Pulp & Paper Canada November/December 2014

PULP& PAPER CANADA

OVER 100 YEARS OF SERVING THE INDUSTRY

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014

www.pulpandpapercanada.com

Alberta Newsprint’s other business: PLUS:

oil

SONOCO DRYER UPGRADE REDEFINING SUSTAINABILITY PAPERWEEK CANADA PREVIEW

An Official Partner of the Pulp and Paper Technical Association of Canada

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PAPTAC

Pulp and Paper Technical Assoc Association technique des pâtes

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STRENGTH RESIN TECHNOLOGY THAT REALLY STACKS UP Kemira legacy companies introduced the first commercial synthetic strength resins more than 50 years ago. Today, over 100 researchers in our global R&D centers continue to develop new generations of strength resins and other innovative paper technologies.

Kemira’s FennoBond dry strength and FennoRez Temporary wet strength products help our customers enhance sheet properties, reduce basis weight, optimize furnish costs, and increase machine speeds. It is no wonder Kemira is the North American market leader for glyoxylated polyacrylamide (GPAM) technology. Kemira’s FennoStrength resins are the highest solids products commercially available, delivering unbeatable cost efficiency for permanent wet strength applications.

For a partner in paper that really stacks up, visit our website www.kemira.com or join us in Montréal for PaperWeek 2015 from February 2-5. You’ll find us in Booth #2 in the exhibition hall at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel.

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PULP& PAPER

November/December 2014 Vol. 115, No. 6 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 A lberta Newsprint’s Unconventional

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Revenue Streams

Not content with just being a newsprint mill, Alberta Newsprint is finding other business opportunities for its infrastructure.

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FEATURES

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14 G et Creative About Sustainability

Sappi and Domtar go above and beyond when spreading the sustainability message.

15 P aperWeek Canada Preview

Get the highlights of the industry’s annual gathering, coming up in February in Montreal.

16 S yphon Retrofit has Mill-wide Benefits

A turnkey dryer project at Sonoco’s Trent Valley linerboard mill eliminated previous siphon failures and allowed maintenance to stop playing catch-up.

22 B io-economy Update

Biomass-to-electricity starts up, biomass-to-liquid scores second contract, and biomass-to-sugar readies for demonstration plant.

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IN EVERY ISSUE 4 Editorial 5 News 10 Opinion: FPInnovations 10 Opinion: FPAC 19 Technology News 21 Classified Ads 22 Bio-Economy

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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 photo: istock.com/HalBergman

www.pulpandpapercanada.com

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Editorial

The Best-Read List I

recently had a refresher course on how to use Google Analytics to gain insights about visitor behaviour on the Pulp & Paper Canada web site. That led me to poke around in the data, and eventually I thought to expand my view and enquire about the top news stories of the year. Here is the list of most-read news stories from Jan. 1, 2014 to now (Nov. 4).

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Kimberly Clark releases tube-free bathroom tissue Paper Excellence ditches dissolving pulp plans Hinton Pulp to install commercial-scale lignin recovery Kruger invests in paper bottle technology Massive eucalyptus pulp mill starts up in Brazil Cascades exits fine paper business Lafarge cement operations will test torrefied biomass Paper Excellence investing $50 million to upgrade Chetwynd pulp mill 9. Terrace Bay fined for fatal explosion 10. Chinese duty on pulp makes Fortress LSQ plans not viable Drawing conclusions from these and other wellread stories, there is (understandably) high interest in stories of mill or paper machine shutdowns, technical innovations (tube-free tissue for example), and advancements in biomass-based products.

Dissolving pulp, Fortress Paper and Paper Excellence also draw interest. Dissolving pulp, because it is a volatile sector with investment and jobs hinging on its ups and downs. Fortress Paper, I would say, because it has a vocal entrepreneur at the helm who makes himself accessible to media and to the industry.

Cindy Macdonald Editor Fortress Paper also finds itself in the news regularly because of its frequent and detailed investor updates.

Paper Excellence, I think, draws interest for the opposite reason.

The company is not often in the news, so little is known about its plans, yet it owns seven mills in Canada and controls a significant portion of Canadian pulp production.

If I had to guess at top stories for next year, I would say dissolving pulp will continue to draw readers. There is an ongoing trade dispute involving dissolving pulp, and the future of a couple of projects hangs in the balance. Catalyst Paper just days ago announced its intention to purchase two coated paper mills in the U.S., so I expect Catalyst’s actions in the next few months to be worth following. I don’t think Canadian mills are finished trimming capacity or re-purposing assets, so we will likely see more announcements of curtailments, shutdowns and conversions.

These are only guesses, however. Usage data only allows us to look back, not to predict the future.

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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PULP & PAPER CANADA November/December 2014

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www.pulpandpapercanada.com

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Industry News

Kruger Inc. was planning to stop production of the No. 1 paper machine and deinked pulp plant operations at its Brompton newsprint mill for an indefinite period, effective November 14. The company says the decision is intended to rebalance the order book and improve the mill’s competitive position.

Unfavourable market conditions, in particular the continuing drop in demand for newsprint, were cited as the reason for the decision.

The shutdown will affect 98 employees and reduce the mill’s annual newsprint production by 100,000 tonnes. The company has said it will make every effort to minimize the closure’s impact on employees.

The Brompton mill is located in Sherbrooke, Que. Kruger Inc. is a major producer of publication papers, tissue, lumber and other wood products, corrugated cartons from recycled fibres, green and renewable energy and wines and spirits.

Domtar upgrades evaporator train at Ashdown Domtar has contracted Valmet to supply equipment for an evaporator train upgrade at the company’s Ashdown mill in Arkansas, with the aim of significantly reducing energy consumption and fresh water usage.

The upgrade will also improve reliability and performance of the evaporator train.

The upgraded evaporator train is scheduled to begin operation in late 2015.

“Domtar selected Valmet for this project because of the technology proposed for the upgrade, total cost of ownership considerations and the successful long-term relationship we have with Valmet,” said Jimmy Evans, strategic contracts manager for Domtar.

Raymond Burelle, regional sales manager for Valmet, said the chosen technical solution will provide a system that is simpler and safer to operate.

Valmet will supply new evaporator vessels and the components needed to upgrade the existing concentrators, as well as several smaller vessels.

Domtar’s Ashdown mill has three pulp lines and three paper machines. The mill’s annual paper production capacity is 680,000 tons and pulp production capacity 700,000 tons. www.pulpandpapercanada.com

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Photo: Cascades

Kruger indefinitely shuts PM1 at Brompton newsprint mill

The Greenpac mill, shown at start-up in July 2013.

Fire interrupts production at Greenpac and Norampac Niagara Falls Operations at the Greenpac and Norampac containerboard mills in Niagara Falls, NY, were interrupted for a few days following a fire that occurred in the exterior old corrugated containers (OCC) stock piles. In the interim, both mills were shipping finished products manufactured prior to the fire.

The fire occurred on Saturday, September 20, in the OCC stock piles located outside of the mills. Both mills were quickly evacuated with no injuries to personnel. After an investigation, local authorities said the cause of the fire is undetermined, but noted that the bales of paper were stored in compliance with local building codes.

According to the Niagara Gazette, “At the height of its fury on Sept. 20, the flames from the blaze shot hundreds of feet into the air and the smoke plume was visible on weather radar screens. More than 24 hours later, the massive collection of cardboard bundles that had fueled the fire had been reduced to smoldering piles where flames still flickered and smoke still rose as firefighters continued to pour water on the site.”

Damage to the Greenpac Mill is limited to the OCC stock pile and the OCC conveyor.

