Melbourne, Australia, November 12, 2004 – ABB, the leading power and automation technology
group, has been awarded a contract to supply an Industrial IT Direct Drive system to Norske Skog
Albury site’s sole paper machine PM1 and the winder.
The existing DC drives and motors will be replaced as part of a major upgrade of the Albury facility, comprising rebuild of the paper machine including a shoe press and a new winder. The investment is set to boost the 215,000 tpy newsprint machine’s output by 50,000 tpy when work is completed in the first quarter of 2006.
The Direct Drive solution for the paper machine includes 36 induction motor drive sections, of which 10 are new technology, permanent magnet motors.
The paper machine drive PMC800 is the latest AC drive technology for paper machine drives and includes a combination of traditional AC variable speed motors and ABB’s latest permanent magnet Direct Drive motors, a new innovation simplifying the mechanical configuration of the paper machine and reducing the need for a traditional gearbox between the motor and paper machine. Selection of ABB was based on the global co-operation established between the companies and ABB’s extensive knowledge and experience in supplying paper machine drive systems.
Located in Albury, New South Wales, the mill started production in 1981 and ranks among the best newsprint production facilities in the world. The mill utilizes 40% recycled fiber, which is produced in Australia’s first large scale newsprint deinking plant. The other source of fiber used at the mill is
plantation radiata pine.
Norske-Skog is the world’s second largest producer of publication paper, with 23 wholly- and partly-owned mills in 15 countries on five continents. Within Australasia, Norske-Skog also operates production facilities in Tasmania and New Zealand.
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB group of companies operates in more than 100 countries and employs nearly 103,000 people.