Features Research & Innovation
Technology News (May 01, 2006)

CONTRACT

AKER KVAERNER SECURES CHINESE CONTRACT

NORWAY — Aker Kvaener has also been awarded contracts in China. For roughly E8 million, the company will supply two pressure diffusers as part of an expansion project in the People’s Republic of China.

The diffusers are being installed to facilitate a capacity increase to 4,000 tonnes of pulp per day, or about 1.3 million tonnes per year, up from 3,000 tonnes currently at the facility. Aker Kvaerner delivered the original fibreline in November 2004.

Kvaerner Pulping, part of the Aker Kvaerner group, will provide engineering, procurement and supervision services under the contract.

PRODUCT

RESEARCH LAUNCHES INFRARED INK DRYING SYSTEM

EDEN PRAIRIE, MN — Research Inc. has introduced the Speed-Dri Model 3620 infrared heater. The ink drying system provides instantaneous infrared and convection technologies to dry ink printed on target areas up to one inch (25 mm) wide.

Designed for easy installation, low operation cost and minimal maintenance, the 3620 provides an economical solution for improving throughput.

A combination of fast-responding, medium-wave quartz lamps and convection drying evaporate water and solvents, and break down the boundary layer, resulting in immediate evaporation of the ink solvent. An integrated fan blows air past the lighted lamps, resulting in heated air impingement on the target product surface.

CONTRACTS

ALBANY INTERNATIONAL NAMED METSO SUPPLIER

ALBANY, NY — Albany International has been named the exclusive supplier of specialty fabrics for Metso Paper’s STT technology for the manufacture of tissue.

The two companies developed a specific fabric design and specification to maximize sheet quality for the STT technology. Albany will also work in conjunction with Metso to provide support for machine start-ups and ongoing technical service at the customers’ site.

PRODUCT

HARDY INTRODUCES TENSION CONTROLLER

SAN DIEGO, CA — Used in unwinding and rewinding applications, Hardy Instruments’ new closed loop tension controller ignores roll vibration, calibrates in seconds without test weights, and permits the user to access set-up, monitoring and diagnostics from a PLC or any PC with a web browser. The controller includes a 4-20 mA output and Ethernet interface. Optional interfaces include Remote I/o, DeviceNet, ControlNet and others.

CONTRACT

GL&V PULP AND PAPER GROUP SECURES $14 MILLION IN CONTRACTS

MONTREAL, QC — GL&V’s pulp and paper group has been awarded several contracts in China, Russia, Turket and Bosnia, totaling more than $14 million. One of the contracts, worth roughly $3 million, is from a Chinese pulp and paper manufacturer for two BTF automatic dilution systems for headboxes to be installed on existing machines, by November 2006.

PAPER MACHINES

STORA ENSO STARTS UP REBUILD

WHITING, WI — Stora Enso has started up the rebuilt PM64 at its Whiting, WI mill. The Metso equipment on this LWC machine includes a SymPress B section, OptiSlush press pulper, and dryer section rebuild. Also included are upgrades to the air systems, controls, threading systems and coaters.

Phase 1 of this project included a new ValReel and re-reeler rebuild, and was successfully started up in April, 2005.

CORPORATE

NEW NAME FOR JAAKKO POYRY

HELSINKI, FINLAND — On April 3, 2006, Jaakko Pyry Group Oyj registered its name in the trade register to Pyry Oyj. In English, this will be Pyry Plc. In connection with the change of the company’s business name, the company and trading codes on the Helsinki Stock Exchange will also change. The new company code is POY and the trading stock is POY1V. The new business name and company trading codes became valid in the Helsinki Stock Exchange’s SAXESS system on April 4, 2006.

SUPPLIER SOLUTIONS

INVENSYS LAUNCHES INFUSION

FOXBORO, MA — Invensys recently launched a new technology called InFusion. The enterprise control system combines industry capabilities from across the company, with advanced enterprise information and integration technologies from both Microsoft and SAP, to reduce integration costs. Implementation of the technology will permit most existing plant floor and enterprise systems to integrate into a common system, while allowing for the alignment of plant operations and maintenance departments with the business.

At a technology launch held at the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum in April, in Boston, MA, a panel of Invensys representatives, along with a representative from Microsoft and another from the Wisconsin Public Service Corporation, presented the technology to industry analysts and members of the press.

“We are transforming the ability to correct problems before they affect production,” said Mike Caliel, Invensys president. “Technology is necessary, but not sufficient. InFusion involves technology combined with innovative solutions and industry expertise. With this wireless strategy, InFusion offers a solution to incorporate data that didn’t used to be possible.” To illustrate the complexity involved in developing the technology, Caliel confirmed there are currently a total of 60 patents that have either been issued, or are pending, for the system. “This is our biggest, most groundbreaking announcement in 20 years,” he added, echoing a sentiment expressed by many company representatives present at the launch.

By offering a complete operational overview of the process, users of the system will be able to stay on top of every aspect of their business, from maintenance, scheduling, profitability, and costs. Real time accounting allows users to determine their profits on a daily basis. “With this system, you can truly answer the question, ‘how much money did I make today,'” Caliel said. “You can pull up plant production levels, predict failure, manage your assets. InFusion offers insight, and keeps you in control.”

Perhaps one of the most interesting features of the technology, is its ability to integrate with virtually any other system. “You name it, we can connect to it,” Chris Lyden, vice president of global marketing confirmed. “Our enterprise control business starts with what you already have, and adds a unifying architecture to it. We’re moving from traditional automation to enterprise control, from a ‘use’ metaphor, to a management metaphor. Often, businesses already have a lot of the information they require, but it’s visually constrained. InFusion will facilitate collaboration, enabling you to see what will go wrong, before it goes wrong.”