Horizon Pulp & Paper, a sack kraft producer in Estonia, has officially inaugurated the company’s new lime kiln and wood processing line that will increase the mill’s production efficiency. Toomas Hendrik Ilves, the president of Estonia, launched the wood processing line during a recent visit to Horizon.

 

The new lime kiln that became operational at the end of 2014 enables Horizon Pulp & Paper to recycle more than 90% of the lime used in its production. Besides contributing to a cleaner environment, this also reduces the use of natural resource lime. 

 

 

 

"The investment of about EUR 11 million reinforces the company’s commitment to environmental protection. Global industry technologist, FLSmidth Group, supplied the equipment for the Kiln. The process is fully automated and operated through a DCS system," said Bashyam Krishnan, CEO of Horizon Pulp & Paper. 

 

For the Lime Kiln investment, EUR 3.8 million was received through the Environmental Investments Centre of Estonia from the European Cohesion Fund. SEB Pank co-financed the Lime Kiln and Wood Processing Line. 

 

Andritz, Graz, Austria, supplied equipment for the state-of-the-art wood processing line, a total investment of approximately EUR 4 million. 

 

In the pulp making process, Horizon notes, the quality of pulp fiber depends on wood chip quality. The selected line presents the latest wood processing technology and consists of log infeed, debarking unit, chipper, and chip screen. According to Krishnan, the new technology improves chip quality, thereby enabling the mill to achieve the full potential of its recent investments for advanced pulp cooking and washing processes, leading to improved quality of the paper is produces.

Horizon Pulp & Paper, a subsidiary of the Singapore headquartered multinational group Tolaram, is the only sack kraft paper producer in Estonia. The mill is fully integrated and exports to some 55 countries around the globe.