Damage to the Norampac Niagara Falls mill, while more extensive, is limited to the OCC stock pile, pulper and stock preparation, the company reports.

Norampac, a division of Cascades, manufactures 100% recycled medium at the Niagara Falls site. Greenpac Mill is a state-of-the-art mill that manufactures 100% recycled linerboard. It is owned 59% by Cascades, with three other partners.

CKF brings production of Earthcycle line to NS plant Canadian food packaging company, CKF Inc., is now producing the Earthcycle™ line of agricultural trays at its Hantsport, N.S., facility. The first production runs are being delivered to long-term client, Gourmet Trading, reports Freshplaza.com. The move is in line with the strategic intent of CKF’s acquisition of Earthcycle Packaging in May 2013.

“Our decision to invest in the people and the technology to manufacture Earthcycle™ in Canada further delivers on our

sustainability mission,” said Ian Anderson, president of CKF Inc. “Consumers today have a wider definition of sustainability, one that incorporates socially responsible manufacturing and support of local businesses,” he added.

“We were thrilled when we learned about CKF’s plans to produce in North America,” said Brian Miller, president of Gourmet Trading. Gourmet Trading has been using Earthcycle™ trays for more than two years in programs for leading natural retailers. “The environmental benefits of the Earthcycle™ line combined with North

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Industry News GLV to separate water treatment from pulp and paper division One of the founding families of GLV Inc. has offered to buy the company’s pulp and paper division, allowing the water treatment division to continue operations as a water treatment company under the name Ovivo.

GLV announced a definitive agreement for the sale of its Pulp and Paper Division for $65 million to a corporation owned by Richard Verreault, the president and chief executive officer of GLV and Laurent Verreault, the executive chairman of the board of GLV and a founder of the company. A statement from GLV says the transaction “will allow GLV to become a pure provider of water treatment products and solutions in a rapidly growing industry with attractive long-term fundamentals.”

Upon closing of the transaction, Richard Verreault will step down from his current roles of president and chief executive officer and director of GLV but Laurent Verreault will continue to act as executive chairman of the board of directors. The Verreaults will remain shareholders of the corporation, exercising the same voting power.

“The Board of Directors of GLV has been considering the sale of the Pulp and Paper Division for quite some time,” said Marc Courtois, chair of GLV’s committee of independent directors, which is overseeing the transaction. “Over the past years, GLV has solicited and received expressions of interest for the Pulp and Paper Division, none of which was superior to today’s proposed transaction.”

Laurent Verreault commented: “[Richard and I] believe that the sale of the Pulp and Paper Division is the right strategic decision for GLV to focus on its core water treatment business and strengthen its financial flexibility to capitalize on growth opportunities. We are also pleased to acquire the Pulp and Paper Division, the founding activities of GLV, and to ensure that its head office will remain in Quebec.”

GLV Group was founded in 1975 by Louis Laperrière and Laurent Verreault. Then called GL&V, it was a service and equipment provider for major manufacturers in the pulp and paper industry. Through strategic acquisitions over the years, the company added to its innovative technological solutions for separating liquids from solids.

In the early 2000s, seeking diversification, the company targeted the water treatment sector which was facing a growing demand.

Currently, GL&V Pulp and Paper Group designs and markets equipment used in various stages of pulp and paper production. Brands and intellectual property owned by GL&V include: TamPulping, KanEng Industries, LaValley, Sandy Hill, Beloit Lenox Div., Cameron, Hedemora, Beloit Jones Div., Albia, Black Clawson-Kennedy, Impco, and Celleco.

The transaction to split the two divisions of GLV has been approved unanimously by the Board of Directors of GLV, but is subject to shareholder vote. As well, there is a 45-day “go-shop” period during which National Bank Financial will solicit third-party interest.

BASF reorganizes paper chemicals business BASF is changing the organizational set-up of its paper chemicals business “to strengthen its competitiveness and better meet the needs of the paper industry,” the company explains.

BASF offers a wide range of chemical products for paper manufacturing and coating.

BASF says it remains committed to the paper chemicals industry and there will be no impact on supply security and service for the customers. Sales with paper chemicals were €1.44 billion in 2013.

As of January 1, 2015, the Paper Chemicals division will be dissolved. The current headquarters of the Paper Chemicals division in Basel, Switzerland will be closed. Overall, there will be a reduction of about 50 positions globally.

The wet-end chemicals and kaolin businesses will be integrated into BASF’s Performance Chemicals division. A new global business unit called “Paper Chemicals” will be established within the Performance Chemicals division.

BASF is evaluating strategic options for its paper hydrous kaolin business.

The paper dispersions business and the Center for Sustainable Paper Packaging (CSPP) will be integrated into the Dispersions & Pigments division.

“Integrating the paper chemicals business along existing value chains will allow BASF to optimally steer plant capacity,” said Michael Heinz, member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE. 6

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American manufacturing make it easy for our end consumers to make the sustainable lifestyle choices they are demanding. Also, in buying from CKF, our supply chains are shortened, allowing us to manage our inventory and be sure of product when we need it,” Miller commented.

Domtar and Kruger Products among 2014 PPI award winners Winners of the 2014 PPI Awards were announced on Oct. 8 at a ceremony in Boston. Among them were Domtar’s Windsor, Que., mill, for Environmental Strategy of the Year, and Kruger Products as IT’s Tissue Company of the Year.

The awards are sponsored by RISI, a leading information provider for the global forest products industry. According to RISI, the PPI Awards honor leadership, vision, innovation and strategic accomplishments within the pulp and paper industry.

For the Environmental Strategy of the Year, Domtar states that the Windsor Mill was chosen for its steadfast dedication to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, energy use and waste, as well as championing the use of raw materials sourced from Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certified sources.

Domtar also received an award called The Innovative Printing & Writing Campaign of the Year, recognizing Domtar’s Paper Fun Truck initiative. This whimsically decorated truck visited schools, businesses, and retirement communities to show how paper remains fun and valuable.

Financial incentive for retrofits of lighting, compressed air The Ontario Power Authority (OPA) has made updates to the saveONenergy Retrofit Program that provide additional financial incentives for Ontario businesses to reduce energy used by heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, lighting, refrigeration systems and building plug loads.

Retrofitting outdated equipment provides cost savings and improves the efficiency of operational procedures and processes. Eligible companies can receive financial incentives worth up to 50% of project costs towards modernizing current systems with high-efficiency equipment.

“These financial incentives strengthwww.pulpandpapercanada.com

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Industry News en the business case for companies to upgrade or replace equipment with more energy efficient options. We expanded the program to help move energy efficiency projects higher on the list of priorities for Ontario businesses,” says Andrew Pride, OPA vice-president of conservation.

Key updates and new incentives include: incentives for certain LED lighting products; incentives for variable frequency drive and variable displacement air compressors; engineered worksheets for compressed air systems; and incentives for HVAC system upgrades.

For additional information, visit www. saveonenergy.ca/business or contact your local electric utility.

Get the facts, not fiction, about Canadian paper boxes The Canadian paper packaging industry’s environmental council, PPEC, today announced the launch of a new website specifically focused on paper boxes or boxboard cartons: www.paperboxescanada. org.

“There is information (and a lot of misinformation) about paper boxes scattered all over the place,” said PPEC executive director, John Mullinder. “What we are trying to do here is to ensure that customers and consumers have easy access to accurate, concise, and current information on the paper boxes used in Canada.”

The website has sections on the different types of cartons and what they are made from; the renewability of Canada’s forest resource; the mills’ high use of recycled content; and the widespread recyclability and compostability of the boxes themselves. There is a section on public policy issues such as the responsible sourcing of paper materials and the pioneering efforts of the industry to launch old boxboard recovery in the 1990s.

