Domtar's Ashdown Mill Orders Equipment for Fluff Pulp Conversion

Domtar, Montreal, Que., Canada, has selected Valmet, Finland, to supply equipment and technical services to convert a paper machine from uncoated freesheet to fluff pulp at its mill in Ashdown, Ark., USA. The delivery is part of Domtar's $160 million project to re-purpose the A64 paper machine. The rebuilt machine is scheduled to begin operation in the third quarter of 2016. 

 

"Valmet has been a trusted vendor-partner of ours, one that understands our business and delivers top-quality equipment and services that help our company succeed," said Jack Bray, Domtar's VP of manufacturing, Region 2. "We're glad to work with a supplier that shares our commitment to safety and sustainability, as well as performance, in creating world-class fiber products."

 

Frank Swietlik, GM, pulp dryers and baling, Valmet, added that "Valmet has extensive experience in repurposing pulp and paper assets, especially in the production of fluff pulp. As we did during the Plymouth NC5 conversion, we worked closely with Domtar to optimize the technical solution that would meet their project objectives, including world class quality standards and high efficiency runnability," said Frank Swietlik, GM, pulp dryers and baling."

 

The scope of the Valmet delivery includes a new wet end, upgrades to existing cylinder dryer section, a new fully automated reel, and a new OptiWin Pulp winder. Also included is a bypass run to a new cutter-layboy with an automated bale handling line.

The Ashdown mill has three pulp lines and three paper machines. The mill's annual paper production capacity is 680,000 tons and pulp production capacity is 700,000 tons. It produces uncoated freesheet papers (offset, copy paper, laser form bond, and check paper) and bleached hardwood and softwood Kraft market pulp

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Domtar designs, produces, markets, and distributes a wide variety of fiber-based products including communication papers, specialty and packaging papers, and absorbent hygiene products. In 2013, the company had sales of $5.4 billion from some 50 countries. It employs approximately 10,000 people.