SCA Packaging Obbola signs service agreement for its entire production line and renews its Slitter Management Program

The service agreement with the SCA Packaging Obbola mill in Sweden covers the entire process – from headboxes to winder. Condition tests and maintenance work will also be carried out during the four years of the service agreement.

“The purpose of signing the service agreement is that we want to achieve a high level of availability for the paper machine and ensure the good quality of our products. We hope that the work included in the service agreement will help us achieve our aims both in the long and short term,” says Mats Backeström, Maintenance Manager at SCA Packaging Obbola.

“The basic requirement for good paper quality and smooth runnability is that all parts of the machine should run trouble-free,” says Joakim Palmgren, Product Sales Manager, Field Service, at Valmet’s Karlstad Service Center. “This is where condition tests perform an important function – they are an exceptional tool for finding problem areas in the process. These can be anything from a deformed apron on the headboxes, which can create a problem in the basis weight pro­file, to other mechanical faults, for example impact marks on the apron, which in turn can cause streaks in the paper. Based on the condition tests we then recommend any measures to be taken, both short-term and long-term. Through better control of machine equipment, a service agreement reduces the risk of unplanned shutdowns. Furthermore, you avoid frequent purchases, which can take a lot of time,” continues Palmgren.

“In general terms we are seeing an increase in the extent of service agree­ments. As a rule, most mills start with a less extensive agreement but as the advantages become apparent, further parts of the proc­ess are added, such as screens, pulpers and refiners. Obbola, on the other hand, opted to include the entire line in the agreement from the outset,” concludes Palmgren.

Renewal of Slitter Management Program

The benefits of a service agreement are clear. Obbola is an example of this, deciding to renew its Slitter Management Program (SMP). The program for the winder’s slitter unit has worked out well, and in 2009 Obbola chose to renew the agreement for a further period. The allocation of responsibilities is clearly set out in the agreement. Valmet owns the blades in the winders, meaning that the mill does not have to invest in spare blades, and also takes care of the grinding and maintenance of the blades. The mill has responsibility for replac­ing the blades whereas responsibility for the planning of maintenance and development support is held jointly.

"SMP is really something to be recommended,” says Jonas Långström, Production Engineer at Obbola. “The procedure has worked really smoothly and well - it is just a matter of picking up fresh blades from the blade storage cart. The grinding quality is excellent as well – we have never had any cause for complaint about a blade as a result of a grinding malfunction.

"Short delivery times are important for us – and we know that we are going to have newly ground blades in place within two weeks. We no longer have to lie awake at night wondering whether we will have the blades we need when it becomes necessary to change them frequently,” Långström explains.

Less dust

“As the slitter blades are kept in mint condi­tion the result is higher quality customer rolls, better reeling and less dust,” says Janne Leppänen, Product Sales Manager, Spare Parts and Consumables, Valmet. “The goals that Obbola set for maintenance improvements have been achieved in that the blades can now be used for longer than they used to be and there is less need for maintenance of the slitter unit,” observes Leppänen.