2009-05-21 - New systems modernize paper production at Lessebo Mill
2009-05-12 - ABB, the leading power and automation company, won an order for new quality and efficiency-enhancing systems at Vida Paper’s Lessebo Mill in southern Sweden. The new systems will modernize all of the mill’s paper production and further improve Lessebo’s productivity and quality.
"Vida Paper produces fine papers in a market where there are high demands for quality and service. You have to have the best equipment to make production as efficient as possible and to secure the quality of the paper for our customers, "said Lars Rosén, CEO Vida Paper AB.
To meet these requirements, Vida Paper invested in new automation systems to monitor and control their paper production and provide quality control. By adding a new induction caliper actuator for thickness control the- mill will obtain a broader paper path and, as a result, increase paper machine production capacity.
ABB will replace the old quality systems on two of Lessebo’s three paper machines with two QCS systems based on 800xA technology that have new Network Platform measuring platforms. The systems include features to manage and control the paper properties that are important to Lessebo, such as grammage, moisture, thickness, color, formation and ash content.
"The exchange of new quality systems means that we will be able to measure much better and thus be able to make our quality and color transitions much faster. We make about 1,000 conversions per year, and this saves much time and waste," said Rosén.
For management and control of the mill’s entire paper operation, ABB will install an Industrial IT 800xA automation system. The system will be integrated with existing controllers for two of the machines while the PM1 will be installed with new 800xA controllers. This means that there will be a uniform system structure and operator environment for the whole paper mill which will facilitate information flow and access throughout Lessebo.
ABB will install thin clients that will also make it possible to access production information via the mill’s office network.
Start-up of QCS systems in the mill’s first two paper machines will take place this summer.