As part of DS Smith‘s larger sustainability strategy, paper mills in Dueñas, Spain, Kemsley, UK, and Belišće, Croatia, recently signed orders for new RunEco vacuum systems on their paper machines from Runtech Systems. This will result in an annual saving of 9,500 tons of carbon emissions.
Sustainability sits at the heart of the business model and is core to the Purpose of Redefining Packaging for a Changing World. DS Smith’s ‘Now and Next’ sustainability strategy focuses on the sustainability challenges they are facing today, as well as those that will impact on future generations.
At the wet end of the paper machine, water is removed by a series of foils, suction boxes and vacuum press rolls. In the rebuild, existing liquid ring pumps will be replaced by modern EP Turbo Blowers, making this production stage more power-efficient and providing a water-free vacuum solution. Less energy and no water also contribute to lower CO2 emissions and a smaller carbon footprint at the mills, in addition to smaller water utilisation in the paper making process.
”It contributes to DS Smith’s ambitious commitment to reduce Scope 1, 2 and 3 Green House Gas emissions by 46% on an absolute basis by 2030, compared to 2019 levels, and reach Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050,” commented Maria Berzosa, Plant Manager, Dueñas.
The new EP Turbo Blowers have a variety of speeds and capacities, which allows the vacuum system to be optimised quickly, according to the process requirements.
