ABB to Supply Drive System for Asia’s Largest Expandable Bag Paper Production Line
ABB has secured an agreement with Guangxi Jianhui Paper Co., Ltd. to provide a complete paper machine drive system for the PM8 production line at the company’s integrated forestry-pulp-paper project in Guangxi, China. Scheduled for commissioning in the fourth quarter of 2026, the new facility is expected to become Asia’s largest expandable bag paper production line.
The agreement strengthens the long-standing partnership between ABB and Guangxi Jianhui, building on previous collaborations involving ABB drive technologies. The latest project supports Guangxi Jianhui’s strategy to expand production capacity and meet rising demand for premium packaging paper products.
The integrated forestry-pulp-paper project, launched in October 2023 in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, represents one of the region’s major industrial investments. Once fully completed, the site is expected to achieve an annual pulp and paper production capacity of 3.672 million metric tons. Two packaging paper production lines are already operational, while the PM8 line is currently under construction.
ABB will supply its PMC800 paper machine drive control system, ACS880 multidrives, low-voltage AC motors, engineering support, installation guidance and commissioning services. The company’s Direct Torque Control (DTC) technology will provide precise motor control, ensuring stable performance, improved energy efficiency and reduced maintenance requirements.
The drive system also incorporates fiber-optic communication technology, dedicated maintenance networks and original du/dt filters to enhance operational reliability, minimize downtime caused by electromagnetic interference and extend motor service life. In addition, the system meets stringent Performance Level e (PL e) industrial safety standards and features ABB’s paper industry-specific control software, offering operators an intuitive interface and preconfigured process libraries for simplified operation.
Wilson Monteiro, Global Business Line Manager, Pulp, Paper and Fiber at ABB Process Industries, said the project demonstrates how advanced electrification and automation technologies can improve productivity, energy efficiency and operational reliability while helping manufacturers build intelligent, future-ready production facilities.
Ran Hu, Deputy General Manager of Guangxi Jianhui Paper, noted that ABB’s technology expertise and deep understanding of the pulp and paper sector will play an important role in delivering a highly efficient and intelligent production line that supports the company’s long-term growth strategy.
Looking ahead, Guangxi Jianhui plans to expand the site further with four additional high-standard paper machine production lines, with the successful implementation of PM8 expected to strengthen future collaboration between the two companies.