PerceptiveAPC Clairefontaine: Fine Paper

High Quality Printing and Writing

Case Study
Pulp and Paper - Fine Paper

Company
Clairefontaine

Challenge
Improve stability and product quality

Solution
Paper Machine Wet-End Optimisation

Results
Payback within 6 months

BUSINESS CHALLENGE

Clairefontaine is a pioneering company producing quality stationery products, writing and office paper. The group produce fine paper using two machines, PM5 and PM6, at their Papeteries de Clairefontaine mill in Etival, France.

The mill uses Machine and Cross Direction Quality Control systems to maintain product quality.

Fine paper production requires a number of chemicals and fillers to produce a sheet with the required characteristics. These additives often have a strong effect on multiple quality parameters.

The business challenge is to operate in an extremely competitive market by producing high quality fine paper as efficiently as possible.

SOLUTION

Greater wet-end stability leads to fewer breaks, higher production capacity, more consistent product quality. Read more...

PERCEPTIVE SOLUTION

The key objective in the production of fine paper is to produce on-specification product with minimum rework. This is achieved by maximising machine stability and hence product quality. A great deal of the variability in the Machine Direction (MD) quality parameters and machine instability can be attributed to variation in the wet-end. Stable fibre length distribution, filler content and retention are critical to achieving uniform formation of the sheet on the wire.

Perceptive Engineering delivered a Wet-End Optimisation solution on Clairefontaine's PM6. A robust model has been developed which describes the interactions between chemicals, stock and filler flows and their influence on ash, white water consistency and other stock approach variables. The model is used in an Advanced Process Control system which includes automatic broke system management. The APC also switches between sheet and headbox ash during breaks to ensure stable ash and fibre retention in all modes of machine operation.

RETURN ON INVESTMENT

The Model Predictive Controller has provided significant reductions in ash and retention variability. This includes a reduction in white water and sheet ash consistency standard deviation of 83 and 70%, respectively.

Clairefontaine have audited the knock-on benefits in machine efficiency and rework reduction over a 3 month period. By reducing lost production due to quality issues and wet-end breaks, saleable production has increased by 2.6%.

The benefits delivered a full return on investment within 6 months of commissioning, sustained via an ongoing support program provided by Perceptive.

"Before the PerceptiveAPC project, stable operation of our paper machine was difficult to achieve. Poor retention and complex wet end chemistry resulted in runnability issues. The PerceptiveAPC system uses a very good model of our machine, providing a significant improvement in stability, especially after breaks and other perturbations"

Armando Coehlo, Production Engineer, Papeteries de Clairfontaine.

High Quality Printing and Writing

Case StudyPulp and Paper - Fine Paper

CompanyClairefontaine

ChallengeImprove stability and product quality

SolutionPaper Machine Wet-End Optimisation

ResultsPayback within 6 months