SCA, Sweden, has ordered from Andritz, Austria, production technologies and equipment for the expansion of SCAʼs Östrand pulp mill in Timrå, Sweden. Startup is scheduled for the second quarter of 2018. The order is expected to enter into force in the next few weeks.

The scope of supply, with a high manufacturing portion in Sweden, includes woodyard equipment designed for cold climates, with debarking drums and HHQ chippers; a pulp dryer with innovative, energy-saving technologies that substantially reduce the mill’s operating costs, including a boiler exhaust energy recovery system, fine screening, a twin wire dewatering system, sheet dryer, cutter, and two balling lines; a major upgrade of the white liquor plant with new recausticizing machinery and a capacity increase of the existing lime kiln; and extension of the recovery boiler, which was supplied by Andritz in 2006.

The mill expansion is one of the largest industrial investments in Sweden and the largest ever in northern Sweden. SCA Östrand will double its annual production capacity from 430,000 to 900,000 metric tons and become the largest mill in the world for softwood kraft pulp. About half of the production volume will be used for SCA’s own manufacturing of publication papers and hygiene products, while the remainder will be sold to external tissue producers to meet the growing demand for softwood kraft pulp.