The experts from Voith’s OnPerformance.Lab (OPL) and Hamburger Containerboard have achieved 35% faster grade changes, optimised length profile and more stable processes on PM1 at the Spremberg mill.
Hamburger Containerboard, a member of the Prinzhorn Group, produces around 340,000 tons of paper each year on its PM1. In order to increase the efficiency of the paper machine as well as to optimise the quality of production, the company has been working successfully with the OnPerformance.Lab experts from for just over a year.
The remote optimisation began with the collection of all relevant process and machine data from PM1, which Voith used to develop possible solutions for increasing the efficiency of the mill. The OPL experts then discussed the issues occurring on the machine with all project participants, refined the models, adjusted controller settings and suggested program changes in the customer control system. In regular feedback meetings, the teams evaluated each step and made joint decisions on how to proceed.
“Thanks to their comprehensive expertise and holistic approach, the OPL experts defined individual and reliable recommendations that stabilised our process and ultimately led to a significantly shorter grade change time. The cooperation was simple, flexible and smooth throughout the entire period,” explains David Wötzel, Engineer Automation QCS, Hamburger Rieger GmbH. “It was essential for us that the optimisation measures did not disrupt the daily routine or processes in the plant. We were able to implement them whenever they fit into our schedule. You can simply tell that OnPerformance.Lab is staffed by experts who know how complex the paper-making process is and which solution approaches are individually suitable.”
Based on this positive experience, Hamburger Containerboard has decided to continue to rely on the expertise of the OnPerformance.Lab as a long-term partner.
About Prinzhorn Group
With 6,600 employees in 15 countries, the Prinzhorn Group is one of the European market leaders in the recycling, paper and packaging industry. With annual sales of 1.40 billion euros, the Group is number three in Europe within this segment. The family-owned company is headquartered in Vienna, Austria and is divided into three divisions: Dunapack Packaging – corrugated packaging solutions, Hamburger Containerboard – production of corrugated base paper and Hamburger Recycling – collection and trading of secondary raw materials.
