Valmet is part of the largest General Shutdown in Klabin’s history

During July 2024, more than 5,000 professionals, including Valmet employees and other companies associated with Klabin, participated in the general shutdown of the Ortigueira unit in Paraná, Brazil. Valmet, a leader in the development of process technologies, automation, and services for the pulp, paper, and energy industries, conducted a series of essential activities over 10 days within the Brazilian company’s plant. This was the third operational shutdown since the start-up of line 2 at the mill, requiring meticulous planning, efficient execution, and management aligned with the expectations and needs of the customer, one of the main players in the pulp and paper sector.

Valmet’s activities during this period included maintenance of kraft fiber lines 1 and 2; maintenance on the digester’s CL1000 and Drying Machines 25 and 26; general repair of the original condition of the Symbelt roll on Drying Machine 25 and Paper Machine 27; maintenance of Paper Machines 27 and 28; coordination and supervision of Recovery Boiler 1 and the evaporation system; smelt extraction; and furnace washing of Recovery Boiler 1, in addition to monitoring the plant’s restart activities. This was the first General Shutdown for the PM28, responsible for producing high-quality coated board with three layers, and for Fiber Line 2.

Effective management of Valmet’s scope during the General Shutdown also relied on the expertise of spare parts experts, professionals specialized in specific spare part technologies, with extensive knowledge of the production process and the particularities of each industrial plant. They were responsible for Shutdown Planning—preliminary planning before the General Shutdown—and worked with support from the Technical Assistance, Engineering, and other support departments.

“Valmet helped us a lot with solutions for spare parts. The partnership, in terms of finding solutions to gather all the materials and resources needed for the Shutdown, was very important during the preparation and planning stage,” explains Klabin’s pulp maintenance manager, Carlos Renê.

Valmet assembled a team of 13 experts who handled all preparations, from the arrival of parts, through sorting by application area and their identification and verification, to analysis and potential process improvements. Additionally, throughout the entire General Shutdown, one expert was assigned to each area of the industrial unit to meet spare part demands during service execution, optimizing service time. Also noteworthy was the use of ePartsbook, an electronic spare parts catalog that enables easy access to assembly drawings and equipment parts lists, allowing immediate response to needs identified during the Shutdown.

Klabin highlighted the dedicated planning as one of Valmet’s strengths. Since it involves detailed planning to minimize production impact, developing a thorough plan for the entire process and creating a project become essential for the Shutdown to occur within the stipulated time and with minimal unforeseen events.

“The General Shutdown work begins long before the actual operation starts, as planning is a crucial factor for success. During preparation, Valmet ensured the technical quality of the workforce and safety in execution. We had well-structured technical support, with experienced professionals closely monitoring the shutdown. More than 5,000 employees worked at the industrial plant during the event, and safety, knowledge, team synergy, and expertise made all the difference. Valmet had nearly 800 people involved in the activities, and the team’s engagement and attention to detail were fundamental, especially in the kraft fiber lines,” comments Renê. To achieve this result, the Finnish multinational’s work methodology strictly follows the pillars of planning, knowledge, and post-Shutdown critical analysis.

“The order was placed in the first quarter of the year, and we began strategic planning for the General Shutdown with the contract and sales team. We aligned work fronts, the schedule, and the entire operation structure. During the service execution phase, we dedicated a specialized team to monitor the entire shutdown on-site, as well as conduct post-execution follow-up remotely. With a qualified team, integrating professionals from Finland and Brazil, the Shutdown was a success,” celebrates Valmet’s service manager for Klabin, Jonatan Melo.

Klabin’s complex and comprehensive General Shutdown ensures the factory remains competitive, helping the company achieve better results in terms of availability, production cost, and delivery time.

The Brazilian company’s industrial manager, Anderson Tomé, also highlights the collaborative work between Klabin and Valmet in preparing for the General Shutdown.

“The planning for this Shutdown was extremely detailed. Integrating the Valmet team into the unit, monitoring all inspections, and outlining strategies together brought reliability and precision to the work performed.”

About Valmet

Valmet has a global customer base across various process industries. We are a global leader in the development and supply of process technologies, automation, and services for the pulp, paper, and energy industries, and with our automation and flow control solutions, we serve an even broader base of process industries. Our more than 19,000 professionals worldwide work closely with our customers and are committed to driving our customers’ performance every day. The company has over 220 years of industrial history and a strong track record of continuous improvement and renewal. Valmet’s net sales in 2023 were approximately EUR 5.5 billion. Valmet’s shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki, and its headquarters are in Espoo, Finland.

About Klabin

The largest producer and exporter of packaging paper and sustainable paper packaging solutions in Brazil, Klabin stands out as an innovative company, the only one in the country to offer the market a solution in short fiber, long fiber, and fluff pulp, in addition to being a leader in the markets for corrugated board packaging, industrial bags, and paperboard. Founded in 1899, it has 23 industrial units in Brazil and one in Argentina, responsible for an annual production capacity of 4.6 million tons of market pulp and paper.

In Paraná alone, it has invested more than BRL 36 billion over the past 10 years and generates more than 16,000 jobs (including direct and indirect), in more than 25 municipalities near the company’s operations, mainly in the Campos Gerais region. The company is a pioneer in adopting mosaic forest management, which consists of forming planted forests interspersed with preserved native forests, creating ecological corridors that help maintain biodiversity.

The company’s forest area in the state totals 487,000 hectares, with more than 203,000 hectares of conservation areas. Klabin also maintains an Ecological Park at Monte Alegre Farm in Telêmaco Borba for research and conservation purposes, working to shelter and rehabilitate wild animals that are victims of accidents or mistreatment, supporting the work of environmental agencies. In addition to contributing to the preservation of the region’s flora and fauna, including endangered species.

All of the company’s management is oriented towards Sustainable Development. In the Campos Gerais region, Klabin develops most of its socio-environmental programs, with highlights including Semeando Educação, “Matas Sociais – Planning Sustainable Properties,” Matas Legais, Solid Waste Program, Klabin Caiubi Program, Força Verde Mirim, and Environmental Protectors.

Klabin has been part of the B3 Corporate Sustainability Index (ISE) since 2014, and in 2020 joined the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, participating in the Global portfolio. It is also a signatory of the UN Global Compact and the National Pact for the Eradication of Slave Labor, seeking suppliers and business partners who follow the same values of ethics, transparency, and respect for sustainability principles.