Bellmer upgrade for Sappi mill

Sappi Ngodwana is upgrading its paper machine at its mill, which is located in Mpumalanga province, 300km east of Johannesburg. KLB 1 produces 240,000 tonnes per year of Kraftliner in basis weights between 140 – 400 gsm.

The main scope of the investment, which Sappi has awarded to Bellmer, is quality improvement and enabling of efficient production of lower basis weights. The production will be increased to 250,000 tonnes per year in the first step. Further rebuild steps will allow the production of 325,000 up to 377,000 tonnes per year.

The scope of supply includes three new TurboJetter headboxes for all layers. The middle layer headbox will be provided with a dilution system to assure the best BW profiles. All layers will be upgraded with additional dewatering elements and vacuum control to increase the dewatering capacity and to improve the formation. This will be further enhanced by two new TurboShakers installed on the bottom and top layers along with new carbon fibre breast rolls. The press section will be upgraded with a new TurboPress XXL shoe press to assure the best dry content. The whole press section will be redesigned to allow the closed draws up to the second dryer group and thus assuring the best operational efficiency. The first dryer group will be provided with a modern sheet stabilisation system for best operational efficiency when producing lower basis weights at higher speeds. A new pulper will be installed after the press section.

Naresh Naidoo, General Manager, Sappi Ngodwana, said, “We appreciated the professional services rendered by Bellmer on this project, contributing to the operational efficiency of this plant. The equipment delivery is planned for the end of 2021 with the commission and start-up scheduled during the second quarter of 2022.”

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