Valmet

ESPOO, Finland, Oct. 22, 2020 (Press Release) -Metsä Fibre, part of Metsä Group, and Neles have signed a preliminary agreement of valve solutions for the bioproduct mill in Kemi, Finland. According to the preliminary agreement, Neles would deliver technically and economically optimal valve solutions to the new mill. The agreement also includes comprehensive maintenance and spare part services. The delivery’s degree of Finnish origin would be high, around 70%. The entire bioproduct mill project’s degree of Finnish origin is also expected to be high, in the Äänekoski bioproduct mill project it was 70%.

“We’ve set high environmental, material and energy efficiency targets for the Kemi bioproduct mill. We therefore also expect our partners to deliver both the technologically most reliable solutions and know well our production requirements. Neles has strong experience in delivering valve solutions to the forest industry, as well as a comprehensive, industry proven product portfolio,” says Jari-Pekka Johansson, Project Director, bioproduct mill project, Metsä Fibre.

Metsä Fibre and Neles have a long history of cooperation. For example in 2015, Neles supplied valve solutions to the Äänekoski bioproduct mill.

“It’s important to us that original spare parts, as well as maintenance and expert services, are easily and timely available to us. Readiness for proactive maintenance and the highest possible degree of Finnish content in deliveries are also emphasized in the choice of solutions,” Johansson continues.

Neles will supply the new mill with Neles® ball valves, segment and butterfly valves for on-off and control applications. The control valves are equipped with Neles® ND9000 series valve controllers, which have the capability of advanced performance follow-up and enable predictive maintenance planning activities. The optimal solutions will be selected in cooperation with Metsä Fibre.

“Selecting optimal valves and actuators specifically for the requirements of each process can contribute to the operational reliability of production, a reduction in water consumption, energy efficiency, and minimized emissions. For more than 60 years, Neles has been developing reliable flow control solutions and expertise for serving the paper and pulp industry. By utilizing our cumulated experience also from other industries, we can offer our customers with the leading flow control expertise for the bioproduct applications.  We are very proud of the opportunity to participate again in building sustainable bioproduction with Metsä Fibre,” notes Timo Hänninen, Head of Valve Equipment business line at Neles.

The Kemi bioproduct mill project of is progressing as planned. In addition to equipment purchasing, the project is at the moment focused on environmental permit process, the financing negotiations and the logistics required by the new mill. The decision of the EUR 1.5 billion investment in the bioproduct mill will be made at this autumn of 2020 at the earliest, after the environmental permit process has been completed and other prerequisites have been met. The project engineering started at the beginning of August 2020. This means the detailed planning of the mill’s technology, construction, installations and commissioning, as well as preparation for the construction phase. The work is be carried out in cooperation with the four main implementation partners: Valmet, ABB, AFRY and Fimpec. More than 400 people have been working in the project engineering organisation since the beginning of August.

During the bioproduct mill’s possible construction phase, its employment impact is estimated to be nearly 10,000 person-years, of which more than half would be carried out in Kemi. The number of employees working in the mill area over the entire construction phase is estimated to rise to around 15,000. The investment would secure the existing 250 jobs at the Kemi mill. Through its direct value chain, the bioproduct mill would employ a total of around 2,500 people in Finland, which would be 1,500 people more than the employment effect of the current pulp mill in Kemi.

If implemented, the Kemi bioproduct mill will produce 1.5 million tonnes of softwood and hardwood pulp per year, as well as many other bioproducts. The bioproduct mill would not use any fossil fuels at all, and its electricity self-sufficiency rate would be 250%. This would further strengthen Metsä Group’s position as a major electricity producer relying on renewable Finnish fuels.

Metsä Fibre

Metsä Fibre is a leading producer of bioproducts, biochemicals and bioenergy. Metsä Fibre is the world’s leading producer of bleached softwood pulp and a major producer of sawn timber. Currently employing approximately 1,300 people, the company’s sales in 2019 totalled EUR 2.2 billion. Metsä Fibre is part of Metsä Group.

Metsä Group

Metsä Group is a forerunner in sustainable bioeconomy utilising renewable wood from sustainably managed northern forests. Metsä Group focuses on wood supply and forest services, wood products, pulp, fresh fibre paperboards and tissue and greaseproof papers.

In 2019, Metsä Group’s sales totalled EUR 5.5 billion, and it employs approximately 9,300 people. Metsäliitto Cooperative is the parent company of Metsä Group and is owned by approximately 100,000 Finnish forest owners.

ESPOO, Finland, Oct. 22, 2020 (Press Release) -Valmet will supply a fine paper making line with stock preparation and an extensive scope of automation to Asia Symbol (Guangdong) Paper in XinHui, China. The new high-capacity fine paper making line will be designed to produce top-quality woodfree uncoated paper (WFU) grades. The start-up of PM 13 is scheduled for 2022.

The order is included in Valmet's orders received of the third quarter 2020. The value of the order will not be disclosed. The total value of an order of this type and delivery scope is typically around EUR 80-100 million.

PM 13 follows the long sequence of Valmet-supplied fine paper making lines deliveries to RGE Group, Asia Symbol’s parent company. In 2012, Valmet-delivered PM 11 was started-up in XinHui, and PM 12 in 2017. Also, three other machines have been delivered to PT Riau Andalan in Indonesia.

“We chose Valmet to deliver the third paper machine to XinHui PM 13 project, because Valmet is not only a professional paper machine designer and manufacturer but also a reliable partner. We rely on Valmet’s experience and the team’s expertise to achieve a successful start-up of PM 13, as that is what we did together on the previous projects,” says Steven Hung, Managing Director of Asia Symbol (Guangdong).

