Valmet, a global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries, will supply a rebuild for ITC Limited’s board machine PM 1A at its Bhadrachalam mill in Telangana, India. The startup is scheduled for the second quarter of 2024. The order, whose value was not disclosed, was included in Valmet’s order received for the first quarter of 2023.
ITC’s paperboards and specialty papers division is India’s largest paper and paperboard company that manufactures packaging and graphic boards accompanied by a diverse range of specialty papers and boards.
“ITC is the frontrunner in the Indian paper industry, applying new technology to fulfill our customers’ needs. The goal of the PM 1A rebuild is to produce a higher basis weight packaging grade for increased production to meet future market demands. We selected Valmet as a supplier based on its proven technology and the previous projects executed successfully together with them,” says Vadiraj Kulkarni, Divisional Chief executive, ITC.
“Customer satisfaction with Valmet’s high-performing technology and timely project execution helped us to secure this order. The rebuild will improve the production capacity and quality of the base board, which will result in excellent coated board quality. In 2018, Valmet carried out an extensive rebuild of the customer’s PM 1 that produces folding boxboard,” says Varun Jain, director, India region, Asia-Pacific, Valmet.
The modernization will include an OptiFlo Fourdrinier headbox, modifications in forming section, an IQ Dryness Measurement, a press section rebuild, an IQ Steam Profiler and a coater section rebuild with an OptiDry Coat and an IQ Induction Profiler.
After the rebuild, the PM 1A will be capable of producing high-quality solid bleached board (SBS), folding boxboard, art board grades and cupboard for consumer packages with basis weights from 180 to 420 g/m². The wire width of the machine is 3,760 mm, and the machinery has been designed for a production speed at a reel of up to 600 m/min.
When the PM 1 was rebuilt in 2018, it was designed for 160,000 tpa, and ITC has been able to produce 200,000 tpa. After this rebuild, they will be able to produce 225,000 tpa.
