Last year, some 15,550 employees generated sales of around 3.4 billion Swiss francs. The global network includes 180 sites for development, production, sales and service. The pulp, paper and board industry, along with energy, water, food, biofuels, metal and mining industries, is of key significance to the company. “The pulp and paperboard industry is one of our key markets as a supplier of a complete product range. The processes and applications in these industries, as well as the development of new wood-based raw materials have a high priority within our R&D department. We are also committed to form new partnerships. This strategic, dedicated and long-term cooperation at pilot and demo sites is crucial for capitalizing on the fascinating future potential of this industry”, explained Veli-Pekka Tiittanen, Head of Industry Business Unit at Sulzer.
Competence center in Kotka
The Sulzer competence center in Kotka, Finland, is the world’s largest test loop research facility for the pulp and paper industry, and for new process applications based on wood as a raw material. Pumping and mixing technologies can be tested on an industrial scale. The test cycles are suitable for different liquids and can handle fiber suspensions that have a consistency of up to 20 percent. The system is designed for the study of pumping, agitation and mixing processes and is available for demo runs and tests, conducted with absolute confidentiality.
In Sulzer’s view, even closer and more active collaboration between manufacturers, machine builders, engineering companies and scientific institutes is crucial to seizing the opportunities that the wood-based industry will open in the future. The increase in pulp demand continues strongly for board and tissue as well as for other hygienic products and will accelerate for textiles. Forest companies, research institutes and other industry partners are actively investigating and developing new processes for additional higher-value wood raw material-based products. Such developments are, for example, replacing cotton and oil-based synthetic fibers like polyester, or producing higher-value carbon products and modified cellulose materials for packaging barriers, coatings for medicines and nutrients.
Intelligent solutions
The innovation power of Sulzer is based on knowledge and expertise gained over decades. The AHLSTAR series of process pumps is particularly efficient, suitable for use with substances in large volumes, including various types of suspensions even with a high proportion of air or gas.
Many of Sulzer’s products are tailored to specific process applications. MC medium-consistency pumping systems combine high performance with energy-saving capabilities and are used in pulp mills with the world’s highest production rates. The SALOMIX horizontal agitators and Scaba vertical agitators offer optimum results in mixing applications with liquid and pulp tanks or towers, while the TMS tower management system prevents channel formation in pulp storage towers offering important process advantages. The double suction axially split pumps ZPP and Z22 are specially designed for use in paper and board machines’ head box feed, and the multi-stage MBN pumps cover a wide range of high pressure and shower water applications. Sulzer HST turbo compressors, aerators and submersible pumps and mixers are important products for industrial water treatment processes.
Innovation and Research & Development play a pivotal role in the sustained success of Sulzer
