Mills

HEIDENHEIM, Germany, May 28, 2020 (Press Release) -
• Hydraulic gap adjustment allows continuous and precise adjustment of the dispersion intensity
• Automatic zero-point adjustment for a consistently high and reproducible dispersion result
• Robust design, high reliability and easy maintenance

Voith is expanding its product portfolio in the BlueLine stock preparation line with the launch of a new disperger with hydraulic gap adjustment. InfibraDisp is characterized by precise, infinitely variable gap adjustment, automated zero-point adjustment and userfriendly handling. The newly developed, smart control unit enables monitoring of filling wear and prevents any risk of plate contact with vibration sensors. As the core element of the BlueLine Compact Dispersion System, the new InfibraDisp contributes significantly to the provision of a high-quality raw fiber material based on recovered paper.

InfibraDisp: Hydraulic gap adjustment allows continuous and precise adjustment of the dispersion intensity

In dispersion, bothersome particles and inks are separated from the fibers and milled to a size suitable for further processing. The newly developed disperger achieves outstanding increases in strength of up to 25% and optimally prepares the fiber structures for subsequent starch application. The new hydraulic gap adjustment allows infinitely variable and precise adjustment of the dispersion intensity, thereby achieving an outstanding dispersion result. The adjustment can be made at any time by means of a user-friendly control panel directly on the machine. Together with the new disperger, Voith's The Wall disperger filling forms an ideal combination for achieving the best technological results with comparatively low specific energy input.

Automatic zero-point adjustment for a consistently high and reproducible dispersion result

“The hydraulic system of the new InfibraDisp disperger allows us to perform a precise ‘zero-point’ adjustment after the plate change by just pressing a single button. This eliminates the need for manual intervention on the disperger itself,” says Susana Fernández-Carrión, Stock Preparation Plants Manager at Saica in Saragossa, Spain. Due to the automatic zero-point adjustment, InfibraDisp delivers an optimal dispersion result at any time. The fully automatic zero-point detection is initiated by the operator and then runs autonomously.

“Operation of InfibraDisp is much easier than with the familiar dispergers on the market due to the automatic zero-point adjustment,” says Tomislav Druzinec, start-up engineer at Voith Paper. “Since the result can be reproduced independently of the respective operator due to the automatic recognition, our customers are able to significantly stabilize their dispersion process.”

Robust design offers high reliability and easy maintenance

The stable welded construction of the new disperger with hydraulic gap adjustment offers long, reliable and almost wear-free operation. The feed screw is driven by the main drive of the disperger. This results in a homogeneous and continuous stock feed to the filling; the formation of blockages is prevented and performance fluctuations occurring during the dispersion process are minimized.

At the same time, the feed screw is easily accessible and the entire machine is very easy to maintain thanks to a single drive. “The design concept of a single motor driving both the rotor and the feed screw has saved space and will ultimately reduce our maintenance costs,” says Fernández-Carrión from Saica in confirmation. The combination of forced and sump lubrication continually lubricates the bearing arrangement of InfibraDisp, thus increasing operational safety even in the event of unforeseeable incidents.

Automation advantages through newly designed control unit

In addition to the new hydraulic gap adjustment, a further core component is the specially designed control unit. The “digital brain” of InfibraDisp enables previously unrealized 4.0 features. The control unit contains the automation function, which controls the autonomous zero-point detection, processes the values of the vibration monitoring and adapts to technical parameters locally.

“The new system for measuring filling wear will allow us to improve the monitoring of fillings throughout their life cycle, to compare the wear between different fillings or with different raw materials and to detect abnormalities even before a planned shutdown,” says Fernández-Carrión, praising the digital development. In the future, the wear monitoring system can, for example, interact directly with Voith’s Webshop and thus automatically initiate a filling order. In addition, the filling runtime is permanently monitored and the remaining operating time is calculated. The next filling change is therefore predicted in good time and downtime dates are recommended.

Compact dispersion system: Low-cost, optimum dispersion results

The new InfibraDisp disperger is part of the BlueLine Compact Dispersion System from Voith, which is characterized by high energy efficiency, a reliable and high dewatering performance, and reduced spatial requirements. In addition to InfibraDisp, the dispersion system includes the InfiltraScrewpress screw press and the InfibraHeater heating unit.

About the Voith Group

The Voith Group is a global technology company. With its broad portfolio of systems, products, services and digital applications, Voith sets standards in the markets of energy, oil & gas, paper, raw materials and transport and automotive. Founded in 1867, the company today has more than 19,000 employees, sales of €4.3 billion and locations in more than 60 countries worldwide and is thus one of the larger family-owned companies in Europe.

The Group Division Voith Paper is part of the Voith Group. As the full-line supplier to the paper industry, it provides the largest range of technologies, services, components and products on the market, and offers paper manufacturers solutions from a single source. The company’s continuous stream of innovations takes papermaking to the next level and facilitates resource-conserving production. With its Servolution concept, Voith offers its customers tailored service solutions for all sections of the production process. Voith Papermaking 4.0 ensures that equipment is optimally connected, while the secure use of generated data enables paper manufacturers to improve plant availability and efficiency.

