Sappi Awards $8.6 Million E&I, DCS Contract to ABB

Sappi, South Africa, has awarded ABB, Dundalk, Ireland, a large electrification and instrumentation (E&I) and distributed control system (DCS) order. ABB will engineer, procure, and supply equipment for Sappi's Ngodwana mill in Nelspruit, South Africa. The project is part of Sappi's Project Go Cell, which involves expansion of the current mill for the production of chemical cellulose. The order follows ABB's successful implementation of Sappi Saiccor's Amakhulu project in 2007.

Among the products to be supplied are medium voltage switchgear, low voltage MCCs incorporating intelligent motor controls, Profibus intelligent instrumentation, variable speed drives, and ABB's 800xA control system. These products will support the mill's goals of increased efficiency and lower energy consumption.

Due to the size and complexity of the project and to meet Sappi's project deadline, ABB will have an international team of pulp and paper composite plant experts from South Africa, Finland, and Singapore work on this project. The project team will ensure the seamless installation and completion of the electrification and automation equipment in Sappi's required timeframes (plant production is expected to begin in 2013).

Sappi Southern Africa is a producer of chemical cellulose (dissolving pulp) used in the production of a wide range of consumer products such as clothing, plastics, food, and pharmaceutical products.

TAPPI
http://www.tappi.org/