PSPD has been organizing suppliers meets in the past, but this time over 450 suppliers, the largest contingent ever from across the globe, have congregated at Fortune Select Manohar Hotel Hyderabad for a day long interaction with PSPD’s Technical, Commercial and Finance teams. This is a unique achievement by ITC PSPD as no other paper company in India has ever done it.

Several interesting issues were presented related to Global and Indian paper industry. Economic conditions in China, Europe and USA and impact of the same on paper industry were discussed. Technological developments in various aspects of papermaking were presented by experts from global leaders like BASF, SKF and NALCO etc.

Mr. Sanjay Singh, Divisional Chief Executive of PSPD, gave an overview of PSPD’s growth plans and what is expected of the supply chain partners in implementing those plans.

A message sent by ITC Director Mr. Pradeep Dhobale addressing the suppliers was read out. He sought the support of the supply chain associates to make ITC PSPD India’s largest paper company and thanked them for their support extended so far in providing quality inputs and services.

Unique feature of this Supplier Interface was that they have tried to cover all the partners in supply chain like CNF agents, Transporters, Shipping companies, Material Handling contractors, Ancillary Industries exclusively operating for PSPD, in addition to all key input suppliers.

“With the new Weight xP’s technology, mills can achieve faster recovery from grade changes and process upsets that they need to keep productivity at high levels,” says Steven St. Jarre, Head of Sales & Marketing for ABB Quality Control Systems.

The Weight xP family of actuators includes the Slice xP, Dilution xP and Coat Weight xP systems which are designed based on ABB’s experience in applying actuators on more than 25 different manufacturers of headboxes and coaters.

The actuators feature patented and patent-pending technology that eliminate the dependence on a physical position sensor, and allow the actuators to achieve their new position in one continuous and fast movement, reducing the time needed to make control actions.

In addition, the patented power management scheme allows simultaneous movement of actuators at all times even during flush cycles, global setpoint changes, or even if one power supply has failed, providing papermakers with the ultimate in reliability.

Slice xP, Coat Weight xP and Dilution xP each offer advanced diagnostics for easy troubleshooting and increased system availability, as well as built-in monitoring of over 60 different parameters, to predict an impending actuator failure long before it occurs.

Lighting of lamp

Federation of Paper Trade Association (FPTA) organized its 50th AGM in Bangalore from Sep 17 to 19, 2011 with the theme “Paper- Going Green”. The AGM was attended by over 700 dignitaries from the paper industry across India, including representatives from paper traders, paper mills. Leading paper manufacturers were present during the event such as Ballarpur Paper Industries, The West Coast Paper Mills, ITC, Seshasayee Paper & Boards Ltd, The Andhra Pradesh Paper Mills, The Mysore Paper Mills and many more. The agenda was to explore and discuss various issues related to the paper industry. The dignitaries reviewed the existing status of the industry, discussed future challenges and shared inputs on the emerging business scenario for the next decade.

L to R : Mr. Satyapal Gupta, Mr. Tejraj Jain, Mr. Shekhar Chandak

Mr. Shekhar Chandak, the outgoing president of FPTA said “Paper trade is growing in leaps and bounds with the export and import business also growing at an exponential rate. The growing Indian economy also indicates a further increase in paper trade. The main drivers would be the growing printing and publishing industry, literacy, changing demographics, growing consumerism, mall culture and so on”.

Mr. Tejraj Jain, President of FPTA said: “The theme of this conference “Paper Going Green” was chosen deliberately because the FPTA want to let everyone know that paper is an eco-friendly product. The major manufacturers have their own captive plantations. The saplings grown in 3 to 5 years are used as the raw materials and then re-grown contrary to the views that paper mills destroy forests. The paper industry replenishes more than it takes and ensures the sustainability of our forests by planting more than 1.7 million trees every single day. The Indian paper manufactures are undertaking backward integration through social farm forestry and setting up captive pulping capacities”.

Mr. Yogesh Agarwal CEO, Ballarpur Industries Ltd.

During the program Mr. Yogesh Agarwal, CEO, Ballarpur Industries Ltd. gave a synopsis of the Indian paper industry, “We have reached to a tipping point where the growth of 7 to 9% is substantially good to suggest the structural changes in manufacturing, trading and industry as a whole. Our global footprint is just 2.5% i.e. 10 million tons out of 390 million tons globally while we have 16.5% of the global population. The next decade would mark the growth trajectory for the Indian pulp & paper industry where we will contribute in excess of 10% to the global paper consumption as compared to current share of 2.5% only. It’s natural for the country like India where more than 50% of the population is less than 25 years old, having the per capita consumption of 9 kg against the global average of 58 kg to start contributing in the meaningful way.

Further he added: “Earlier most of the installations taking place were second hand but in the last 5 years or so the industry has gone for new and latest technology justifying the growth of 7 to 9%. In the recent years our customers i.e. printing industry have invested well and have grown more than the CAGR of paper industry. This has given us more headroom to expand. The market is becoming more and more demand driven as the supply constraint is being removed. Nowadays supply being opened up and is creating its own demand”.

“Today one word that defines the Indian pulp & paper industry is the Transition with regard to raw material, technology, capital employed, distribution etc. The another important factor is that India is recognized by the world and is being seen as the potential destination in manufacturing, merchandising etc. so we can see some healthy collaborations in future. Smart companies identify the market dynamics and convert them into opportunities and BILT being committed to the industry has identified the same and has grown organically and through acquisitions”.

A view of unified solutions for pulp and paper for improving operability, efficiency and productivity

The first Automation and Power World (APW) held in India from 19-21, September, 2011 ended with overwhelmingly positive feedback from customers, partners and ABB staff from across the globe. With over 2500 customers and more than 1000 employees participating in the event over three days, APW turned out to be one of the biggest exhibition cum conference of its kind.

