Oji Fibre Solutions selects ABB to install automation and winder systems to improve operator safety at Penrose Mill in Auckland

Oji Fibre Solutions, a leading producer of market pulp, paperboard and fiber-based packaging, has appointed ABB to supply a specially-designed winder safety system – the first of its kind in New Zealand – as well as a winder drive control system and DCS880 drives. With the mill’s existing winder equipment installed more than 30 years ago, the upgrade will help Oji Fibre ensure safe and efficient future operations, in line with recently updated safety requirements*.

The new system features a range of winder safety improvement steps and devices including mechanical guarding (perimeter personnel access control via a retractable fence that keeps operators away from the danger zone), electrical controls (power interlocks), hydraulic controls (with redundancy), optical (safety light curtains) and safe speed monitoring. The creation of safety zones allows operation in one zone to continue when another zone is infringed, improving uptime at the mill.

The automation of manual tasks – such as hands-free threading, set change with an automatic sheet cut off, automatic glueing or auto-measuring slitters – also reduces the risk of injury and failure by eliminating hands-on tasks. All of these automatic upgrades both increase winder throughput and remove the operator from exposure to potential hazards. The improved features are all supported by a new operator control panel with safety programmable logic controller (PLC) and new human-machine interface (HMI).

Penrose Mill, which has an annual output of more than 85,000 tons of containerboard liner uses recycled sources collected by Oji Fibre’s Fullcircle recycling service. Finished products are supplied mainly to the New Zealand, Australian and Asian markets.

“Our focus was to supply the equipment while simultaneously designing a safety system that would allow Oji Fibre to operate effectively to safely meet its customer requirements,” said Shane Archer, Local Division Manager, Process Industries, ABB New Zealand.

“These measures also had to be benchmarked against national and international standards. We are proud to have redesigned and rebuilt Oji Fibre’s safety system in line with New Zealand’s latest requirements, making operations safer, more intelligent and more productive.”

The investment with ABB will further future-proof the Oji Fibre site, which has taken steps to diversify its packaging portfolio in recent years. ABB will also complete all factory acceptance tests and commissioning remotely.

For further information please visit: https://new.abb.com/pulp-paper/abb-in-pulp-and-paper/products/paper-machine-drives

* The new system complies with the latest ISO13849-1 safety-related parts of control systems requirements

ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a leading global technology company that energizes the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future. By connecting software to its electrification, robotics, automation and motion portfolio, ABB pushes the boundaries of technology to drive performance to new levels. With a history of excellence stretching back more than 130 years, ABB’s success is driven by about 105,000 talented employees in over 100 countries. www.abb.com

Process Automation: ABB’s Process Automation business is a leader in automation, electrification and digitalization for the process and hybrid industries. We serve our customers with a broad portfolio of products, systems, and end-to-end solutions, including our #1 distributed control system, software, and lifecycle services, industry-specific products as well as measurement and analytics, marine and turbocharging offerings. As the global #2 in the market, we build on our deep domain expertise, diverse team and global footprint, and are dedicated to helping our customers increase competitiveness, improve their return on investment and run safe, smart, and sustainable operations.

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