16 Hupo Paper Hupo Paper 17 From black coal to white tissue A major coal mining company, Fushun Mining Group, ordered a machine to start producing tissue – a totally new business for them. ANDRITZ delivered a turnkey plant from stock preparation to reel, including automation. Since the tissue business is a new venture for the mining company, support and service were important parts of the delivery. “There is an “For us, the most important factors when opportunity here for selecting a supplier for the stock prepara- tion plant and the machine were the quality new mills which fulfill of the final product, the operational costs, modern requirements and the advanced technology,” Han says. for scale, energy savings, and He notes that ANDRITZ has many refer- environmental safety.” ences in China with good performance. Han Fang, “During the investigation phase of our Vice General Manager of project, we had discussions with all sup- “We were very satisfied Fushun Mining Group pliers,” Han says. “We also visited several Fushun Mining Group is a state-owned coal and oil shale mills (Hengan and APP Suzhou among with ANDRITZ’s good Han Fang (left) with Michael Pichler, company with about 40,000 employees engaged in coal mining head of ANDRITZ Paper and them) where the technology was delivered cooperation and and shale oil production – and now tissue production. performance during the Nonwovens. by ANDRITZ. We were impressed with the proven and reliable technologies and the project.” good and stable paper quality.” Yan Tinggang, © don farrall - getty images Prime General Manager of Hupo Paper The LineTM W8 CrescentFormer machine at Hupo Paper. The 5.6 m wide machine has a Prime Flow two-layer headbox Wang Xicai, Chief Engineer at Hupo Paper, and a Prime ProFiler F dilution control system. was also impressed. “The technical docu- A chance for new mills tion has been limited, because of energy mentation that we received from ANDRITZ Fushun Mining Group (FMG) is a state- and environmental issues,” says Han Fang, was very impressive,” he says. “It was owned coal and oil shale company in Vice General Manager of FMG. “There is very professional and comprehensive, China’s Liaoning Province. FMG has now a chance for new paper mills which especially the machine layout. This contrib- nearly 40 companies with about 40,000 can fulfill modern requirements for econo- uted to a smooth erection and start-up.” employees engaged in coal mining and my of scale, energy savings, and environ- shale oil production. mental safety.” “During the erection and start-up, ANDRITZ professionals really showed us compassion The company’s history dates back to the This is why FMG decided three years ago and patience in getting to know the new early 1900’s when the South Manchuria to step into a totally new business area – tissue machine,” Han says. “This helped Railway Company quickly expanded its tissue production. The 60,000 t/a from us to develop our skills in producing high- system inherited from Russia and devel- the new ANDRITZ machine, which started quality tissue products. The equipment and oped coal mines at Fushun. up at the end of October 2011, is a good cooperation with ANDRITZ was perfect.” beginning for the two million t/a of paper With the demand for tissue products in- production planned for the future. Yan Tinggang, General Manager of Hupo creasing about 10% each year in China, Paper, feels comfortable about the mill’s fu- the officials at FMG saw an opportunity. The machine supplied by ANDRITZ has a ture. He is satisfied with the low operating Most of the tissue mills in Northeast China wire width of 5.6 m and a design speed of costs, the environmental capabilities, and have been decommissioned since they 2,000 m/min. The furnish is virgin market the fact that the stock preparation system began losing their competitiveness in the pulp. Parent rolls from the machine are con- was manufactured by ANDRITZ in China. late 1990’s due to outdated technology verted into tissue products at the mill site. A and infrastructure. Now the region is a hot new subsidiary, Hupo Paper Co. Ltd., was “Even with some small initial delays due to market for papermakers again. established to operate the mill. Hupo Paper design changes and manufacturing sched- now has more than 700 employees. ules,” Yan says, “we were very satisfied with “Since 2009, more than 400 small paper ANDRITZ’s good cooperation and perfor- mills have been shut down, or their produc- mance during the whole project.” 