Mondi prepares to expand Slovakia mill capacity

Finland-based Valmet Oyj has announced it will supply a containerboard production line to the Mondi Group Mondi SCP mill in Ružomberok, Slovakia. The startup of the mill’s PM (paper machine) 19 is expected to take place toward the end of 2020.

According to Valmet, the PM 19 line will be configured to use old corrugated containers (OCC) as feedstock, and will include Valmet’s OptiConcept M with a winder in the equipment array.

The PM 19 line “will be designed to produce a new and unique environmentally sound containerboard grade, kraft top white, which combines the strength, printability and appearance benefits of a white virgin fiber top layer with the economic advantages of a recycled fiber bottom layer,” states Valmet.

Valmet’s stock preparation line will include a hardwood stock line, an approach flow system and what the firm calls “a complete OCC line.” The OCC line, known as the OptiRefiber recycled fiber line, contains pulper feeding and vertical pulper systems, high- and low-consistency cleaning systems, and coarse and fine screening systems with fractionation, thickening disc filters for short and long fiber lines, and a long fiber dispersion system, according to Valmet.

“During the concept development phase, Valmet was actively promoting technical solutions,” says  Herbert Hummer, project director at Mondi SCP. “In addition to the well proven technology of Valmet, we also appreciate the continuous development and innovations of Valmet, giving us further development opportunities in the future,".

Mondi SCP in Ružomberok is one of Mondi’s largest mills and is described by the company as the biggest integrated paper and pulp mill in Slovakia. It has been in place for more than 135 years with a product portfolio that includes containerboard, specialty kraft paper, market pulp and uncoated fine paper. The Mondi Group has global offices in the United Kingdom and South Africa.

Valmet is a global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries.