Valmet, Finland, will deliver a recausticizing upgrade to the Arkhangelsk Pulp and Paper mill in Novodvinsk, Russia. The upgrade includes both technology and automation deliveries. Arkhangelsk Pulp and Paper is rebuilding the plant to increase capacity and replace obsolete equipment. Startup of the delivery is scheduled for the fall 2017.

The value of the order was not disclosed. However, according to Valmet, an upgrade with this scope of supply is usually valued below EUR 10 million.

"The project is the second stage of a bleached pulp production upgrade to increase capacity. The first stage included the replacement of old drum washers and the installation of three Valmet TwinRoll presses, which was successfully completed in 2015. The goal of the rebuild is to increase white liquor production, which will be followed by installation of an oxygen delignification plant in the future. The obsolete equipment will be replaced as well during the project," said Pavel Smirnov, deputy chief engineer of the Arkhangeslk Mill.

"The rebuild will make it possible to increase the capacity of the plant and reduce the considerable maintenance that is required today. The delivery is especially exciting since it will be the first time we deliver our new generation lime mud disc filter—OptiDisc. The design will increase work safety and ensure mill runnability," says Thomas Malmqvist, sales manager at Valmet.

The delivery includes technology for the recausticizing plant consisting of cooling, slaking, white liquor filtration, and lime mud washing and drying. In addition to main machinery and auxiliary equipment, the order also includes automation instruments related to machinery motors and a DCS process control system. The new design of the lime mud disc filter gives access to bearings and seals from outside of the vessel, which makes maintenance easier and improves safety. With the new design, the lifetime of the main shaft is doubled.  

Arkhangelsk Pulp and Paper Mill’s main shareholder is Pulp Mill Holding GmbH. The company is a major containerboard producer and one of the leaders in Russian pulp production. The company specializes in production of bleached sulfate pulp, board including uniliners, different paper grades, and copy-books.