Stora Enso Fine Paper's Nymölla mill in Sweden selected Metso as the supplier of new capping valves for its batch digester line 1. In total, Metso will deliver 5 Neles PZ-series capping valves to replace the mill's old hydraulic cappers. This gives Stora Enso an automated solution for its digesters replacing old valves and actuators that needed manual assistance in the chip filling phase and increasing overall productivity.
The Neles PZ series of capping valves improves process safety, enhances process reliability and eliminates unscheduled process downtime thanks to its proven technology. Design features, like a preloading device mounted outside the valve body, prevent chips and liquor from causing hazards. Special interlocking systems, essential to plant safety, help lower maintenance costs.
The Nymölla mill's batch cooking process is a very demanding application because magnesium bisulfite is used as a cooking liquor. The local Metso sales and product line teams were able to offer Stora Enso Nymölla mill a solution that fulfilled their requirements by making a few technical changes to the standard Neles PZ-series capping valve design. These details were thoroughly discussed with the customer. Technical compliance, together with a proven track record in similar applications around the world, helped Stora Enso Nymölla mill decide in favor of the new capping valve solution.
The Nymölla mill specializes in producing high quality office papers and has had a good working relationship with Metso already for decades. Today, the whole mill with two paper machines has an installed base of approximately 1,000 Metso valves. In addition, the mill's PM 1 and 2 are equipped with Metso's automation system Metso DNA, Metso IQ quality control system, nelesACE basis weight valves and a range of profilers, which are fully integrated with Metso DNA. The new capping valves will also be connected to Metso DNA.
The valves for this project will be delivered during 2014. All valves are scheduled for installation and commissioning by the end of the second quarter of 2014. The delivery contains 5 Neles PZ capping valves equipped with pneumatic actuators, control centers and Neles SwitchGuard intelligent on/off valve controllers.
The capping valve is one of the innovations for the pulp and paper industry that originated from Metso. More than 1,500 capping valves in total have been delivered to batch cooking applications worldwide.
