ITC Bhadrachalam Paperboards starts up Metso Paper supplied board machine rebuild with first ValReel Plus reel

Published Apr 17, 2007 09.00.00 +2 GMT

ITC Bhadrachalam Paperboards in India has started up their rebuilt PM 4 board machine on 25 March 2007. The targets of the Metso Paper supplied rebuild were to improve end-product quality and to increase production capacity. The mill is located in Bhadrachalam, in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

The modernization consisted of two new SymFlo headboxes, and upgrades to the forming, press and coating sections. In addition, the rebuild included Metso's first ValReel Plus reel. The new reel type offers improved reeling performance for the critical parent roll bottom set, preserving the high quality of the coated board surface throughout the parent roll. ValReel Plus is a top-of-the-line conventional reel that can be upgraded to a fully center driven OptiReel reel.

The PM 4, originally supplied by Metso, produces cigarette board, folding boxboard and solid bleached sulphate grades. Started up in 1997, the machine has a wire width of 4.2 m and a design speed of 600 m/min.

Using appropriate technology, ITC and Metso have worked closely together to develop the Bhadrachalam mill's production capacity to a new level. The latest co-operation projects include an ozone bleaching stage to the existing Metso-supplied fiber line, as well as a totally new fiber line. Both projects are due to start up in fall 2007. In addition, Metso Paper will supply ITC with a rebuild of their PM 6, due for start-up during the first half of 2008.

ITC Limited is one of India's foremost private sector companies with a turnover of USD 3.5 billion. The company's Paperboards & Specialty Papers Division is one of the largest manufacturers of packaging and graphic boards in South Asia. The Bhadrachalam mill, which is the country's largest single location mill, produces close to 280,000 t/y of paper and board.

Metso is a global engineering and technology corporation with net sales of approximately EUR 5 billion. Its 25,500 employees in more than 50 countries serve customers in the pulp and paper industry, rock and minerals processing, the energy industry and selected other industries. www.metso.com

For more information, please contact: Kari Rytkönen Project Manager Metso Paper, Inc. Tel. + 358 40 763 2762 kari.rytkonen@metso.com