Aker Kvaerner To Modernize European And Brazilian Pulp Mills

Aker Kvaerner has been awarded contracts for the modernization of four pulp mills: Swedish Södra Cell Värö, Mercer Rosenthal, SCA Mannheim in Germany and International Paper Mogi Guaçu in Brazil. Together these contracts are worth approximately USD 24 million.

Kvaerner Pulping AB, part of the Aker Kvaerner group, will under the new contracts provide engineering, procurement and supervision services for the German and Brazilian clients. The contract for Södra Cell Värö in Sweden also includes construction services.

"Modernizing existing equipment is a cost-efficient way to improve a pulp mill. These orders demonstrate that we are successful in delivering innovative solutions that improve our customers' products, productivity and profitability," says Per-Åke Färnstrand, President of Kvaerner Pulping.

The order for Södra Cell Värö, Sweden, comprizes a modernisation of the existing brown stock washing system and includes the supply and installation of Kvaerner Pulping's patented Compact Press. The modernization aims to improve washing performance which will contribute to a better production yield at the mill. Start-up is scheduled for March 2006.

SCA Mannheim has ordered a new bleach plant, including medium consistency equipment and two Compact Press units. This in order to improve quality and enable further closure of water cycles improving environmental performance at the mill. The Compact Press units are a repeat order, with two units from Kvaerner Pulping previously installed in 2003. The new bleach plant will be started up in June 2006.

To improve washing efficiency, Mercer Rosenthal has ordered an upgrade of their mill's existing brown stock washing system. The upgrade comprises a Kvaerner Pulping Compact Press and a pressure diffuser. Both will be used as post-oxygen washers and will among other things replace old wash filters, delivering environmental benefits through reductions in Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). Start-up is scheduled for June 2006.

International Paper has ordered a modernisation of the bleach plant, including a Compact Press, at their Brazilian Mogi Guaçu mill. The modernization will ready the plant for production of elemental chlorine-free pulp and prepare for a future capacity increase. Start-up is scheduled for November 2006.

SOURCE: Kvaerner Pulping