Neucel fined for mill discharge Neucel Specialty Cellulose Ltd. has been convicted in provincial court for illegally discharging waste from their pulp mill operation in Port Alice, B.C. The company has been ordered to pay $1,000 in fines to the province and $174,000 to the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation.

In 2011, Neucel was found to have exceeded authorized levels of discharge into Neroutsos Inlet on three separate www.pulpandpapercanada.com

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occasions. The B.C. Conservation Officer Service, supported by Environment Canada, conducted a joint investigation and forwarded recommended charges to B.C.’s Crown counsel.

Kemira invests in its hydrogen peroxide plant in Oulu Due to the growing demand for pulp chemicals in Finland, Kemira is planning to make a multi-million euro investment in its hydrogen peroxide plant in Oulu. The improved efficiency and operational capabilities will enable Kemira to better serve pulp and paper producers.

The company is also investigating other bleaching chemical investment needs to support the pulp and paper industry in Europe and the announced future pulp mill expansions.

Nordic forest industry making push to diversify in 2014

The revival of the softwood fiber-based forest industry in the Nordic countries has been especially noticeable in 2014, with investment plans of US$3 billion dollars in pulp, bio-energy and biomaterials, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly (WRQ).

The pulp and paper industry in the Nordic countries has started to see a new dawn with a growing demand for pulp and paper products made from long wood fiber from the vast conifer forests in Northern Europe, the publication suggests. Over the past few months, there have been a number of announcements about investments by forest companies in Finland, Norway and Sweden totaling close to US$3 billion dollars.

The primary end-products will be softwood market pulp and virgin fibre-based container board, but major investments are also being considered to increase the utilization of forest biomass for energy on a larger scale, such as Sodra/Statkraft’s biofuels endeavor and Metsä Fibre’s biorefinery.

According to WRQ, some of the factors that have placed softwood fiber in a new positive light are: limited investments in the establishments of softwood plantations worldwide, favorable global supply/ demand balance for softwood pulp over hardwood pulp, (if you are a pulp manufacturer), increased demand for packaging material requiring wood fiber with high strength, and a rise in research in new

Briefly…..

•T he Town of Espanola and Domtar Inc. have reached an agreement resolving outstanding matters with respect to the mill’s assessed value from 2009-2016 and industrial tax rates from 2013-2016.

• Richard Garneau, president and CEO of Resolute Forest Products Inc., has been named to Canada’s Clean50, a list which recognizes leaders who have made the significant contributions to sustainable development or clean capitalism in Canada. products made from trees, sometimes as substitutes to non-renewable materials such as plastic and metal.

These recent developments in the Nordic countries may very well be the beginning of the biggest transformation of the softwood fiber-based forest industry we have seen in decades, not only in Northern Europe but in other regions of the world as well where coniferous forests is the dominant forest-type, states the publication.

Wood Resource Quarterly provides global pulpwood and timber market reporting.

Canfor enters wood pellet business Canfor plans to construct a pellet plant at each of the company’s Chetwynd and Fort St. John sawmill sites, in partnership with Pacific Bioenergy Corporation.

The two plants will have a combined annual production capacity of 175,000 tonnes of wood pellets, the sale of which is tied to a long term agreement with a power utility customer. The total investment of $58 million will include electrical selfgeneration capacity of 3 megawatts supported through BC Hydro’s Power Smart Load Displacement Program.

“These investments enhance our utilization of sawmill residuals and contribute to our company’s overall sustainable value proposition,” said Canfor Corporation president and CEO Don Kayne. The pellet plants are scheduled to begin production in the third and fourth quarters of 2015.

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Once he reduced his energy costs by 55% after installing a VFD, savings in other parts of his business went into overdrive.

T a l m e c

Once you start seeing the benefits from our incentives for installing premium efficiency motors and VFDs, you’ll want to look into making other areas of your business like lighting, compressed air and pump

O f m a t b c i

systems more efficient too. When you do, you’ll be joining thousands of organizations across Ontario who are already enjoying the savings that our programs deliver.

Take a look at their stories and our incentives at

saveonenergy.ca/pulp-and-paper

W

E u p e e a M c e

B i

T t g O u

Subject to additional terms and conditions found at saveonenergy.ca. Subject to change without notice.

OM Official Mark of the Ontario Power Authority.

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Energy Managers: Leading the Way for Energy Many businesses believe that an effective sustainability strategy is a necessity—and managing electricity consumption is a key component of that strategy. Reducing their energy consumption is considered very important to 68% of surveyed businesses in Ontario.

The benefits of integrating a business’ energy conservation and sustainability goals include increased productivity with lower operating costs, enhanced brand value, proactive risk mitigation against future energy costs, as well as increased employee satisfaction, improved working conditions and competitive differentiation.

Only 17% of the companies surveyed indicate they have a fully implemented energy plan. For many companies, the main barrier to improving the energy efficiency of equipment and operations is that they simply do not have the time or technical expertise to establish the business case. Many businesses that have successfully implemented energy conservation and sustainability strategies have hired in-house Energy Managers to lead the way.

What is an Energy Manager?

Energy Managers help companies take control of energy use through monitoring performance, leading awareness programs and identifying cost-effective options to save energy. By leading inspections, surveys, and analyses of energy flows, Energy Managers support the business case and implementation of energy efficiency projects. Energy Managers also play a key role is building a culture of conservation within an organization to promote energy efficiency at every level.

maximum of $100,000 per year--for a full-time Embedded Energy Manager. Smaller organizations interested in energy management services can benefit from a part-time Roving Energy Manager—a position that is fully funded.

How the Energy Manager program has helped Canadian businesses Currently, there are over 70 Embedded Energy Managers and Roving Energy Managers funded by the saveONenergy program.

They have assisted Ontario businesses in saving more than 18.5 MW of electricity, or roughly $16 million in energy costs per year.

Contact your local electric utility to discuss opportunities for an energy manager in your business.

saveonenergy.ca/business

68% of businesses in Ontario consider reducing their energy usage to be very important.

contact your local electric utility saveonenergy@powerauthority.on.ca @saveonenergyOnt youtube.com/ontpowerauthority

Benefiting from energy manager initiatives

Subject to additional terms and conditions found at saveonenergy.ca. Subject to change without notice.

OM Official Mark of the Ontario Power Authority.

There are financial initiatives available for Ontario businesses to benefit from having an Energy Manager without incurring great expense. The saveONenergy program, funded by the Ontario Power Authority and delivered by local electric utilities, funds up to 80% of the annual salary--up to a

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Opinion

Developing new nonwoven products for value-added application of market pulp

By Jennifer Ellson, Senior Communications Specialist, FPInnovations

T

he forest sector has been challenged in recent years to create new, value-added products that would utilize the most value from wood and pulp fibre. FPInnovations took action, as always, and a recent pilot plant trial has demonstrated the possibility of using market pulps for the production of different types of nonwoven products.

Pulp fibres were coated with polymers, a sizing agent and fire retardant chemicals, and blended with synthetic fibres. A dry-laid process was used to manufacture different prototypes for thermal insulation, sound insulation and automobile interior panels.

These new products showed better performance on impact sound insulation than the best acoustic products currently used in building construction, such as commonly used felt and wood fibreboard. The airborne acoustic performance was also comparable to existing products on the market. This development confirmed the potential applications of nonwoven cellulose fibre products for building sound insulation as the membrane for wood and concrete floor finishing, underlayment for heavy

topping on wood floors and sound absorptive material in floor and wall cavities.

Sound insulation is one of many issues that architects and builders have to encompass within their designs for buildings and especially for attached dwellings. With the increasing demand for multi-family housing and the use of timber structures and flooring for multi-level buildings, the need for improved sound insulation has become more prominent as it affects the dwellers’ quality of life.

Recently developed sound insulation testing methods at FPInnovations’ Quebec laboratory will help benchmark and characterize currently used sound insulation products on the market and provide guidelines for further development of nonwoven products. FPInnovations’ research has also confirmed that the physical and mechanical performance of wood-based nonwovens is comparable to commercial products used in the automotive industry.

For more information on FPInnovations’ nonwoven research projects, please contact James Deng at 418-781-6767 or james.deng@fpinnovations.ca.

PPC

Forest product innovation: expect us in the unexpected

By David Lindsay, president and CEO, Forest Products Association of Canada

R

ecently on Parliament Hill, a group of MPs and staffers crowded a reception area showcasing a wide variety of innovations made from renewable wood fibre.

They were awe-struck to see the likes of a Ford Lincoln console, an architect’s model of a 40-storey building made from wood, 3D printing, examples of the iridescent qualities of crystalline nano-crystals, and rayon saris and shirts worn by staffers with the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) with a sticker saying “I’m Wearing Wood.”

The event was an eye-opener for many parliamentarians but even those working in today’s forest products industry may not realize the vast potential for wood fibre – in everything from car parts to clothing to cosmetics. The Canadian industry is now diversifying and emerging as a global leader in innovation.

Some of the pioneering products made from Canada’s renewable forest resource are already found in the marketplace, such as specialty cellulose being used as a film coating for pills or as a binder and time release ingredient for slow-release capsules. Other products are in the offing, including using touch screens just two cellulose fibres thick for the next generation of smart phones and “intelligent” packing with bio-reactivity 10

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properties to extend shelf life, monitor freshness and identify allergens such as peanuts.

We can expect even more surprising forest products in the future thanks to Canada’s unique innovation system based on a shared vision, and alignment between the forest products industry, governments, academics, research institutions and other partners. Industry leadership comes from: the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC); the federal government, which has funded strategic programs such as Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT); FPInnovations, a world-leading public-private research body; and the FIBRE network, which taps into the creativity of 27 universities, 100 professors and 400 students.

The result is groundbreaking work that is helping to put Canada in the pole position for forest product innovation. The key now is to build on the momentum. International competitors are also moving quickly down the road of innovation.

However, if we can build on recent success, Canada can truly lead the pack in these game-changing technologies and ecofriendly materials. And that can only be good for Canada’s future prosperity and job creation.

Learn more about innovations from wood fibre at Fpac.ca/innovation PPC www.pulpandpapercanada.com

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Industry News continued from page 7

Canada files trade complaint against dissolving pulp duties The Canadian government has filed a claim with the World Trade Organization regarding the imposition of duties by China against Canadian producers of dissolving pulp (specifically viscose staple fibre pulp).

Both Tembec and Fortress Paper were affected the China’s import duties, which range from 13 to 23%, and requested the federal government intervene. On Oct. 15, Canada made a request of the WTO for consultations with China with respect to Chinese anti-dumping duties levied on imports of cellulose pulp from Canada. The anti-dumping duties also apply to producers in the United States and Brazil.

According to the WTO, Canada’s position is that “the preliminary and final duty measures announced in November 2013 and April 2014 appear to be inconsistent with China’s obligations under various provisions of the Anti-Dumping Agreement and the GATT 1994.”

“Tembec hopes dialogue between Canada and China will result in a resolution of the dispute in the short term,” states Tembec president and CEO James Lopez.

Chad Wasilenkoff, CEO of Fortress Paper, comments: “In Canada, the impact of the duty has put thousands of jobs in the dissolving pulp industry at risk, including over 300 jobs at the Fortress Specialty Cellulose Mill in Thurso, Que.” Management at Fortress Paper believes “that China’s domestic dissolving pulp industry, which petitioned the investigation into dissolving pulp imports, suffered no injury as a result of imported pulp.”

If Canada and China do not reach a settlement in 60 days, Canada could escalate the issue and ask the WTO to adjudicate.

50 YEARS AND STILL GREEN Since 1964, Cascades has been committed to recycling for a better world.

Every day, over 12,000 men and women transform your surroundings by changing the very nature of things.

This represents hundreds of innovative products, ranging from simple paper to complex packaging, each produced with respect for the environment and community.

This is why we are proud to be one of the world’s largest processors of recyclable materials.

It’s in our nature.

DNA biosurveillance for forest pests A new $2.43 million research project, funded in part by Genome BC, has been approved to develop state-of-the-art DNA biosurveillance detection tools for operational deployment.

The project is led by Dr. Richard Hamelin, project leader and professor in the Department of Forest Sciences at the University of British Columbia and senior research scientist at Natural Resources Canada.

The introduction of DNA-based tools in standard monitoring protocols could assist decision making for risk assessment and help minimize foreign threats to Canadian forests and trees,” says Dr. Hamelin. “Establishing a link to origin is crucial to prove scientifically the source of pests and genomics can do that – this means that Canadian officials will have verifiable evidence when managing non-compliant exporters and trading partners.”

Cameron Duff of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency explains that traditional diagnostic techniques to make a definitive identification can take months, and “once an invasive alien species is on Canadian soil the treatments are costly and disruptive: the key to avoid this is to identify their geographical origin and stop them before they are loaded in a container, or on a ship.”

PPC

PPCNovDec2014.indd 11

Mario Plourde President and Chief Executive Officer

Alain Lemaire Cofounder

Laurent Lemaire Cofounder

Bernard Lemaire Cofounder

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Cover Story

ANC’s unconventional revenue streams Not content with being just a newsprint mill, Alberta Newsprint is finding other business opportunities for its infrastructure.

By Cindy Macdonald, editor ike many Canadian mills, Alberta Newsprint is putting underutilized assets to work. The difference is, Alberta Newsprint is looking outside the confines of its own industry. Mill manager Mike Putzke explains that ANC hired a business development manager a few years ago, and directed him to look for “revenuegeneration opportunities that complement the site.”

One of the first non-pulp and paper routes to be explored was transloading of crude oil. Putzke says the ANC had underutilized rail infrastructure, because the mill was designed on the expectation that 80% of product would be shipped by rail. In reality, now, only 20% is moved by rail.

“We heard through the county that there was an opportunity to transload crude from truck to rail,” Putzke recalls. So ANC secured the business, and began transloading mid-2013.

ROI for the investment was measured in months, says Putzke.

His goal for 2014 is to find another complementary business for ANC. The transloading facility has achieved throughput of up to 15 cars/day. When Pulp & Paper Canada visited in May 2014, the demand was only for 3-5 cars per day. Demand is governed by the oil companies’ monthly allocation.

Also in the oil and gas sector, there is

hydraulic fracturing (fracking) activity going on northwest of the mill, and Putzke expects the transloading business will eventually include acid and other fracturing fluids.

ANC hired 9 people for the new transloading operation. They were trained for chemicals handling and to perform basic tests on the crude oil.

Trucks come in to the transload station, tie-in to the “envirobox” (a pumping and containment building) and pump out to railcar. The transloading site was upgraded with several containment mechanisms to protect the environment in the event of a spill or leakage. For example, the tanker trucks being offloaded are parked above a shallow, membrane-lined basin to keep any spilled fluids from leaching into the soil.

Obstacle or opportunity?