• DUBLIN, Ireland, May 26, 2020 (Press Release) -
• 61% of consumers expect the brands they buy from to have clear sustainability practices
• Customer experience / satisfaction is the leading metric businesses (58%) use to measure return on investment from sustainability practices
• Two-thirds of UK businesses struggle to measure impact of their sustainability strategies
• Sustainability to remain a priority for businesses in post Covid-19 era

A new survey by packaging leader Smurfit Kappa has provided insights into how Conscious Consumerism is continuing to drive the need for UK organisations to embed sustainability into business operations. With a growing demand for higher transparency of companies’ sustainability practices amongst a new generation of consumers, the survey also highlights how two thirds of UK businesses struggled to measure the bottom-line impact of their sustainability strategies.

The Balancing Sustainability and Profitability Survey, which was conducted among 200 senior executives and 1500 consumers in the UK, examines the business community’s and consumers’ views on sustainability and how they are adapting to create a more sustainable future.

The Consumer Effect

The survey found that 61% of consumers expect the brands they buy from to have clear sustainability practices. While 65% of consumers say price is still a key factor in their purchasing decision, in the past six months more than half say they have purchased a product specifically because it had reusable or biodegradable packaging and 56% have paid more for a product or service that was sustainably sourced.

Commenting on the research, Steven Stoffer, Group VP of Sustainability and Development at Smurfit Kappa, said: “In the past, sustainability was considered more of a corporate topic but now the sustainability agenda is being driven by consumers. While this survey was conducted just before the Covid-19 pandemic, we are seeing growing evidence that these trends will continue as our economies begin to re-open.

“Pre-pandemic, consumers were increasingly demanding sustainable and ethically sourced products and recent research in the US suggests that Covid-19 has not reduced consumers’ demand for sustainable products.”

The driving force of Conscious Consumerism is echoed by the survey: 63% of businesses stated that their organisational attitude towards sustainability is customer driven. However, half of organisations say that greater customer (and consumer) awareness of the effects of their sustainability practices would be most beneficial to their long-term impact. 

The research also shows 69% of consumers struggle to identify whether brands practice sustainability. 

“This suggests there is a knowledge gap between brands and consumers and indicates there is an onus on brands to better communicate what they are doing in the area of sustainability. In general, more education is necessary and if brands can get this right, it will hugely strengthen the brand/customer relationship,” said Mr. Stoffer.

Sustainability and financial benefits

Improved customer experience / satisfaction is the leading metric that UK businesses (58%) use to measure return on investment from sustainability practices. However, the Balancing Sustainability and Profitability Survey also found that only 18% of organisations are currently measuring their sustainability plans with 4 in 10 businesses saying measurement is the main barrier to implementing sustainable practices.

The research also showed that 82% of business executives treat sustainability as a long-term investment, rather than a cost. Crucially, this is changing the rules of financial reporting in nearly three-quarters of businesses. However, less than half of organisations have the ability to link sustainability to financial results.

Ken Bowles, Smurfit Kappa Chief Financial Officer, said: “As we enter uncertain economic times, businesses are placing every effort on recovery and are focused on how to rebuild as public health restrictions begin to be eased. As we have learned from past economic downturns, business leaders also need to keep an eye on the future, in which sustainability will be a core pillar of business strategies – the climate crisis will remain post Covid-19. This survey highlights now more than ever the need to create an environment where business can embrace sustainable practices without the pressure of additional costs.

“This will require a multi-stakeholder dialogue between industry, government, regulators and consumer representatives to ensure a collective approach is agreed to make the financial case for sustainability more accessible for business.

“Smurfit Kappa publishes its progress on its long-term sustainability targets annually in its Sustainable Development Report which provides transparency and substantiates how we make our commitments in sustainability a reality. The Group has formulated ambitious long-term targets in five key areas where it can make a difference in terms of sustainability,” added Mr. Bowles.

“Over the past few decades we have been implementing projects that tick both the sustainability and financial return boxes like, for example, the major overhaul of our Townsend Hook Paper Mill in Kent which increased capacity by 3% while reducing energy by 15%. The energy usage per tonne also decreased by 18%. Making sustainability performance measurable, transparent and tangible for our stakeholders is an approach we have implemented since we started reporting our progress in 2007.”

Sustainability is here to stay

Growing social and environmental awareness is increasing pressure on businesses to play their role in reducing the impact of climate change and waste. The survey found that 72% of businesses see sustainability as a lasting trend.

Tony Smurfit, Group CEO of Smurfit Kappa, said: “Globally we have faced one of the biggest challenges to our health and livelihoods in recent months, but climate change and sustainability will remain the existential challenge of our time. People are realising that time is running out to address the issue. Sustainability must remain at the heart of the global business agenda as we look to the future.”

Sustainability is also opening up growth opportunities for businesses; 83% of businesses described sustainability as a business opportunity to be exploited.

“Sustainability is a catalyst for growth, but businesses will need to strike a balance between sustainability practices and profitability if they are going to ensure long-term stakeholder buy-in. Those businesses that see the value of investing now for the long-term, will be positioned to win in the future,” concluded Mr. Smurfit.

HALIFAX, NS, May 26, 2020 (CBC) -Nova Scotia's environment minister says that regardless of any concerns Northern Pulp has with an order he recently issued, he expects the company to abide by the terms as outlined in the document.

Last week, Gordon Wilson issued an order updating one he issued in January,that states what Northern Pulp must do as it decommissions and cleans up its site in Pictou County.

On Wednesday, the company responded with a statement saying Wilson's directive imposes terms and conditions "that are impractical and show a lack of understanding of the pulp and paper industry and effluent treatment facilities."

CBC - Province expects Northern Pulp to follow latest order, despite company's concerns

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