Kotkamills Sign Extensive Automation Service Agreement with Valmet

Valmet and Kotkamills Oy, Finland, have signed an extensive automation service agreement. In addition to supporting production processes, the agreement will secure high availability of automation at the entire Kotkamills mill and especially on the new consumer packaging board machine BM 2. This is one of Valmet's most extensive service agreements for automation in Finland to date.

Kotkamills recently converted its printing paper machine PM 2 into BM 2 to produce high-quality barrier board and folding boxboard. The machine was started up in July 2016. Valmet supplied key technology and automation solutions, including automation, information and quality management systems, analyzers, profilers, a machine vision system, as well as process and control development services for the grade conversion project. 

"We had a limited service agreement with Valmet earlier. With our new BM 2, we felt we now needed more advise and support, since there is still a lot of development work to be done on the new board machine. And Valmet has strong know-how in automation and board making," said Jan Lousa, project manager, Electrical Automation, Kotkamills.  

 

 

"With the comprehensive services, we will help Kotkamills manage the processes in their entirety, speed up startups, as well as optimize production and end product quality. These services will ensure that the mill can now get everything out of its processes. The service agreement well reflects Valmet's new service approach—the Shared Journey Forward. This offering covers reliability and performance services as well as the introduction of new technologies," Emilia Torttila-Miettinen, customer service manager, Services, Automation, Valmet, pointed out. 

 

According to the new service agreement, there will be an on-site Valmet service engineer at the Kotkamills mill most of the time. He will participate in mill-wide automation-related maintenance, development, and coordination in cooperation with the mill and other partners named by the mill. When needed, the mill will have access to services provided by Valmet's application experts. 

Additionally, the agreement includes process performance monitoring and process control upkeep, 24-hr. on-call service, spare parts, annual condition check-ups of the automation, quality control as well as process and quality vision systems, analyzer maintenance, antivirus service, regular follow-up and development meetings with the mill, along with reporting through the Valmet portal. Valmet and Kotkamills also signed a development agreement that covers the advanced controls at the digester and causticizing plants.

Kotkamills’ products include specialty laminating papers Absorbex® and Imprex® as well as ecological sawn products. In 2016, the company started to produce fully recyclable consumer packaging boards in Kotka, Finland. The products are environmentally friendly, recyclable, and safe to use.