The deregulation of Alberta’s electrical power market created an opportunity for ANC to install a “peaking” plant to take advantage of price fluctuations. ANC built a “behind-the-fence” peaking unit, consisting of 10 reciprocating natural-gas engines, each capable of producing 6.5 MW of electrical power. (Behind-the-fence is another term for localized generation, meaning power generation near where the power is to be consumed.)

Photo: Alberta Newsprint

L

The investment in a transloading facility had very quick ROI for Alberta Newsprint.

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www.pulpandpapercanada.com

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Cover Story

Adapting to supply and demand

Photo: Alberta Newsprint

Alberta Newsprint’s new power plant incorporates 10 natural-gas powered engines.

The plant reduces tariff costs for ANC and reduces line costs. In this way, it has more value for the mill than a stand-alone power generation plant. The mill can either sell the power for profit, or use it for mill operations.

The power plant completed its 24-hour continuous operation test and came online in late May 2014.

Although the power plant is not only for ANC use, it will be under control of the TMP plant operators. They also control the mill’s boilers, the effluent treatment system, and the fresh water intake. And, says Gary Smith, technical manager, they monitor power price and steam demand, all using an ABB 800 Series control system.

Smith says workers at ANC are very flexible regarding their assignment. “They realize we all have to be innovative to ensure ANC’s viability.”

ANC is not unionized, so management created a mill-wide incentive system for bonuses that exemplifies the ANC philosophy of “team effort.” The bonus system also rewards safety performance.

ANC staff are also adept at recognizing opportunities to save money and resources. Recycling of effluent is a case in point.

Smith explains how, at one point, the mill’s fresh water intake screens froze, so effluent was used to try and thaw them. Since there was no obvious detrimental effect on the process, the mill continued to recycle treated effluent back into the process, to a maximum level of 20%.

Smith says the limiting factor is related to heat exchanger capacity.

Recycling effluent saves on energy needed for heating incoming water and allows the mill to use less fresh water, thus using less natural resources overall.

ANC is reputed to be the best mill in Canada for effluent discharge quality. Putzke says ANC effluent is generally less than 1/10th of its permit levels. The cleanliness of the effluent is what allows the mill to reuse it. (Effluent cleanliness is one of the factors calculated in the bonus structure.) www.pulpandpapercanada.com

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Due to its location in north-western Alberta, ANC has had to adapt its process in recent years to make the most of wood killed by the mountain pine beetle. The mill was built in 1990 and has one of the most efficient newsprint machines in North America.

In 2009, a shoe press was added, largely to mitigate the effect of mountain pine beetle. The drier beetle-killed wood can impact strength and runnability. Smith notes that the Alberta government also wanted companies to harvest the healthy pine that was in the path of the pine beetle. Pine is a more coarse fibre.

ANC still produces 45 g newsprint for the North American market, essentially the same product as when the mill began 24 years ago.

Smith says the mill has added “a lot of bells and whistles” from FPInnovations and Alberta’s research institute Alberta Innovates.

These include dispersed air technology for white-water treatment, which removes pitch; an online wood species meter; an online blue stain meter for beetle-killed wood; and a gap former with dilution control. Every year, $5-6 million is budgeted for enhancements and upgrades.

Currently, employees at ANC are considering grade developments and methods to achieve higher brightness.

PPC

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OUR NAME IS INNOVATION Follow us

November/December 2014 PULP & PAPER CANADA

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Management

CREATIVE about sustainability Two papermakers take sustainability way beyond environmental concerns

W

hile the three pillars of sustainability are environment, economics and social, the concept of sustainability can encompass so much more. Two North American papermakers, Sappi and Domtar, demonstrate a broad interpretation of the concept, involving sustainability of their individual businesses and sustainability of the paper industry as a whole.

Domtar recently received a PPI award from RISI, an information provider for global forest products industry, for its Paper Fun Truck campaign. This whimsically decorated truck visited schools, businesses, and retirement communities to show how paper remains fun and valuable. The 2014 PPI award recognized the Paper Fun Truck as the “Innovative Printing & Writing Campaign of the Year.”

With the start of the 2014 school year, Domtar launched another creative campaign to boost awareness of the value of paper.

Project Learning Curve is an effort to increase focus on handwriting and the research that shows how much it benefits students.

As part of Project Learning Curve, Domtar has been working with software developers on an app that helps connect a digital pen to a computer, allowing teachers to measure students’ progress.

The teachers can track how long students spend on handwriting, or set classroom goals for students, such as writing enough characters to cross the Golden Gate Bridge.

“A growing body of research underscores the importance of handwriting and the brain development it stimulates, yet a growing number of classrooms have eliminated handwriting from the curriculum because of the greater availability of technology,” said Paige Goff, Domtar’s vice-president of sustainability and business communications. “Project Learning Curve illustrates how print and pixels can complement each other in the classroom, 14

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Photo: Domtar

Get

By Cindy Macdonald, editor

giving students the best chance of success.”

Researchers have found handwriting helps students learn, remember, express ideas and perform better in a variety of ways.

“Educators have noted that even after calculators were invented, schools continued to teach math,” Goff said, referring to a recent gathering in Washington for National Handwriting Day. “Why should parents and teachers treat handwriting any differently?”

Mentoring: the one-on-one approach For several years now, Sappi Fine Paper North America has been a sponsor of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) annual conference. Its sponsorship subsidizes student attendance at the event.

As well, for the past two years Dr. Laura Thompson of Sappi has mentored students at the conference.

Thompson is director of technical marketing and sustainable development at Sappi Fine Paper North America. Sappi produces coated fine and release papers, as well as dissolving wood pulp and market kraft pulp.

She says mentorship has been very satisfying. “I like to hear from the students. They’re like sponges with how quickly they learn.

“By the end of the meeting, their questions made it clear they were absorbing everything they were hearing,” she comments.

During the 2014 SFI conference in Montreal, the students Thompson mentored were both from University of Toronto, in the Forest Conservation Masters program. Both were international students.

Education has always been a core value of Sappi North America and its predecessor organizations, says Thompson.

Educating students, educating the public, marketing, outreach; all of these fall under the umbrella of sustainability, and all contribute to shoring up the economic and social pillars.

PPC www.pulpandpapercanada.com

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Conference Preview

PaperWeek Canada Preview A 100-year-old event still has something new to offer

Photo: Domtar

PaperWeek Canada celebrated its 100th anniversary last year. Reflecting the cyclical nature of the pulp and paper industry, the annual gathering of the Canadian industry has had some ups and downs, but in the

HIGHLIGHTS FIBRE Day

featuring presentations by the research networks of FIBRE

Executive panel breakfast

A panel of industry executives will kick-off day two of PaperWeek Canada, Tuesday, Feb. 3.

PAPTAC Fellows

As part of the association’s centennial anniversary celebrations, PAPTAC has initiated a Fellowship program. The program aims to recognize individuals who have demonstrated a long-term and significant contribution to either: the association, the pulp and paper industry, or the advancement of science and technology in the sector.

“We feel it is important to emphasize the impact that some of the most talented individuals have had on this industry and the association,” explained Daniel Archambault, PAPTAC chairman and executive vice-president and COO, Kruger Inc. The first fellowships will be presented during PaperWeek Canada.

www.pulpandpapercanada.com

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last five or six years, momentum has been building. More than 1100 people took part in PaperWeek Canada last year.

PAPTAC is the host and organizer of PaperWeek Canada, which takes place from

Feb. 2-5, 2015, at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth hotel in Montreal.

For the most up-to-date information about the event, visit www.paperweekcanada.ca.

International Forest Biorefinery Summit

The International Forest Biorefinery Summit runs concurrent with PaperWeek Canada. To strengthen the international stature of this event, Peter Axegård of the Swedish agency Innventia and Adriaan van Heiningen of the University of Maine have joined the organizing commitee, and Innventia is assisting with promotion.

“The idea is to become a reference in the biorefinery field abroad,” says Mariya Marionva, conference chair.

One new element to the summit in 2015 will be a panel session with invited guests from outside of the pulp and paper sector. “At this point, we need to switch to another level of discussion,” says Marinova. “We need to talk with people in the bio-economy sector and the chemical sector, to ask what they need, to give them ideas, and to share solutions to accelerate the penetration of forestbased products into the bio-economy.”

The event’s continued growth attests to industry’s interest in the topic. Several

See, touch and explore

The PaperWeek Canada trade show runs Feb. 3 & 4. Don’t miss the opportunity to chat with exhibitors.

Lunch and learn

The PaperWeek luncheons are one of the most popular draws of the event. Each features a keynote speaker.

PAPTAC’s 100th anniversary

A special Centennial Banquet on Feb. 4 will bring together industry leaders, key players from the association and the Canadian pulp and paper community.

Recognizing success

The PAPTAC Business Awards recognize excellence in specific management areas and provide an opportunity to honor business leadership in the Canadian pulp and paper industry.

Conference sessions

The tradition of strong technical and business presentations continues. Subject tracks for the 2015 conference include: tissue, safety, technical, industry transformation, management, packaging, reliability, logistics, energy reduction, paper machine efficiency (seminar).

Deadlines

Early bird registration deadline: Jan. 9 Hotel room conference rates deadline: Jan. 16

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Case History

Photo: Kadant

Syphon retrofit has mill-wide benefits A turnkey dryer project at Sonoco’s Trent Valley mill eliminated previous syphon failures and flooding, while reducing fresh water makeup costs in the cogen plant.

By Mark Williamson, journalist engineer

I

grades from 39 to 100 lb./1000 sq.ft. (9 point to 28 point). It has a width of five metres and runs at machine speeds ranging from 110 to 193 m/min. The 6.7 MW natural gas-fired cogeneration power plant produces 115,000 lb./hr. of steam for the board machine and the turbine.

Previous syphons had short life span Mill staff realized that something had to be done to solve recurring and persistent problems with dryer section syphon failures, condensate-flooded dryers and associated dryer bearing failures. Jean François Désilets, production superintendent, says that at most times before the project an average of 10 dryers were locked out, the

Photo: Mark Williamson

t’s an ideal situation if a paper or board mill project aimed at reliability and improved machine operation can have a cascading, positive effect on the operating costs in other mill departments. The ROI effect is thus amplified. That sort of scenario was realized earlier this year at Sonoco’s Trent Valley mill in the hamlet of Glen Miller, Ont. A board machine dryersection project to solve chronic syphon reliability and dryer flooding problems did just that and, additionally, lowered the costs of generating steam. The cogeneration plant crew gives thanks, as well as the board mill production staff.

The dryer project targeted board machine 3 (BM3), which produces linerboard, coreboard, boxboard and specialty

Board machine #3.

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majority of which were for broken syphons. Some were shut for safety issues.

“We repaired 4 to 6 syphons on a maintenance shut, but we never got ahead of the problem since the syphons had such as short lifetime; it was hit and miss.” He also notes that, during machine operation, there could be a number of flooded dryers but the operating crew had no way of knowing since there were no sight glasses.

The need to operate at slower speeds on heavy weight grades was another problem caused by lower drying capacity.

Wilbur Wilton, chief operating engineer, adds his description of the issues: “We allocated two to three maintenance people every shutdown to repair syphons but the problem was getting worse.

We could repair five syphons but not 10 since we didn’t have enough manpower.

We were also repairing a lot of leaks at the shutdown.” These leaks caused some unsafe, slippery floors in the basement.

Since the condensate return was unreliable, the cogen plant across the road was spending too much money for treating and heating fresh makeup water from the Trent river.

Premature dryer bearing failures were another problem created by frequent dryer flooding since the extra condensate load added stress to the bearings. A dryer head failure last year convinced the mill staff to focus on the issue and make some decisive corrective action. Moreover, over the long run, the maintenance cost had to be cut since too much effort was being put into correcting chronic problems.

To rectify these urgent problems the mill www.pulpandpapercanada.com

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Photo: Kadant

Case History

Photos: Mark Williamson

Left: Flooding has been eliminated as shown by condensate flow sight glasses on all dryers.

Middle: Jean-François Désilets.

Right: Wilbur Wilton.

contracted Kadant Canada to conduct a machine study in November, 2012, that revealed an inherent weakness in 50 existing syphons. These were very old, thin-wall bent pipe stationary syphons.

The remaining 10 dryers that form the dry-end high-pressure section were equipped with Kadant HDRS rotary syphons. Kadant’s proposal to replace the bent pipe stationary syphons with rotary scoop syphons was accepted in June, 2013, and the installation was completed in January, 2014, during a scheduled press rebuild

shutdown. The project was more complex than usual since the dryers had different journals and manhole placements. The new products started up with no issues according to Désilets.

Designed for lower speed machines, rotary scoop syphons efficiently remove condensate that pools at the bottom the dryer shell. At lower speeds, the condensate pools rather than rimming in an even layer around the circumference of the shell as condensate does at higher speeds. The scope of the turnkey project

We don’t just talk about innovation.

We innovate.

See how FPInnovations takes part in the

technological advances of the pulp,

paper and bioproducts sector. fpinnovations.ca Follow us

www.pulpandpapercanada.com

PPCNovDec2014.indd 17

November/December 2014 PULP & PAPER CANADA

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50 ANS ET TOUJOURS VERT

Recycler pour recréer le monde, Cascades s’engage à le faire depuis 1964.

Chaque jour, ce sont près de 12 000 hommes et femmes qui transforment votre milieu en changeant la nature des choses.

Cela représente des centaines de produits novateurs, allant du simple papier à de complexes emballages, toujours faits dans le respect des communautés et de l’environnement.

Voilà pourquoi nous sommes fiers d’être l’un des plus importants transformateurs de matières recyclables au monde.

C’est dans notre nature.

also included installing dual flow rotary joints, steam and condensate isolation ball valves, flex hoses and sight glasses that show condensate flows from each dryer, as well as replacing components in the thermocompressor to match its operating curve to the new syphons. As an extra benefit, the move to common syphons and steam joints made the spare parts inventory consistent for all dryers.

Raised the bar for maintenance Since the startup, the syphons have been completely reliable and the flooding problems have disappeared. The new sight glasses are in place just in case there is a future problem. The frequency of dryer bearing replacements has been reduced dramatically, from an average of once per month. There have been no replacements since the installation of the scoop syphons.

Regular bearing temperature measurements show that the bearings are running 15 to 20˚ F cooler than before. That should extend their lifetime.

On the boardmaking side, Désilets sees that board quality has been improved as papermakers can predictably set the top and bottom dyers for effective board curl control. Before, the crew did not know the extent or locations of flooded dryers.

Also, production speed can be maintained on heavy grades.

The reduction in maintenance burden has been a welcome relief to Wilton since he can now plan preventive maintenance more effectively rather than reacting to chronic problems. “We have a more even distribution of time and manpower. Now, we can plan and focus on priorities. This project has set a precedent and raised the bar for our maintenance. By stabilizing the drying and condensate return the rest of the steam system can now be optimized,” he says.

Wilton says the cogen steam generation is more economical since, with more condensate return, the fresh water makeup has been reduced from 35% to 14%. This means less consumption of pH-controlling amine and water softening chemicals for fresh water and less energy to heat the river water from its sometimes frigid level. Wilton estimates the consumption of expensive food grade amines has been reduced by almost 80%.

