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Quebec cellulose filament plant ramps up production

The new cellulose filament (CF) demonstration plant at Kruger’s Trois-Rivières facility is now producing a high quality, world-class strengthening bioproduct equivalent to that produced in the laboratory environment.

Since the plant’s inauguration in June 2014, while optimizing the process equipment, high quality CF has been produced and used in various mill trials and R&D projects. The trials showed that the reinforcing strength of the CF from Trois-Rivières is as efficient as that produced in FPInnovations’ pilot plant.

“We believe in the great potential of CF, which is why Kruger has dedicated its know-how and expertise to ensure the success of the demonstration plant,” says Daniel Archambault, executive vice-president and COO, Industrial Products Division, Kruger.

“Large-scale production is well under way and we are confident that we can continue to provide premium-quality CF, which will help develop the market and find new commercial applications for this revolutionary biomaterial,” he continues.

Cellulose filament underwent several years of intense research and development in FPInnovations’ laboratories, before a five ton/day CF plant was built within Kruger’s newsprint mill in Trois-Rivières, Québec. The plant is expected to provide enough CF tonnage to permit commercialization and to enable new application development.

Cellulose filament is expected to expand its role as a strengthening biomaterial beyond traditional pulp and paper markets to applications across many industrial sectors.