Ehime Paper leads the way in sustainable tissue production with a safer QCS
Ehime Paper, a leading Japanese manufacturer of household paper products, has completed its transition to a radiation-free quality control environment.
Eliminating radiation from QCS for safer and smarter operations
By installing Valmet IQ Scanners equipped with IQ Fiber, the company has ensured safer, easier, and more efficient operations while eliminating the use of radiation sources entirely.
This transition has been the result of a long-standing collaboration between Ehime Paper and Valmet. Over the past decade, Ehime has placed its trust in Valmet’s QCS solutions through multiple key installations—starting with the first system in 2013, followed by additional deliveries in 2020 and 2023. This consistent partnership reflects a shared commitment to advancing safety, sustainability, and operational excellence in tissue production.
A long-term transition to safer technology
Based in Shikokuchuo City, Ehime Paper produces a wide range of hygiene products, including facial tissues, toilet paper, and kitchen towels. Over the past decade, the company has gradually replaced its original quality controls systems (QCS) with Valmet IQ Scanners featuring IQ Fiber Measurement, which enables measuring without the use of radioactive sources.
The latest installation, completed in September 2024, marks the final phase of the transition. Now, all QCS systems in Ehime’s household paper division are supplied by Valmet, fully removing the need for radiation across their operations.
“We began this journey more than 10 years ago, following the Great East Japan Earthquake. There was growing concern about radiation, and we wanted to eliminate radiation labels from our products. That’s when we turned to Valmet’s QCS with IQ Fiber,” says Yutaka Ishikawa, General Manager of Power Section at Ehime Paper.
At the time, using a non-radiation-based system was still uncommon. Valmet proposed a flexible solution, initially allowing the use of both radiation and non-radiation sensors, so the team could evaluate their performance. However, based on strong performance results from Japan’s first IQ Fiber installation, Ehime decided to commit fully to a radiation-free approach from the outset.
Empowering people with safer solution and efficient maintenance
The advantages of moving away from radiation sources are clear, especially for the plant personnel.
Without radiation, operators are no longer classified as radiation workers. That means they don’t need radiation-related health checkups or training. Supervisors are also freed from tasks like controlled area measurements and notification procedures. It’s a real improvement for everyone.”
Maintenance staff also benefit. Although exposure levels were not significant, eliminating them entirely reduces cumulative exposure over time. And thanks to the durability of Valmet’s scanners, the workload has decreased.
“The Valmet IQ scanners are very robust,” he continues. “Issues like paper dust wear and intrusion are now almost nonexistent. We hardly need to maintain those areas at all.”
Faster response with remote support
Switching to Valmet also brought new capabilities through remote support. “With our previous QCS, we had to diagnose problems ourselves and call for support. Miscommunication was common,” Ishikawa recalls. “Now, Valmet can remotely check our systems in real-time and guide us immediately. It saves a lot of time and helps us return to normal operation quickly.”
Smooth installation and start-up
The latest installation proceeded without major issues, as the existing infrastructure could be reused. Although some additional time was needed for tuning, operators were able to begin running the system in AUTO mode immediately – demonstrating a high level of reliability and user confidence.
