Metsä Board enhances workplace safety with Valmet Smelt Spout Robot at Husum mill
Metsä Group is committed to providing safe and healthy working conditions for its personnel and contractors. At the Husum mill in Sweden, Metsä Board installed Valmet Smelt Spout Robot for automated smelt spout cleaning, boosting workplace safety through cutting-edge technology.
Metsä Board Husum mill is an integrated board and pulp mill producing folding boxboard, uncoated white kraftliner and bleached chemical pulp. In parallel with recent investments to increase the annual folding boxboard production capacity, Metsä Board also launched the first phase of modernizing the Husum pulp mill, and together with a new recovery boiler, a Valmet Smelt Spout Robot was installed to further improve operational safety and efficiency at the mill.
“The smelt spout area of a recovery boiler is a hot, dirty and even dangerous area to work in, while spout cleaning is one of the essential, regular tasks that need to be carried out for efficient and smooth operation of the boiler. We selected Valmet Smelt Spout Robot because we wanted to enhance the safety of our operators – now they don’t have to enter the spout anymore,” says Magnus Sjöström, Maintenance Team Leader at Metsä Board Husum.
Design and behavior are tailored to meet customer needs
Valmet Smelt Spout Robot efficiently removes smelt deposits from recovery boiler smelt spouts in a carefully designed sequence. The spout rodder ensures stable smelt flow, optimum cleaning, and trouble-free, safe boiler operation. The robot can be installed to new boilers and integrated to any existing boiler – the actual design, including size and behavior, is tailored to fit the specific site and customer needs.
“Today, Valmet Smelt Spout Robot has many features that improve not only the safety but also the efficiency of the mill. The robot optimizes spout operation with frequent cleaning cycles while allowing the operators to focus on their other tasks. The operators also have the option to initiate additional cleaning of specific problem areas at the push of a button. With the mounted camera, operators can closely inspect operational issues, and the robot is also trained to collect smelt samples as required,” explains Thudor Sonnerup, Manager, Service concept development, Recovery, White Liquor Plant and Evaporation at Valmet.
The Valmet Smelt Spout Robot is equipped with safety barriers that prevent operator access to the spout area during movement, further enhancing workplace safety.
“Also, what sets our solution apart is its unique overhead rail design. The robot can move freely between the spouts and be returned to its home position for cleaning and various maintenance tasks without interfering with boiler operation,” Thudor Sonnerup says.
Three years of trouble-free operation – many more to come
Valmet Smelt Spout Robot was commissioned at Metsä Board Husum at the end of 2022, and the customer has been enjoying automated smelt spout cleaning for almost three years now.
“We are very satisfied with the robot’s performance – it serves us reliably around the clock. Valmet supports us very well with maintenance and any emerging issues. We appreciate the regular site visits from their experts and feel confident knowing they are ready to support us also with future development initiatives at the mill,” Magnus Sjöström says.
Author: Marianne Valta
“We are very satisfied with the robot’s performance – it serves us reliably around the clock."
