ABB delivers machine modernisation plans for Iggesund Paperboard

By OEM Update Editorial March 20, 2021 12:28 pm IST

Enhanced operations at Iggesund Paperboard with ABB’s Ability System 800xA drives and quality control solutions.

The tech company ABB is leading the major installation of new drives, control systems and quality control solutions (QCS) for Iggesund Paperboard in Sweden, driving increased safety, higher availability and more stable operations for the board mill.

ABB will deliver comprehensive maintenance and upgrade projects in several stages during 2021 with total supplier responsibility for Iggesund’s two board machines, which are part of one of the world’s most advanced, fully-integrated pulp and board mills. The machines produce premium quality boards for consumers and customised luxury packaging as well as safe, durable medical packaging.

The strategy minimises the impact on daily operations to the lowest possible downtime on each machine. ABB has created an evolution path to ensure that older Smart Platform system architecture is replaced by the latest Network Platform technology in the most straightforward, cost-efficient way.

A step-by-step electronics upgrade is underway on measuring frames as part of QCS on the two machines. Each frame will be equipped with the latest generation of ABB’s moisture sensors, the High-Performance Infrared Transmission (HPIR-T). Moisture is an important quality parameter if the board is to retain its properties in subsequent product conversion steps.

Functions to enable a safer working environment for operators and other personnel including double-channel emergency stops, a modern start warning system and safe speed monitoring of the machines are integrated within the drive and automation solution.

To secure the future of production, ABB is supporting the modernisation of 150 drive systems with the ABB Ability™ System 800xA automation and control system and frequency converters from the new ACS880 multidrive system family. ABB Ability System 800xA, ranked by the ARC advisory group as the world’s #1 distributed control system (DCS) platform over the last 21 years.

“We will now benefit from a more modern control and drives system that is dimensioned for higher speeds, increased logging possibilities, better fault diagnostics and higher safety,” said Mikael Larsson, Project Manager at Iggesund Paperboard. “We are building for the future and will be able to continue to meet the high demands of our customers.”

Björn Jonsson, Head of Process Automation in Sweden, ABB said, “With an upgraded drive, automation and quality control system, Iggesund Paperboard will experience higher availability and utilization rate of the machines, which will produce paperboard of the right quality in stable processes. This more predictable process operation will contribute to lower maintenance costs, higher availability and safety. ABB has the solutions, project expertise and experience to deliver on plans such as this with sharpness and guaranteed quality. On top of the product-based design and commissioning, we’re also supporting Iggesund with training staff on the systems.”