ANDRITZ to Boost Production and Sustainability at Mkhondo Paper Mill in South Africa

ANDRITZ to Boost Production and Sustainability at Mkhondo Paper Mill in South Africa

(IN BRIEF) ANDRITZ has been awarded a contract by Mpact Operations to upgrade the pulping line at the Mkhondo Paper Mill in South Africa. The upgrade will increase the line’s capacity and improve product strength to meet the demand for sustainable packaging solutions. The comprehensive upgrade includes enhancements to wood processing, cooking, washing, and refining sections. It will increase capacity from 225 bdmt/d to 365 bdmt/d while enhancing product quality. The project also involves the installation of a new chipping line, conversion of the cooking system, and implementation of advanced technologies for washing and refining. The upgraded line is expected to be operational in the first half of 2025. The project is part of a larger mill upgrade announced by Mpact, aimed at meeting the increasing demand for sustainable packaging solutions in the South African export fruit sector.

(PRESS RELEASE) GRAZ, 30-Jun-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — ANDRITZ (VIE: ANDR), an international technology group based in Austria, announces that it has been awarded a contract by Mpact Operations to upgrade a pulping line at the Mkhondo Paper Mill in Mpumalanga, South Africa. The upgrade aims to increase the line’s capacity and enhance the strength properties of the product, allowing Mpact to meet the growing demand for high-quality sustainable packaging solutions both domestically and internationally.

As Brian Smith, project director, Mpact explains: “With the technological solution proposed by ANDRITZ, we can increase our mill’s performance and make our production more sustainable at the same time. In addition, we get everything from a single source – three good reasons for choosing ANDRITZ as a partner.”

ANDRITZ will provide a comprehensive solution to upgrade the entire neutral sulphite semi-chemical pulping (NSSC) line, which processes eucalyptus and pine for fluting and linerboard used in containerboard production. The upgrade will increase the line’s capacity from 225 bdmt/d to 365 bdmt/d while improving product quality.

Key components of the upgrade include a new chipping line for optimal chip size distribution, a conversion of the cooking system for maximizing fiber quality and cleanliness, and the use of clean condensate for steam generation to reduce water usage and improve environmental sustainability. Advanced technologies such as Compact Press for washing and TwinFlo Prime refiners will further enhance the product quality and efficiency of the pulping line.

ANDRITZ will also provide supervision during erection, commissioning, and start-up, as well as training for the operating personnel. The upgraded line is expected to be operational in the first half of 2025.

This pulping line upgrade is part of a larger mill upgrade project announced by Mpact in December 2022, involving a capital investment of R1.2 billion (~EUR 60 million) at the Mkhondo Paper Mill. The investment aims to optimize Mpact’s portfolio and position the mill to meet the growing demand for sustainable packaging solutions, particularly in the South African export fruit sector. The full release can be viewed <HERE>.

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ANDRITZ GROUP
International technology group ANDRITZ offers a broad portfolio of innovative plants, equipment, systems, services and digital solutions for a wide range of industries and end markets. Sustainability is an integral part of the company’s business strategy and corporate culture. With its extensive portfolio of sustainable products and solutions, ANDRITZ aims to make the greatest possible contribution to a sustainable future and help its customers achieve their sustainability goals. ANDRITZ is a global market leader in all four of its business areas – Pulp & Paper, Metals, Hydro and Separation. Technological leadership and global presence are cornerstones of the group’s strategy, which is focused on long-term profitable growth. The publicly listed group has around 29,700 employees and over 280 locations in more than 40 countries.

ANDRITZ PULP & PAPER
ANDRITZ Pulp & Paper provides sustainable technology, automation, and service solutions for the production of all types of pulp, paper, board and tissue. The technologies and services focus on increased production efficiency, lower overall operating costs as well as innovative decarbonization strategies and autonomous plant operation.

The product portfolio also includes boilers for power generation, flue gas cleaning systems, various nonwoven technologies, and panelboard (MDF) production systems. With waste-to-value recycling, shredding and energy solutions, waste and by-product streams from production are converted into valuable secondary raw materials as well as into sustainable resources for energy generation. State-of-the-art IIoT technologies as part of Metris digitalization solutions complete the comprehensive product offering.

MPACT
Mpact Operations (Pty) Ltd is the largest paper and plastics packaging manufacturer and recycling business in Southern Africa. It is an accredited manufacturer of recycled-based packaging and industrial paper grades, such as containerboard and cartonboard.

The company has three mills – Felixton (based in KwaZulu-Natal), Mkhondo (based in Mpumalanga) and Springs (based in Gauteng). Each of its three paper mills are ISO 14001, ISO 9001 and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified, which means that its environmental management systems are aligned to an internationally accepted framework. These accreditations also mean that its quality management systems ensure the manufacturing of a consistent product offering.

Customers for Mpact’s packaging and industrial paper include corrugated board and box producers that require containerboard, while cartonboard is sold to folding carton and other producers of industrial products, as well as for other uses such as cards and book covers.

For more information on the division visit https://www.mpact.co.za/our-products/paper-business/paper-manufacturing

Media contact:

Susan Trast
HEAD OF CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING
susan.trast@andritz.com

SOURCE: ANDRITZ