An efficient pulp mill flow

Genom att ständigt utvärdera och ta in ny teknik har Waggeryd Cell sedan start tiofaldigat produktionsvolymen med oförändrad personalstyrka. Foto: Waggeryd Cell.

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Biomass Analyzer – en viktig del i ett automatiserat flöde hos Waggeryd Cell

I Vaggeryd i Småland ligger välrenommerade massabruket Waggeryd Cell, ett state-of-the-art bruk i branschen, specialiserat på tillverkning av högkvalitativ BCTMP-massa baserad på sydsvensk gran och tall.

Waggeryd Cell har sedan starten växlat upp sin massaproduktion med en faktor tio, från 20 000 ton massa per år till 200 000 massa per år, med samma antal medarbetare, 45 personer.

Hög automationsgrad

-Vi har alltid varit extremt tidiga med ny teknik och utvärderar ständigt nya lösningar för att effektivisera våra processer, säger Waggeryd Cells vd Thomas Sandstedt. Vi har en hög automationsgrad i vår produktion och kontrollerar våra processer noggrant. Det resulterar i att vi får en väldigt jämn och fin kvalitet på massan, något som såklart uppskattas av våra kunder.

Waggeryd levererar högkvalitativ BCTMP-massa till kunder runt om i världen med applikationer, som kräver en ren massa som ger hög styvhet och bulk i slutprodukten.

Biomass Analyzer analyserar råvaran direkt vid ankomst

2022 tecknade Waggeryd Cell ett 10-årigt avtal med Mantex avseende en Biomass Analyzer för analys av fukthalt i inkommande träflis. Fukthalten mäts för att fastställa både kvalitet och pris på inkommande råvara. Att fastställa fukthalten med en Biomass Analyzer tar mindre än 2 minuter, jämfört med konventionella metoder på marknaden som tar mellan 24 och 48 timmar.

Chaufförerna tar provet själva

-Med analysutrustningen från Mantex kan chaufförerna ta proverna själva. Tidigare hade vi två personer dedikerade för att ta emot och hantera prover, berättar Thomas. Då kunde man bara lämna flis under dagtid. Nu kan chaufförerna lämna dygnet runt. De kommer med sitt prov, loggar in i Biomass Analyzer med en RFID-tagg, torrhalten registreras och skickas direkt till Flintabs system Viktoria och vi får ett automatiserat flöde med fakturahanteringen.

Bättre koll på råvaran

-En annan fördel med att få svar direkt är att vi kan agera direkt om det finns något anmärka på i leveransen. Flisen kanske är väldigt blöt eller väldigt torr, då kan man direkt återkoppla till leverantören, förklarar Thomas.

Biomass Analyzer – an important part of an automated flow at Waggeryd Cell

In Vaggeryd in Småland is the well-reputed pulp mill Waggeryd Cell, a state-of-the-art mill, specializing in the production of high-quality BCTMP pulp based on Swedish spruce and pine.

Since its inception, Waggeryd Cell has increased its pulp production by a factor of ten, from 20,000 tons of pulp per year to 200,000 tons of pulp per year, with the same number of employees, 45 people.

High degree of automation

– We have always been early adopters of new technology and we constantly evaluate new solutions to streamline our processes, says Waggeryd Cell CEO Thomas Sandstedt. We have a high degree of automation in our production and we control our processes carefully. The result is that we get a very even and fine quality of the pulp, something that is of course appreciated by our customers.

Waggeryd supplies high quality BCTMP pulp to customers around the world with applications, which require a pure pulp that provides high stiffness and bulk in the end product.

The Biomass Analyzer analyzes the raw material immediately upon arrival

In 2022, Waggeryd Cell signed a 10-year agreement with Mantex regarding a Biomass Analyzer for analysis of moisture content in incoming wood chips. The moisture content is measured to determine both quality and price of incoming raw materials. Determining the moisture content with a Biomass Analyzer takes less than 2 minutes, compared to conventional methods on the market that take between 24 and 48 hours.

The drivers handle the tests

– With the analysis equipment from Mantex, the drivers can take the samples themselves. Previously, we had two people dedicated to receiving and handling samples, says Thomas. Then you could only leave chips during the day. Now the drivers can leave around the clock. They bring their sample, log into the Biomass Analyzer with an RFID tag, the dry content is recorded and sent directly to Flintab’s system Viktoria and we get an automated flow with invoice management.

Better control of the raw material

-Another advantage of receiving an answer immediately is that we can act immediately if there is something to complain about in the delivery. The wood chips may be very wet or very dry, then you can directly contact the supplier, explains Thomas.

Save money and the environment

Getting the measured value already upon delivery of the raw material also has the advantage that the raw material can be sorted into different piles depending on quality and moisture content. In this way, the production process can be further optimized. For example, very moist raw material can be mixed with drier, explains Thomas. A mill that has knowledge of its raw material and control over its processes can optimize the final product and minimize the addition of inputs, which saves money and is positive for the environment.

-Our work in constantly investing in new technology and automating our flows has made Waggeryd Cell one of the most modern and efficient BCTMP mills in the world. Being able to offer a high-quality product with as little environmental impact as possible is important both for us, our customers and future generations, says Thomas Sandstedt in conclusion.

Waggeryd Cell is wholly owned by the ATA group, which is a large, Swedish manufacturer of wood products, and the raw material mainly consists of sawmill chips from the sawmills within the ATA group.

Read more about Biomass Analyzer

Contact us at Mantex: sales@mantex.se, Martin Frid +46 72 857 32 48