Improve profitability and efficiency with a Performance Agreement

High cost efficiency plays a leading role in today’s mill operations. Valmet’s performance agreement is a Paper / Tissue making machine or mill-wide development program that continuously improves your competitiveness and profitability throughout the mill life cycle. Better sustainability comes as an additional bonus.

Benefits

• Increased production and efficiency
• Lower material, energy and long-term maintenance costs
• Fewer unplanned shutdowns
• More predictable costs
• Reduced financial, safety and environmental risks

A systematically advancing step-by-step process

The performance agreement is a tool for excellent production, high efficiency, product quality improvement, maintenance development and cost reductions. It is based on Valmet’s ability to serve as a full-scope supplier and to offer tailored solutions that match each customer’s targets and needs.

Customized improvement programs improve the competitiveness and profitability of the production line.

The development process could include the following elements: specialist visits, process analyses, Valmet Industrial Internet, maintenance development programs, upgrades and training.

Successful startups

With new line startups and rebuilds, the goal is to help you set up production successfully so that the defined targets related to production and paper quality are soon reached. This is best done by ensuring high personnel competence through knowledge transfer.

Valmet provides the mill with on-site support, training programs, instructions and technological know-how. Competent personnel are able to run the machine effectively and safely, to act quickly in disturbance situations and to correctly maintain the machine. The results are visible through effective production and high end product quality.

Efficiency development

With production lines that have been running for several years, the target of the performance agreement is to improve total efficiency by focusing on the main bottlenecks and development tasks selected together.

Typical focus areas include maintenance development, personnel coaching and process improvements through small investments. The target is to raise efficiency by decreasing lost time and production through fewer breaks, failures and unexpected shutdowns. As a result, the competitiveness level increases.

Maximizing profitability

The third part of the performance agreement, maximizing profitability, is intended for both new and old machinery. The main objective is to maximize profitability and reduce the cost for every ton produced by optimizing operations and using the latest raw material and energy-efficient solutions. This also increases the mill’s eco-efficiency.

The Performance Agreement brings together all of Valmet's resources to serve the mill's needs and move production forward.

Case Study: Folding boxboard mill

A representative case example is from a folding boxboard mill which used a Valmet Performance Agreement in 2013. The results were impressive, with several new monthly production records after March 2013. Actual production was over budget in 2013 and 2014, totally > 5,000 tonnes. The mill saved over 350 KUSD/year in energy due to vacuum system modification. They also experienced quality improvement through stock prep and wet end development. The estimated gross benefit was 4.7 MUSD. Even better results have been achieved in other grades at other mills.

Benchmarking and evaluation of key development areas

The tailored development process starts with a visit by Valmet specialists who analyze the situation by using measures such as audits, surveys, condition testing and troubleshooting. The results are benchmarked using Valmet’s global network and large installed base. Benchmarking makes it possible to evaluate the key development areas and development potential and to set realistic targets. It also builds a foundation for long-term improvements.

Each performance agreement is tailored to match the individual mill’s specific needs, and can improve startups, efficiency and profitability.

The improvement process is measured using key performance indicators, such as efficiency %, breaks %, USD/ton, broke %, that are set together with the mill.

For more information about how a Performance Agreement can improve profitability and cost efficiency throughout your mill, contact your Valmet representative.