Shared values – shared targets – shared partnership

“The long history of Klabin and Valmet is one of partnership in problem solving and searching for innovation. It’s a business process success story,” says Marcelo Gasparim, Fiberline Production Manager at Klabin’s Monte Alegre paper mill.

The long partnership between the companies provided a strong starting point for the recent annual shutdown at Klabin’s Monte Alegre mill – their crown jewel inaugurated in 1914.

Major shutdown

The challenge was large and complex: the implementation of the annual maintenance shutdown at Klabin’s Monte Alegre paper mill in Telêmaco Borba, Paraná. In May 2019, this meant the mill needed to halt its production for eleven days for equipment and facilities maintenance.

The maintenance shutdown involved more than 500 professionals from different companies, led by Valmet shutdown management team and approximately 65 Valmet employees, who focused on making this period a shared journey with the team at the Klabin Monte Alegre mill.

I think the secret of our success is merging our strengths and working together toward the same goals.

Careful planning and teamwork

A work of such magnitude requires careful planning, timely execution, efficient project management and targeted development activities. Moreover, the Monte Alegre mill is one of the most complex integrated mills in the world, which introduces further variables to the project.

According to Luiz Francisco de Almeida, Maintenance Planning Manager of the Monte Alegre mill, the shutdown is a great opportunity to review all the equipment and facilities to ensure that future operations can be conducted safely, reliably and productively.

“We expect our partners to align with our principles and values, as is the case with Valmet,” says Luiz Francisco de Almeida, Maintenance Planning Manager at the Monte Alegre mill.

The 2019 maintenance shutdown at the Monte Alegre mill was a great example of teamwork and comprehensive planning: Valmet’s field service team worked alongside the mill managers and personnel throughout the process. A focus on safety, quality and meeting deadlines secured a successful result, and overall the project increased the reliability of the mill. After the shutdown, it was decided to continue the cooperation for another year, with the next shutdown in 2020.

From left: Luiz Alfredo, Jonatan Melo and Jorge Leite. 

“I think the secret of our success is merging our strengths and working together toward the same goals,” concludes Fausto Pires, Valmet’s technical Assistance Manager.

Valmet Field Services professionals worked seamlessly together to meet the tight schedule.

Effective outsourcing

For Klabin, outsourcing the annual shutdown is highly effective, and synergy with companies that share the same goals is essential. The goal of such a partnership is to bring the best technology and innovation to the mill, while respecting each other’s expertise.

While Valmet secures the best possible condition of critical production equipment by planning and implementing major shutdowns professionally, the customer can concentrate on running their core business. A professionally planned and executed shutdown also ensures there are no extra costs or schedule overruns, and minimizes downtime and risks, with a high focus on safety.

“Whenever our partners meet or exceed our agreed targets, it means greater operational security for the plant. In other words, it means compliance with our operation plan and the targeted quality within the set budget, and ensures the competitiveness of our mill,” de Almeida explains.

Text Luciana Pompeu, Heli Kankare and Fernanda Maia

Photos Luciana Morassi