Mills

KOHTLA-JÄRVE, Estonia , July 20, 2021 (Press Release) -Viru Keemia Grupp (VKG) is initiating a local government special spatial plan intending to explore the possibilities of establishing a modern bioproducts production complex in Ida-Viru County to create added value for pulpwood generated in Estonia and produce bioproducts and renewable energy. The expected volume of investments is 800 million euros and production would start to operate in 2026 at the earliest.

According to VKG’s Chairman of Management Board, Ahti Asmann, Estonia needs a modern bioproducts production complex for adding value to pulpwood and Ida-Viru County has the prerequisites for establishing such a complex. “The establishment of a bioproducts complex would boost the diversity of the Estonian and Ida-Viru economy and the fulfilment of environmental goals while meeting the ever-increasing global demand for bioproducts,” Asmann said, adding that the establishment of the complex would constitute a leap in the value addition of wood in Estonia, partly also replacing the current export and burning of wood.

VKG wishes to plan the establishment of the modern bioproducts complex in close cooperation with the local community. “To ensure the mapping and inclusion of the interests of the community in the best way, we have decided to make a proposal to Lüganuse rural municipality to initiate a local government special spatial plan,” Ahti Asmann said. As possible locations, VKG envisions places in the immediate vicinity of its current production territory which is not close to any residential areas.

According to Lüganuse rural municipality governor Andrea Eiche, any plans that contribute to the development of Ida-Viru County are welcome, particularly in the light of the Green Revolution. The creation of 250 direct jobs in the region is extremely important in this context. The rural municipality will process the special spatial plan as prescribed by law. “The entire process must definitely take place in dialogue with the community,” Andres Eiche commented.

As raw materials, the production complex will produce dissolving pulp, pulp, tall oil and renewable energy, bio-fertilisers and growth promoters. As for end products, the complex will produce raw materials for various fabrics (viscose fabric) for the textile industry, as well as bioplastics and additives for the paint, solvent, pharmaceutical, cosmetics and food industries. The development of the bioproducts complex will also open a possibility to produce both biofuels and specialised chemistry product groups: plasticisers, binding agents, phenols, polyesters, hydrogels, antioxidants, etc. Depending on the product and raw material, the production volume would be 330,000 to 500,000 tonnes a year.

As a bonus, the establishment of the production complex would according to preliminary estimates increase the generation of renewable energy in Estonia by 730 GWh a year, of which half would be sold to the free market. Green heating energy would be used for supplying district heating to the cities of Kohtla-Järve and Jõhvi.

VKG estimates that the expected volume of investments is up to 800 million euros and the establishment of the complex would create 250 new well-paid jobs, with at least another 1,000 new indirect jobs in the overall production chain.

The future production would use the flexible KRAFT technology which is the best available technique (BAT) for the chemical processing of wood pulp.

The planned complex will comply with the strictest European Union environmental requirements concerning both air purity and water treatment and use. The complex plans to use water pumped from the Ojamaa Mine, 12.5 million m3 a year. The purified water, the quality of which meets the BAT levels, will be discharged to the Gulf of Finland via a planned water treatment plant and the existing collector.

VKG has conducted preliminary environmental studies for analysing the idea and the Nordic consultation firm AFRY has performed a preliminary feasibility study.

HALLEIN, Austria , July 20, 2021 (Press Release) -At a works meeting that took place on Tuesday, July 20, the employees of AustroCel Hallein GmbH were told about the current situation. Production has been at a standstill ever since June 2, when sulfur dioxide leaked from a pulp digester on the premises of the company, during which an employee died. The investigation into the cause of the accident has not yet been completed. The production of pulp and the new bio-ethanol plant are expected to begin their operations again in November. The Management has already implemented measurements to ensure the financial viability of the company in particular short-time working has been requested for the next few months.

Jörg Harbring, Managing Director of AustroCel: “For AustroCel, clarifying the cause of the accident and ensuring occupational and operational safety take center stage. We hope that the investigations will be completed soon and that the reasons for the accident will be clarified in full.” Over the coming weeks and months, all the pressure vessels and pipelines will be checked to ensure the maximum levels of safety. During the shutdown, the caustic boiler will also be modernized, in which 1.7 million euros will be invested.

Bernhard Steinberger, Chairman of the Works Council: “Short-time working is a proven method for supporting a company in getting through hard times. We are convinced that this measure is an important contribution that will enable AustroCel to emerge into the future more strongly. Safety is also the most important factor for the staff representatives.”

About AustroCel Hallein GmbH

AustroCel Hallein GmbH currently has more than 290 employees and is one of the market leaders in China for textile pulp which is made from softwood, with total sales revenue of approximately 130 million euros. Its bio-refinery in Hallein produces up to 160,000 tons of viscose pulp as well as 100 GWh for district heating and 100 GWh of green electricity. Therefore, the Hallein-based high-tech company not only supplies its own production facilities with clean energy, it also provides 28,000 households with green electricity and 13,000 households with district heating. With the biggest wood-based bio-ethanol plant in the world, AustroCel produces up to 30 million liters of second-generation bio-ethanol each year.

LEIPZIG, Germany, July 15, 2021 (Press Release) -Emtec Electronic reveals how its specialized measuring devices can be used to improve paper products, optimize processing and converting, and ultimately save costs and resources at the PROGRESS trade convention in Łódź, Poland, from September 22 to 24th.

Finding new ways to save resources and make the shift toward a more circular economy has become a topic of high priority among leading companies in the paper industry. The upcoming trade fair, “Progress 2021: Road to a Bioeconomy,” which takes place from September 22-24 in Łódź, Poland, focuses this year on how new technologies and innovations in the paper industry can move toward a more sustainable production cycle and more efficient use of resources.

In this vein, machine manufacturer emtec Electronic will be presenting its entire palette of specialized measuring devices for use in the production of paper, tissue, and board at the event. The German company focuses on developing technical solutions to common problems in paper manufacturing, such as the charge environment in the wet end of the papermaking process, gluability, printability and many more. Its products are often unique on the market and designed to optimize the paper production, converting, and testing processes.

“Saving resources and minimizing waste during paper production and converting has long been a challenge for manufacturers,” says Alexander Gruener, emtec Global Marketing and Business Manager. “Now, with the growing concerns and calls for more sustainable practices, it’s become even more of a priority. Emtec devices offer companies ways to meet this goal by supplying specific knowledge of certain parameters before, during, and after production.”

The FPO Fiber Potential Analyzer, for example, helps reduce the amounts of chemicals needed in the wet end by quickly and constantly measuring the exact zeta potential of the pulp fibers. Other emtec devices provide specific data regarding the amounts of chemical additives needed and the interaction of chemicals, leading to improved processes and more efficient resource use. Representatives from emtec Electronic and its partner MEWES Polska will be present throughout the Progress 2021 event to answer questions, provide live demonstrations, and explain each device in detail.

About emtec Electronic

Emtec Electronic GmbH develops, produces and distributes worldwide testing and measuring devices for the detection of relevant processing properties of paper, board, nonwoven and textile materials. The portable measuring devices enable manufacturers and converters of paper, nonwoven and textile products for example, to control and optimize the manufacturing and converting processes during ongoing production. From the wet end to the final product, the application of the devices enables an efficient process to achieve and ensure the best possible quality with the least possible effort.

For 25 years, we have relied on innovative, highly specialized measuring instruments combined with a high degree of service orientation. Since the company was founded, we have been intensively involved in scientific cooperation with institutes and companies, further developing instruments for our customers and offering a broad network in over 80 countries from our Leipzig location.