“The project is representing the long-lasting and good cooperation between Asia Symbol and Valmet. The XinHui references have been operating reliably, and the performance is excellent. The know-how of Asia Symbol is supported by our expertise and the technology that suits these types of fast and wide machines. Together we have built the world leading WFU lines both in productivity and quality,” says Mika Ollikainen, Vice President, Sales and Marketing at Valmet.

Technical information about Valmet’s delivery

Xinhui PM 13 will be quite similar to its predecessor, the very well performing PM 11 and PM 12. The delivery for PM 13 will include a high-speed fine paper making line from stock preparation to reel and winders with air systems and clothing for the whole machine line. The stock preparation delivery will include stock lines for softwood, hardwood and BCTMP (bleached chemi-thermomechanical pulp), bale handling with automatic dewiring system, broke, white water and approach flow systems.

The delivery will also include an OptiFlo Gap headbox and an OptiFormer Gap with shoe and blade technology for the best paper quality, OptiPress Linear with two shoe presses for excellent profiles and dewatering capacity, and OptiRun Single and Hybrid drying sections with Valmet Hirun Web Stabilizers to ensure runnability at high speeds. The drying section will be followed by an OptiSizer Film surface sizing unit with a supply system and air turning device, an OptiCalender Hard calender for finalizing the end quality, an OptiReel Center center-driven reel and two OptiWin Drum two-drum winders. The delivery will also include runnability equipment and closed hood for the paper machine.

The wide automation package includes Valmet DNA Automation System for process and drive controls as well as runnability and condition monitoring and Valmet IQ Quality Management Solution with a full-scale quality control, moisturizing profiler, and machine vision systems consisting of web monitoring (WMS) and web inspection systems (WIS). The delivery will also include comprehensive Paper Machine Clothing, spare parts and consumables packages.

The 9,350-mm-wide (wire) fine paper machine will produce woodfree uncoated, offset and copy paper grades with the basis weight range of 50-120 g/m2. The design speed of the machine will be 1,800 m/min.

Information about the customer Asia Symbol

Asia Symbol, established in China in 2005, is a leading producer of pulp and paper under the RGE (Royal Golden Eagle) Group. Using renewable fiber that is sourced responsibly, Asia Symbol has an annual production of 2 million tons of pulp, 1 million tons of fine paper and 530,000 tons of paper board at its plants in Shandong (Rizhao) and Guangdong (Xinhui) provinces in China. Its main products are BHKP, NBKP, liquid packaging board, high grade ivory board and uncoated woodfree printing and office paper.

VALMET

Valmet is the leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. We aim to become the global champion in serving our customers.

Valmet's strong technology offering includes pulp mills, tissue, board and paper production lines, as well as power plants for bioenergy production. Our advanced services and automation solutions improve the reliability and performance of our customers' processes and enhance the effective utilization of raw materials and energy.  

Valmet's net sales in 2019 were approximately EUR 3.5 billion. Our more than 13,000 professionals around the world work close to our customers and are committed to moving our customers' performance forward - every day. Valmet's head office is in Espoo, Finland and its shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki. 

ESPOO, Finland, Oct. 21, 2020 (Press Release) -Valmet will supply a complete tissue line, including full automation package, to WEPA’s mill in Bridgend, the United Kingdom. The investment is a strategic step for the company to strengthen its presence in the United Kingdom.

The order is included in Valmet’s orders received of the third quarter 2020. The value of the order will not be disclosed.

“Our willingness to invest in state-of-the-art technology is an important part of our future-oriented Group strategy and the United Kingdom remains an important growth market for us in Europe. We are convinced that with Valmet we have the right partner at our side to successfully implement this project,” says Martin Krengel, CEO of the WEPA Group.

“We are excited to collaborate with WEPA and to be selected as partner for their expansion in the United Kingdom. We are convinced that the new Valmet Advantage DCT line will provide the best performance and tissue quality to meet WEPA’s high expectations for this project,” says Jan Erikson, Vice President Sales, Tissue Mills business unit, Paper business line, Valmet.

Technical information

The new tissue machine will have a width of 5.6 m, a design speed of 2,200 m/min and will increase WEPA’s existing tissue production by approximately 65,000 tons per year. The raw material to be used in the tissue production will be recycled and virgin fiber. The new production line is optimized to save energy and to enhance the quality of the final product.

Valmet’s scope of delivery will comprise a complete tissue production line featuring stock preparation systems and a Valmet Advantage DCT 200 HS tissue machine. The machine will be equipped with an OptiFlo headbox and a steel Yankee cylinder. It will also be featured with advantage tissue technology including ViscoNip press, an AirCap Heli hood and air system prepared for co-generation, WetDust dust system, sheet transfer system and a SoftReel L reel. The stock preparation line will consist of OptiSlush pulpers, OptiFiner conical refiners and OptiScreen machine screens.

Furthermore, the delivery will include an extensive Valmet automation package with Valmet DNA machine controls, process controls and Valmet IQ quality controls. Complete engineering, installation, training, start-up and commissioning are also included in the delivery.

Information about WEPA

WEPA Group is a family business operating throughout Europe. It is one of the three largest European manufacturers and the market leader in the production of hygiene paper made of recycled fibers. The annual turnover amounts to approximately 1.3 billion euros. The headquarters of the WEPA Group is in Arnsberg, North Rhine-Westphalia.

VALMET

Valmet is the leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. We aim to become the global champion in serving our customers.

Valmet's strong technology offering includes pulp mills, tissue, board and paper production lines, as well as power plants for bioenergy production. Our advanced services and automation solutions improve the reliability and performance of our customers' processes and enhance the effective utilization of raw materials and energy.

Valmet's net sales in 2019 were approximately EUR 3.5 billion. Our more than 13,000 professionals around the world work close to our customers and are committed to moving our customers' performance forward - every day. Valmet's head office is in Espoo, Finland and its shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki.