Half-time for major investment in new paper machine as Swedens Hallsta sets its sights on being world-class

The end of January will see production stop for the dismantling of the old paper machine. Pre-erection in respect of the pipe and electrical installation phases started at the end of last year, with a number of modifications being made while the paper machine was still in operation, i.e. disc filter, broke thickener, cleaners and machine screens. Other examples of major operations include the wire section's base plates, which will be successively installed. The aim of all this is to be able to receive the 250 lorries which, at the end of January and the beginning of February, will be delivering the new paper machine 'just-in-time' from Metso in Finland straight into the new mill. Its additional 30 metres in length compared to the previous machine has involved significant rebuilding work, carried out in parallel with continued operations, which in itself is a real technical challenge.

By the turn of the year, a new control room and office will also be ready. Next in line will be the wire section. The Hallsta venture has also necessitated investment in the infrastructure in order to achieve the stipulated high standards of quality and capacity. Examples include a new wood line, new chip silos, a rewinder as well as a new switching station. There will also be a number of environmental investments, including improved effluent treatment. The modernisation of PM 12 has included a new soft calender, a new reel-up and the rebuilding of the wire section, as well as improved profile control systems.

"Our considerable investment in Hallstavik is creating a good infrastructure. All in all, this could give us a lead of 3-5 years on the market, and as far as quality is concerned we clearly have the potential to become the 'best in class'," comments Lars Erik Roos, local manager at Hallsta Paper Mill. "The targets will be reached," he says, "through quality factors such as improved printability and a 'tougher' paper resulting in fewer operational breakdowns for the user. Fresh spruce wood and recycled paper will also be raw material for the mill's mechanical pulp in the future. Spruce has been the mill's primary raw material ever since the start in 1915, with volumes now exceeding 1 million solid cubic metres annually.

Broader European market
Hallsta Paper Mill manufactures newsprint, MF paper and SC magazine paper as well as computer and office paper. Daily newspapers as well as producers of newspaper supplements, periodicals and advertising leaflets constitute the mill's main target groups, concentrating on Europe. The main purpose of the PM 11 investment is to increase the capacity as well as to achieve even better quality in the MF magazine grade. According to the company, the super-improved paper Holmen XLNT, which was launched a year ago, has already been successful in the heatset niche, not least thanks to its high brightness and print lustre despite the high bulk.

Extensive training programme
An investment of this kind also demands significant focus on the personnel, and not only during the rebuilding and installation period, when the mill's workforce will more or less double to almost 1800 people. The level of expertise will be improved through comprehensive training programmes, in particular among the machine operators who will be receiving around 250 hours of special training, mainly during the month of February.

"All employees affected by the new PM 11 will be covered by the training measures in various ways," says Peter Erlandsson, who is responsible for the complicated timetabling of the training programme. This will largely take place without any interruption to operations. An important part of the work will be undertaken by almost 850 external installation engineers and specialists, who came to the mill at the turn of the year along with employers such as the building contractor NCC and the Finnish machinery supplier Metso (formerly Valmet). The latter relates to one of the company's largest undertakings to date in the form of a paper machine and other equipment based on the very latest technology.

For further information, please contact:
Holmen Paper AB
Hallsta Pappersbruk
Lars Erik Roos
SE-763 81 HALLSTAVIK
SWEDEN
Tel.: +46 175 261 10
Fax: +46 175 264 01
Website: www.holmenpaper.com

Facts and figures
Hallsta Paper Mill is one of four mills within Holmen Paper which together produce approximately 1.7 million tonnes, making Holmen Paper one of Europe's largest manufacturers of wood-containing printing paper.
Holmen Paper is part of the Holmen AB Group.