Valmet (Finland) and Australian Paper (Australia) have signed a multi-year agreement for Valmet to provide maintenance technical support to the Maryvale Mill in Victoria, Australia. The new technical support agreement (TSA), which will focus on providing onsite maintenance technical advice and expertise to the mill's maintenance organization, replaces the old maintenance agreements between Valmet and Australian Paper. The agreement came into effect on August 1.

The Maryvale Mill has three pulp lines, five papermaking machines, an elemental chlorine free bleach plant, pulp lapping machine, deinked pulp line, finishing facility, and a waste paper processing plant. Valmet's TSA resources will be located within the mill’s power and recovery, fiber lines, paper mill, and central maintenance areas.

 

"The new agreement builds on the partnership between Australian Paper and Valmet, providing long term technical input into Australian Paper's maintenance operation, allowing for continuous improvement and development programs to be identified and implemented along with specific pulp and paper knowledge and knowhow," said Peter Williams, COO of Australian Paper (left in photo). 

   

"Australian Paper will continue to develop the Maryvale Mill to ensure its long term sustainability and profitability as a domestic producer of fine paper and packaging grades. The technical service agreement provides the needed alignment to meet these objectives, reinforces the high level cooperation and commitment between our organizations, and provides the platform to move our customer's performance forward," said Pierre de Villiers (right in photo), VP sales, Australia and New Zealand, Valmet.

Australian Paper is Australia's largest producer of fine papers for print and office applications and produces high-quality packaging papers. Australian Paper employs more than 1,400 Australians and supplies more than 600,000 metric tons of product within Australia and around the world. Australian Paper is part of Nippon Paper Group Japan) that consists of approximately 180 affiliates and related companies. The Maryvale Mill is Australia's largest integrated fine papermaking and packaging papers complex, producing more than 500,000 metric tpy of paper.