GL&V Canada Inc. 819-371-8265, www.glv.com between laser and target.

An internal Bluetooth® transmitter sealed in IP67 housing has a range of up to 10 m from target. Spans of 3.05 m are easily achieved with the use of a fan type laser.

Hyatt Industries Limited 604-736-7301, www.hyatt-ind.com

Greenhouse gas modeling for wastewater treatment BioWin 4.0 provides rigorous mathematical models to simulate operations in wastewater treatment plants. Developed

by EnviroSim Associates, BioWin 4.0 has capabilities to model nitrous oxide, methane and carbon dioxide emissions – key greenhouse gases (GHGs).

With its new capabilities, BioWin 4.0 allows plant designers, water companies and plant operators to calculate and predict GHG emissions from different plant designs and operating conditions.

EnviroSim Associates Ltd. 905-481-2607

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Courtesy of Albany International

Technology News

Focus on paper machine clothing Strong and effective dryer fabrics

Maintaining drying efficiency and sheet runnability through the life of a dryer fabric is a key cost driver for the performance of a paper machine. Voith says its new Evaporite dryer fabrics impress with their outstanding durability and efficiency, their resistance to contamination and ease of cleaning. They feature a new CleanWeave design and SynStron material which has a significantly higher durability than conventional polyester yarns.

The open structure, low yarn cross over points and minimum internal void volume are unique to the CleanWeave structure and thus reduce contamination of the fabric.

Effective evaporation is ensured over the entire service life of the fabric. Moreover, the compact fabric structure makes cleaning of the surface easier either when manually cleaning or with online cleaning The Evaporite systems. product line is EvaporiteHigh is also part of this product specially developed line. This dryer fabric design is characterized for applications in particular by an increased open surface which require a robust dryer fabric. and a high degree of web contact.

Voith, www.voith.com/evaporite

Nonwoven, hybrid felts improve lifetime performance Felts play a major role with regard to efficiency and cost savings.

When purchasing a felt, going for a cheaper option might, in the worst case, result in additional costs during the felt running time.

It is better to analyze a felt’s real effect on machine efficiency by looking at the felt costs per produced paper tonnes and the savings (e.g. energy reduction and saved production time) that can be achieved with certain felts, Metso advises.

Electricity usage in the press section is huge and adds up to hundreds of thousands of Euros every year. Metso calculates that about 20-30% of electricity usage is related to Uhle boxes. Their friction increases the energy consumption of drives, and the Uhle box vacuum increases vacuum energy consumption.

The company claims energy can be saved by using nonwoven and hybrid felts, which maximize nip dewatering, meaning that minimized or no vacuums are required in the Uhle boxes. Metso offers two standard nonwoven and hybrid felts: AquaMaster and EcoMaster.

AquaMaster’s immediately saturating structure allows a very

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fast start-up and maximal nip dewatering. All the water is removed in the nip so Uhle boxes do not increase sheet dryness. Rewetting is minimized with a special layer.

EcoMaster is the combination of a woven and nonwoven structure. Its nip dewatering properties are excellent, but Uhle boxes can be used if necessary. Additional benefits compared with nonwoven felts include its smooth surface, insulation against marking, dimensional stability and less plugging.

Many machines already use AquaMaster and EcoMaster felts and run with maximized nip dewatering, which saves a lot of energy with closed vacuum pumps or blowers.

Saving energy is not enough when the aim is to achieve efficient production. A fast start-up and unchanged felt behavior are very important for the machine to run continuously at full speed. Minimal felt wear and a non-plugging structure ensure good life potential.

Metso’s TransMaster Open (TMO) was the world’s first press fabric to combine the properties of a conventional felt with some of the surface properties of a transfer belt to get the best out of both products.

The sophisticated hybrid base of TMO felt has proven to be superior in this respect. It is a special felt for very demanding machines, such as high-speed printing paper machines.

Impregnated resin treatment ensures TMO’s even performance throughout its lifetime. This treatment makes the felt structure dense and non-compacting, and perfect for a fast start-up and immediate nip dewatering. The structure remains unchanged throughout the lifetime with no late life related problems such as edge flipping or plugging. Improved mechanical resistance gives the TMO felt long life potential and makes it durable, also under high nip pressures, even if the base fabric is nonwoven or hybrid.

Metso Paper Ltd. 514-335-5426, www.metso.com

Forming fabric suits graphic paper grades

The MaxiFlyer SSB by Cristini is said to offer the best plain weave surface with the highest FSI, for a superior planarity, retention and sheet formation.

The open structure allows an engineered drainage capacity, while the long machine side float ensures excellent life potential.

The unique weave pattern leads to a naturally compact design, without any need of mechanical pre-compaction. MaxiFlyer is ideal for high-speed machines producing graphic and fine paper grades.

Cristini 800-720-2002, www.cristini.com www.pulpandpapercanada.com

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Professional Connections

Courtesy of Albany International

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POWER EQUIPMENT CO.

10:33:36 AM

444 Carpenter Avenue, Wheeling, IL 60090

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CONSULTANTS

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PULP & PAPER CANADA

Contact Jim Bussiere 800-268-7742, ext 3606 or 416-442-5600, ext 3606 Fax: 416-510-5140 CAREERS

PulP & PaPer Jobs

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To inquire about advertising in

Pöyry (Montreal) Inc. Montreal, QC 514 341 3221

Pöyry Management Consulting NA Oakville, ON New York, NY 289 291 4573 646 651 1547

Pöyry (Vancouver) Inc. Vancouver, BC 604 689 0344

Pöyry (Appleton) LLC Appleton, WI 920 954 2000

Freeman Staffing, Inc. specializes in the placement of engineers (all disciplines), production type supervisors, managers, mill and/or plant managers and corporate executives in the pulp & paper industry, North America-wide. For specific current job searches call us or contact our web site. All resumes are treated with complete confidentiality.

Freeman Staffing, Inc. (800) 221-9629 email: markp@freemanstaffing.com

web site: www.freemanstaffing.com

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Engineering services for the pulp and paper industry

Telephone 416. 391. 2322 E-mail mail@dickeng.com Web site www.dickeng.com

www.pulpandpapercanada.com

PPC JulyAug2013.indd 21

RESTORATION GUYS INC. ...we restore it all

• Dryer Can Cleaning 20205 Kennedy Rd, Caledon ON • Soda Blasting and Painting Office: (519) 940-0904 Paper Machines and Machine Rooms Cell: (416) 578-5626 www.restorationguys.ca • Vacuuming Plenums and Rafters

July/August 2013 PULP & PAPER CANADA

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13-07-31 11:41 AM

It isn’t enough to protect water systems in the mill.

Protect the ones outside too.

Busan® 1215 provides maximum deposit control protection for both your equipment and the environment, combining smart monochloramine chemistry with proprietary feeding equipment.

Good for the planet.

Busan 1215 provides superior microbiological control – fighting biofilm, reducing organic deposits, and disinfecting stock and water circuits. Yet it has: • No free chlorine • No strong oxidant • Little or no reaction to organic or chemical demand

Good for the bottom line.

Busan 1215 can improve wet end efficiency, product quality, and machine efficiency, so your mill can: • Reduce consumption of additives • Reduce holes and sheet defects due to microbiological activity • Improve runnability

discover just how powerful sustainability can be.

Find out more. Contact your local Buckman representative, or visit us online at buckman.com.

©2012 Buckman Laboratories International, Inc.

PPC JulyAug2013.indd 24

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