18 Hupo Paper 19 system for the machine, and auxiliaries like “The technical documentation the lubrication and hydraulic systems.” that we received from ANDRITZ was very impressive. This The tissue machine is a Prime LineTM W8 CrescentFormer with a Prime Flow two- contributed to efficient erection layer headbox and a Prime ProFiler F dilution and a smooth start-up.” control system. “The machine has a single Wang Xicai, Chief Engineer at Hupo Paper Prime Press, a Prime Dry Cast Yankee, and a Prime Dry EquiDryF hood system with zone control,” Schratter continues. “The reel is a hydraulically controlled Prime Reel equipped with the Prime TurnUp system for fully automatic reel changes.” ANDRITZ supplied the stock preparation (two virgin fi ber lines and a broke line), approach fl ow, Schratter says that from contract to start- and fi ber recovery systems. Shown is the LC refi ner up, everything went smoothly and ac- which helps optimize the virgin fi bers to improve paper quality. cording to the plan. “We were able to run the tissue machine from the first day with saleable paper quality,” he says. “We are The Prime ProFiler F dilution control device improves now in the optimization phase for reaching CD basis weight profi les. 2,000 m/min. This takes time, of course, but the progress has been excellent. “The output of the new machine is the best ing manufacturing capabilities in China, “The output of the new Cooperating with the people at FMG was quality I have experienced in my career,” ANDRITZ has been able to reduce the cost tissue machine is the best an amazingly positive experience. I became remarks Han Biao, Vice General Manager of its Prime Line tissue machines in China quality I have experienced friends with many FMG people and it was of Hupo Paper. “The start-up went per- significantly. “Only companies with a high a sad feeling to leave the project when it fectly. With rare exceptions, the equipment local content have been able to reduce their in my career.” was over.” Han Biao, was delivered on time, and the delays were costs to be able to offer these savings,” Vice General Manager Hupo Paper mostly due to modifications.” Pichler says. Proven technology with fast learners Martin Schratter, Start-up Engineer from ANDRITZ delivered well-proven technol- Han notes that his company’s plans include ANDRITZ has a facility in Foshan, ANDRITZ (left); Bai Bingchen, Vice General ogy in all areas of the plant. “There are an additional machine within the next two Guangdong Province (see article about Manager for ANDRITZ China’s tissue business some unique highlights at this mill, specifi- (center); and Han Biao, Vice General Manager years “depending upon market demand.” ANDRITZ in China in Spectrum Issue 16) Hupo Paper. cally the LC refiner which helps in optimiz- Hupo Paper’s products are being sold ex- with more than 1,200 employees focused ing the fibers to improve paper quality,” clusively in Liaoning and the neighboring on manufacturing, sourcing, engineering, says Schratter. Another highlight is the provinces. and automation. The Foshan workshop Prime ProFiler F dilution control system that offers Chinese customers fast response ANDRITZ’s tissue business in China. “We improves basis weight cross profiles. The ANDRITZ is local in China and is familiar with local customs and know how to provide sufficient training to third area that Schratter mentioned is the “Fushun is adding to its mining business requirements. support.” heat recovery in the hood system, which by moving into paper production,” says reduces energy consumption significantly. Michael Pichler, head of ANDRITZ’s Paper “The ability to offer extended services is According to Bai, the turnkey ANDRITZ and Nonwovens, “and they do not have very attractive to newcomers to the paper plant was appreciated because everything Hupo Paper did a great job in preparing a long tradition of tissue making. They industry,” Pichler notes. “In addition, we from the stock preparation to the reel came everything for a smooth start-up, not only elected to buy equipment from an industry are developing our Chinese operations to from one company. “This makes it easier the fibers, but also all other resources and leader, and one with a strong base in China. become a manufacturing base for global to start-up and operate, and enables us to tools needed. The newcomers to tissue are ANDRITZ has an excellent record helping sales, which requires European quality and provide fast and well-targeted services,” learning fast. “One big challenge was that tissue newcomers like Hengan, Guitang, precision.” he says. some of the operators had never seen a ANDRITZ delivered Hwagain, Chenming, and Nanning Phoenix paper machine before,” Schratter says. “It the production start and operate their production units. ANDRITZ delivered its first tissue machine “Sad to leave the project” was really impressive to see how quickly line – from stock Even the huge APP started in China with to China in 1998, and has since sold an “We supplied Hupo Paper not only with the they climbed up the learning curve. Within preparation to the reel – turnkey.