Metso Paper www.metso.com will supply ITC Limited Paperboards & Specialty Papers Division in India with a rebuild of their Bhadrachalam mill PM 4 board machine, in Andhra Pradesh state.

The project, which will improve end-product quality and process performance, will be ready in spring 2007. The exact value of the order is not disclosed. Typically the value of this type of delivery ranges from EUR 5 to 10 million. The modernization of the Metso-supplied PM 4 consists of two new SymFlo headboxes ( glossary ) (one with dilution control) and upgrades to its forming, press and coating sections.

These improvements will enable ITC to serve the brand and consumer-packaging industry with higher product quality, thus enhancing the performance of converting processes, as well as end-product printability properties. Also included in the delivery is the first ValReel Plus reel - an evolution of proven Metso reel technology. It offers improved reeling performance for the critical parent roll bottom set, preserving the high quality of the coated board ( glossary ) surface throughout the parent roll. ValReel Plus reel can even be upgraded to an OptiReel reel, making it possible to handle larger rolls without replacing the reel. The PM 4 produces cigarette board, folding box board 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.

ITC selected Metso to supply the project thanks to the close and productive cooperation of the two companies. In 2002 Metso supplied the Bhadrachalam mill with a complete new fiber ( glossary ) line for India’s first Elemental Chlorine Free pulp mill, with a 100,000 t/y-capacity of fully bleached pulp. The mill is ISO 14001-certified for its Environment Management Systems. ITC Limited Paperboards & Specialty Paper Division was established in 2002 with the amalgamation of ITC Bhadrachalam Paperboards Ltd. with ITC Ltd. and incorporates Tribeni Tissues. The Bhadrachalam mill, which is the country's largest single location mill, produces close to 280,000 t/y of paper and board. The two other ITC mills producing specialty paper grades are Tribeni near Kolkata and Bollarum close to Hyderabad. Additionally, the Kovai unit near Coimbatore produces 80,000 t/y of recycled board.


::: For further information: manos.mukherjee@metso.com, jouko.ahtiainen@metso.com