Financial returns Mario Plourde Président et chef de la direction

Alain Lemaire Cofondateur

Laurent Lemaire Cofondateur

Bernard Lemaire Cofondateur

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The total numbers, as compiled by process engineer Cassandra Bailey, tell the financial story. The maintenance and machine downtime costs related to syphon failures, flooding and associated bearing replacements have been eliminated up to July, 2014. This results in a saving of more than $12,000 per month.

The savings in amine for pH control is almost $11,000 year to date in July and the water softening chemical saving for the same period is $3,000. From May to July, 2014, the fresh water makeup has been reduced by about 1,190 cu.m. /month to 1,1360, amounting to a fuel cost saving of $4,000 to $5,500/month. The cost of the study and the project was partially subsidized by Union Gas, the local gas distributor. The mill has applied for a gas consumption rebate under the Ontario EnerSmart program.

Mill manager Jason Giffen gives his final assessment of the project results: “This was a big win for our mill. It has been a game changer since we have been able to tackle and solve these repetitive problems.”

PPC www.pulpandpapercanada.com

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Technology News Propapier PM2 sets another containerboard machine world record speed

The Valmet-supplied containerboard base paper machine at Propapier PM2 GmbH in Eisenhüttenstadt, Germany, set a 24-hour world speed record of 1,704 m/min on April 24, 2014. During the record run, the 10.85 m-wide PM2 produced corrugating medium at basis weight of 70g/m2 with a total efficiency of 96%. The Propapier PM2 was originally started up in March 2010.

Valmet, www.valmet.com

Precise viscosity measurement for pulp bleaching

Dynatrol® Viscosity Systems provide fast, precise viscosity measurement using a unique vibratory principle to provide continuous measurement at on-line process conditions. This eliminates the need for sampling and provides exceptional accuracy.

The Dynatrol® CL10-DV series Viscosity Meter and Series 3000 Viscosity Digital Converter are used to measure the viscosity during the pulping/bleaching process. They can be used for: alkaline waste black liquor, black liquor, black liquor sludge and black liquor interface, pulp slurry additives, resins from tissue and paperboard making, and terpene resin.

The Series 3000 Digital Converter mathematically computes and displays the viscosity in standard units.

Automation Products Inc., Dynatrol® Division 713-869-0361 or 800-231-2062, www.DynatrolUSA.com

Steel grooves are often the preferred choice in highly loaded presses. According to Voith, the hard nip that occurs when using steel rolls impairs the lifecycle of the fabric and can also cause quality issues with the paper. The stability of InForce withstands the high loads while still providing the benefits of a polyurethane cover.

Voith Paper, www.voith.com

Vibraton transmitter for rotating equipment

Emerson Process Management’s new CSI 9360 vibration/position transmitter offers users and manufacturers an economical solution for extending basic protection to compressor, pump and fan assets. Developed using OEMsupplied specifications, the transmitter detects emerging sleeve bearing issues by capturing vibration or position data and translating it into a 4-20mA signal for monitoring. This advanced warning allows customers to shut down these assets before

significant equipment damage occurs or production is impacted.

With its versatility, the CSI 9360 helps users save money by reducing the need for multiple types of transmitters. It can be field-configured for three radial vibration ranges or position with invertible position signal, selectable sensor loop response times and optional sensor fault lock out times. While most transmitters standardize on 5mm sensors, the CSI 9360 supports multiple eddy current sensor sizes.

The transmitter has flexible options for accessing data, making it easier to take timely, corrective action. For data collection and analysis, the buffered output can be accessed through a SMB connection by a portable analyzer such as the CSI 2140. The screw terminal buffered output connection can be directly wired to a monitoring system for detailed analysis or troubleshooting.

Emerson Process Management, www.EmersonProcess.com

Eldorado Brasil achieves further production record

After having achieved world record pulp production of 5,156 tons per day at the end of March 2014, the Eldorado Brasil pulp mill in Três Lagoas, Brazil, again set a new world record with Andritz technology in August 2014. On August 30, Eldorado Brasil produced 5,300 tons of pulp in a single day. This means a specific drying capacity in the range of 400 tons per day and per meter of working width.

Polyurethane roll cover ensures higher void volume

Voith’s new InForce polyurethane roll cover offers high stability and provides additional void volume with particularly deep and wide grooves for highly loaded positions. This additional benefit will not compromise the wear and abrasion resistance. The result, says Voith, is consistent dewatering during the cover’s complete operating cycle.

The strong material used in InForce means that the grooves exhibit virtually no deformation over time. The roll cover easily withstands extreme nip loads. As a result, the void volume remains constantly high over the entire lifecycle.

The WebNet layer located between the polyurethane and base layer has a threedimensional polymer matrix specially developed by Voith which can withstand high temperatures and mechanical and chemical loads. www.pulpandpapercanada.com

PPCNovDec2014.indd 19

The mill also achieved important benchmarks in terms of sustainable reduction of steam and electrical power consumption, fiber loss, and water consumption.

Consumption of steam and electrical power in the pulp drying plant is approximately 10% lower, and the fiber loss and fresh water consumption are about 5% lower than in comparable worldwide leading pulp mills.

The mill was started up successfully at the end of 2012 and has achieved several production records since then.

Andritz delivered the woodyard, cooking system, fiberline, white liquor plant, and pulp drying plants to Eldorado, including two parallel twin-wire former pulp machines, two airborne dryers, two cutter-layboys, and four bale finishing lines.

Eldorado Brasil’s greenfield pulp mill achieves annual production of around 1.5 million tons of dried, bleached eucalyptus market pulp and is currently the largest single-line pulp mill in the world Andritz Pulp & Paper, www.andritz.com November/December 2014 PULP & PAPER CANADA

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Technology News BEARINGS & PUMPS SKF Canada to acquire Hofmann Engineering North America

SKF Canada Ltd. has agreed to acquire Hofmann Engineering North America, which the company says will enable it to better serve customers in mining, metals and pulp and paper industries with a more complete product and service portfolio.

Hofmann Engineering North America is a high precision machining operation located in Cambridge, Ont. The company currently serves mainly OEM customers handling large components, such as large pinion and gear solutions.

This acquisition will add to current SKF Solution Factory capabilities and enable SKF to better serve industrial users and expand the current offer of customized engineering projects.

The SKF Group is a global supplier of products, solutions and services within rolling bearings, seals, mechatronics, services and lubrication systems.

SKF Canada Ltd. 416-299-1220, www.skf.com

Timken boosts repair and remanufacturing capabilities The Timken Company has expanded its service offering at Standard Machine in Saskatoon to include Philadelphia Gear brand high-speed gearbox repair capabilities and Timken bearing remanufacturing services.

This expansion of services provides energy customers in Canada with ready access to the intellectual property and knowhow behind Philadelphia Gear branded high-speed gearbox designs. Standard Machine recently opened a dedicated highspeed gear test bay to further expand its expertise in gearbox services.

Bearing repair from the bearing experts is another service addition at Standard Machine. The Saskatoon facility is now equipped to provide a full range of bearing services from reclaim to reconditioning and remanufacture. Bearings can often be returned to like-new specifications in as little as one-third of the time it takes to purchase a new bearing. Comprehensive services include everything from cleaning,

visual inspection and repackaging, all the way through complete replacement/ reconditioning of critical roller components and raceways to return the bearings to like-new condition.

“Investment in these new capabilities further strengthens our commitment to meeting the needs of our Canadian customers,” said Frank Mascia, managing director for the company’s business in Canada.

The Timken Company, www.timken.com

KSB Pumps teams up with Canadian Bearings

KSB Pumps Inc. has announced a sales and distribution partnership with Canadian Bearings, a Mississauga-based supplier of industrial systems and products. Canadian Bearings will be an additional sales channel for KSB products, especially the Movitec, Eta, and Amarex N series pumps in addition to KSB’s pump service capabilities.

“At KSB Pumps, we have been largely focussed on large-scale industrial and municipal projects that have required significant engineering input in the development of specialized pump solutions. With Canadian Bearings’ strong connections with industries across Canada, we will be able to offer KSB’s exceptional quality and performance to more customers, especially those who are more interested in standardized off-the-shelf pump products,” says Michael Blundell, president of KSB Pumps.

KSB Pumps Inc. 905-568-9200, www.ksb.ca

Hybrid ceramic ball be­­aring line suits electrical machinery

C&U Americas offers a wide range of hybrid ceramic ball bearings for electrical machinery and general industry applications. C&U hybrid ceramic ball bearings are engineered to maximize the benefits of precision steel ring construction and lightweight ceramic balls.

In addition to delivering excellent electric insulation properties, they provide a higher-speed and higher temperature capability, and longer service life than all-steel bearings in most applications.

The bearings are available in a variety of configurations with bores from 17 – 90 mm, ODs from 40 – 190 mm, and speed ratings as high as 21,600 RPM/min.

C&U hybrid ceramic bearings are constructed of steel rings and silicon nitride (Si3N4) balls. This gives the bearings a lower inertia than standard bearings.

The lower inertia results in less loading on the raceway and provides superior performance during rapid acceleration and deceleration. The silicon nitride balls also have a lower coefficient of friction so they generate less heat at high speed, greatly improving the life of the grease and the bearing.

C&U Americas, cubearing.com

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www.pulpandpapercanada.com

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Trailer 250,000-800 PSI / 750 Deg. F. Mounted 180,000-750 PSI / 750 Deg. F. 165,000-1025 PSI / 850 Deg. F. 80K-395 PSI 75K SH-750 PSI 165,000-395 PSI 75K-395 PSI 150,000-750 PSI / 750 Deg. F. 70K-395 PSI 135,000-750 PSI / 750 Deg. F. 70K-350 PSI 120,000-350 PSI 120,000-725 PSI / 750 Deg. F. 60K SH-750 PSI 60K-395 PSI 110,000-395 PSI 40K-395 PSI 90,000-395 PSI 40K-350 PSI 75,000-750 PSI / 750 Deg. F. 36K-300 PSI 75,000-395 PSI 30K-300 PSI 70,000-395 PSI 24K-300 PSI 70,000-350 PSI 60,000-750 PSI / 750 Deg. F. rgency Se 50,000-395 PSI 40,000-750 PSI 30,000-395 PSI 20,000-1600 PSI 10-1,000 HP - 15-250 PSI

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Ready for Emergencies Indeck Power Equipment Company 847.541.8300 info@indeck-power.com www.indeck.com

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CONSULTANTS

www.poyry.us Pöyry (Montreal) Inc. Montreal, QC 514.341.3221

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PulP & PaPer Jobs 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.

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PPCNovDec2014.indd 21

A Higher Level of Reliability

Reliable, Accurate and Safe– NDT, Inspection and Materials Engineering Services.

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November/December 2014 PULP & PAPER CANADA

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Bio-Economy

O

ntario Power Generation’s (OPG) Atikokan Generating Station (GS) is now operating on biomass, making it the largest electrical power plant in North America fuelled by 100% biomass.

“Atikokan GS is a unique addition to our clean energy portfolio as it provides dispatchable, renewable energy that can be used when the power system needs it,” said OPG’s president and CEO, Tom Mitchell.

“The biomass conversion and solutions developed for the Atikokan GS are cutting edge and OPG is at the forefront of this innovative technology,” he added.

OPG has fuel supply contracts in place with two companies in northwestern Ontario: Rentech Inc. and Resolute Forest Products. Each will supply 45,000 tonnes of wood pellets annually for a total of 90,000 tonnes. Both suppliers have employment arrangements with local Aboriginal communities.

The Atikokan GS is a former coal-fired electrical facility. The conversion project got underway in mid-2012 with ground preparation and the construction of two

Stora Enso to build biomass-to-sugar demonstration plant Following its recent acquisition of the US-based biotechnology company Virdia, Stora Enso is investing US$43 million in a demonstration and market development plant to be built at Raceland, Louisiana.

The plant will be used for industrial validation of the extraction and separation technology developed by Virdia that enables cellulosic biomass, such as wood or agricultural waste, to be converted into highly refined sugars. Stora Enso says the investment serves to establish the feasibility of the technology at industrial scale, and that it may in the future be applied in some of Stora Enso’s existing pulp mills.

The demonstration plant will use bagasse waste as feedstock to produce high purity five-carbon sugars and, in particular, xylose.

The Raceland demonstration plant is scheduled to start production early 2017.

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silos, each 44 metres tall and 21 metres in diameter. Each silo can store up to 5,000 tonnes of wood pellets. Modifications to the boiler and a new distributed control system were also required. As well, new infrastructure was built for truck receiving and transfer.

Pellets are received from self-unloading, rear discharge trucks that have their own discharging system built into the trailers. A new receiving system transports the pellets to the large storage silos by conveyor belt and a bucket elevator. When needed for production, the pellets are delivered to the plant on a first-in, first-out basis from the silos via conveyor belts and a second bucket elevator. Once inside the powerhouse, the pellets are pulverized and fed into the boiler, much the same way as coal was previously. Due to the similar heat content of lignite coal and wood pellets, the Atikokan boiler design was an ideal candidate for fuel conversion. All 15 burners were replaced with Doosan Mark IV biomass burners. New ash transport systems have also been installed.

The conversion of the Atikokan generating station to a biomass fuel involved construction of two silos.

Ensyn signs second biofuel supply agreement Ensyn Fuels has signed a contract with Valley Regional Hospital in New Hampshire for the supply of RFO™, Ensyn’s advanced cellulosic biofuel. Ensyn Fuels will provide the hospital with approximately 250,000 gallons/year of RFO for a renewable term of seven years, commencing deliveries by April 2015. This is the second long term supply contract Ensyn Fuels has signed committing biofuel from Ensyn’s expanding production capacity and also the second supply contract to be signed with a hospital.

This contract will allow Valley Regional to convert its entire heating requirements from petroleum fuels to Ensyn’s renewable fuel, lowering the hospital’s greenhouse gases from heating fuels by approximately 85% and reducing the hospital’s operating cost, says Ensyn.

Ensyn’s RFO is a liquid fuel produced from non-food solid biomass including forest and mill residues. RFO directly displaces petroleum fuels in heating operations and is also a renewable feedstock for refineries for the production of gasoline and diesel.

Initial deliveries of RFO will be sourced from Ensyn’s production facility in Ontario. This plant has been qualified by the US Environmental Protection Agency under the US Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS2) program. Ensyn expects that sales of RFO from this facility to Valley Regional will qualify for Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) under the RFS2 program, enhancing contract economics.

Ensyn companies have been operating commercially for over 25 years and their RTP® technology has produced over 37 million gallons of fuels and chemicals from wood residues.

PPC

PULP & PAPER CANADA November/December 2014

PPCNovDec2014.indd 22

Photo: OPG

Atikokan generating station operating on biomass

www.pulpandpapercanada.com

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Photo: OPG

See us at Paperweek 2015 Booth # 7

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