Södra nears completion of investment and maintenance shutdown at Mörrum mill

VÄXJÖ, Sweden, Nov. 18, 2008 (Press Release) - Broken packaging and torn flaps – unfortunately more than a few pulp bales have arrived at customers in rather poor shape. However, two investments made during the ongoing shutdown at Södra Cell Mörrum mean the bales will now be better looking.

During the two week long investment and maintenance shutdown at Södra Cell Mörrum, investments exceeding SEK 200 million were installed. A number of the investments were made before and after drying machine 1, including a new head box and a new folder.

The problem has previously been as follows:

1. Bales from line 1 have been slightly lopsided, which has caused loading problems as the crooked bales have rubbed against one another and become damaged. Cargo space has been tighter than normal during shipping and the bales have sometimes been pressed down, causing damage.
2. The flaps on the packaging have been too big, which has meant that they have been easily torn during loading and unloading.

The reason for the bales from line 1 being lopsided is that the pulp sheets have not had an even thickness, which is in turn due to uneven distribution of pulp from the head box onto the wire. The uneven distribution is in turn caused by parts of the head box, which has been in use since the mill started up in 1962, having warped due to rust.

"We have now replaced both the head box and the distributor and have selected a new technology, which we strongly believe in and is currently only used in only a few pulp mills in the world," says Jörgen Lindström, head management engineer for drying machines and packaging at Södra Cell Mörrum.

When they leave the drying machine, the pulp bales go on to be packaged. The problem here has been that the old folder produced too many flaps in the packaging. This has caused problems during transportation, as the oversized flaps were easily torn. And this is the reason why the bales have sometimes been in such poor shape on arrival at the customer.

"The folder was also old and worn and is now being replaced with a new one," says Jörgen Lindström.

"So we're hoping that the problem with torn flaps will be solved too – even though we can never guarantee everything that might happen en route to the customer."

Following the extensive maintenance shutdown at Södra Cell Mörrum, the mill will be in top shape for continuous operation for at least 18 months until the next shutdown. Startup of the mill is planned for the weekend of 21-22 November.