Projects with a value between R250 million and R1 billion
SiVEST SA for Sappi Saiccor Mill – Woodyard Upgrade, Umkomaas PROJECT TEAM
Client: Sappi Saiccor Mill Owner’s engineer: SiVEST SA
I
n 2018, Sappi Saiccor Mill decided to increase production volumes from 783 000 air dry tonnes per annum (adt/a) to 890 000 adt/a through
various expansion project investments throughout the mill. In line with the vision, Sappi Saiccor upgraded equipment in the woodyard, chemical and recovery areas, fibre line and the uptake machine. Project Vulindlela was approved in principle, enabling a planned phased construction completion in July 2020. In order to make space for Project Vulindlela, the entire woodyard at the Sappi Saiccor Mill needed to be rearranged. This involved the decommissioning of two of the existing chipping lines and stockpile area, and the installation of a new 300 t/h chipper to replace the decommissioned capacity. A new completely automated woodchip stockpile system had to be erected in the area previously used as a to assist Sappi Saiccor’s internal project
as well as the limited space on-site for new
management team, by carrying out the
development. SiVEST’s use of advanced 3D
redesign to enable the offloading of
design, engineering, technical adjudication,
scanning technology and 3D modelling
timber directly to the new chipper and
technical construction support, and
enabled the accurate design of the new
existing chipper No. 6. This project, titled
commissioning support of the project.
project’s interface to the existing factory
the Woodyard Upgrade Project, preceded
SiVEST was appointed to provide
timber stockpile area. The rail system required a complete
infrastructure. Through detailed planning,
the start of the Vulindlela Project and was
design, engineering and management
a proactive approach and close
completed in April 2019.
advisory support services for the civil,
collaboration, the SiVEST team was able
structural, mechanical, electrical, controls,
to complete the works with very little
equipment installations, which required
instrumentation, scheduling, and
disruption to Sappi’s operations.
design and engineering across the various
draughting works required in the
engineering and construction and related
woodyard area.
The woodyard included various new
disciplines. Sappi Saiccor required an owner’s engineer to perform the services
The project commenced in August 2017 and was successfully completed and handed
The key challenges included the congested operation and project interface,
over to the client in April 2019 in line with Sappi Saiccor's requirements.
C E S A A o n E n g i n e e r i n g E x c e l l e n c e Aw a r d s 2 0 2 0
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