The exhibition had the widest range of ABB products, technologies and solutions on display. The three days of APW were packed with knowledge-sharing and networking opportunities allowing the delegates to connect, learn and succeed in achieving the common goal of building a low carbon economy.

Mr. Bazmi Husain, Country Manager, ABB India

Mr. Bazmi Husain, Country Manager, ABB India said: “This is an event where we connect with our customers with full range of offerings that ABB has from power to automation. Our message to our customers in this event is that ABB plays a key in role in helping transform Indian economy to a low carbon economy because energy efficiency is the crucial element in this transition and ABB’s entire offering actually does this.”

On paper sector he added, “We are committed to pulp & paper industry and with the major order from JK Paper Ltd we foresee a bright future ahead.”

Both 8-pocket lines will provide the highest efficient production and quality of A4 copy papers. Each line will include six unwind stands with automatic roll change and generator brakes, dual slitter from E.C.H. Will as well as a high-speed packaging line from Pemco.

JK Paper has chosen sheeting and packaging technology guaranteeing the highest cut, slit, ream and case quality. “As well-known market leader and trendsetter in India with regard to high-quality paper and board products, we have a special interest in the reliable fulfillment of these quality standards,” said Ashish De, Chief Executive (New Projects) at JK Paper.

With this, JK Paper continues to build on their already strong relationship with E.C.H. Will and Pemco. “We look forward to continue our partnership with JK Paper through this project, having yet installed three machines earlier at their unit,” said Klaus Aarestrup, Chairman of the Management Board of E.C.H. Will.

Siemens Drive Technologies Division hosted a media and industry analyst’s summit with senior management, representatives from Siemens AG and management team from Siemens India. The summit highlighted Siemens AG and Siemens India portfolio. The focus of the summit was Drive Technologies and its products, solutions and services. The session also emphasized that Drive Technologies division increases productivity in operations by linkage of sustainable technologies from a single source that can help customers achieve higher productivity, efficiency and reliability.

Dr. Armin Bruck - MD, Siemens Ltd.

Economical and ecological requirements are on the increase throughout every field of industry and technology, exerting a major impact on production processes and the machinery required to run them. As an integrated technology company, Siemens offers more than just a wide portfolio of products and solutions, explained Dr. Armin Bruck, Managing Director, Siemens Ltd. in his presentation as he gave an overview of the Siemens India portfolio. He also underlined the importance of the Drive Technologies Division saying “We support our customers and markets firstly by providing durable, specifically tailored products and solutions to meet the needs of diverse markets with cutting-edge technologies that are innovative and sustainable.”

Siemens’ strategy involves a three-pronged integration approach: creating a seamless drive train, integrating it into the Siemens automation world and incorporating it into the corresponding customer applications. This allows Siemens to provide its customers with a range of unique benefits in terms of energy efficiency, reliability, and productivity.

ABB’s delivery for the mill will help to improve its overall production efficiency and capacity. While maximizing energy efficiency and ensuring a reliable source of power, it will provide further impetus to the company’s resource conservation efforts in energy and water.

“Our ability to deliver a complete mill solution, with leading edge automation and power technology and industry standard equipment, and related pulp and paper industry expertise will help this project to be implemented and operated successfully from design to start-up,” said Veli-Matti Reinikkala, head of ABB’s Process Automation division.

ABB will deliver energy efficient drive systems for the new paper machine, standalone drives and motors, and intelligent motor control centers (MCCs). The scope of supply also includes electrical infrastructure equipment such as transformers, transmission lines, other power equipment, and power management system for the pulp mill & paper machine. ABB’s flagship automation System 800xA will control the new pulp mill and provide a common control and visualization platform for all mill systems to optimize energy efficiency, the use of production resources and overall mill maintenance. ABB will also provide design, engineering, commissioning and related on-site services. Project commissioning is scheduled for the early fourth quarter of 2012.

Middle East’s annual consumption of paper will increase to 29 tons by 2020, from 18 million tons in 2010, according to Asia Pulp and Paper, the second largest paper manufacturer and supplier in the world with operations in more than 65 countries. This was revealed at the conclusion of Paper Arabia, 2011 which concluded with key players agreeing that the digital boom in the Middle East is not largely affecting the printing of paper as seen from the fact that UAE is among the highest consumers of paper in the world despite the increase penetration of electronic pads in the country.

Suresh Kilam, Executive Director, APP said: “With the recent unrest in some countries, the traders have grown more cautious and have adopted a wait and watch approach. They have to buy the paper in cash and they don’t want to take risks. So in countries which are going through rough political climate, the business is on hold but that doesn’t mean that the business isn’t growing in the Middle East and growth in countries like Saudi Arabia and Egypt is tremendous.”

On the side line of Paper Arabia 2011 Team Paper Mart had an interaction with Mr. Satish Khanna, General Manager, Al Fajer discussing about the paper industry in Middle East, development of the show over the years, their diversification plans and commitment to the show. Excerpts

Talking about the paper industry in Middle East he said: “It is very promising and is growing at the exponential rate. It has been on the move and the value of the Middle East printing substrates is forecasted to reach $5.0 billion in 2012. UAE is now on the verge of becoming the printing hub, earlier China did the same thing and their industry became number one. We need the same impetus. Paper converting is already booming in this region but for paper manufacturing I don’t see an immediate future.”

Highlighting the development of the show over the years he said: “People have accepted the show from the 1st year of its inception. Over the years we have only improved the quality of the exhibitors, which gives a very good platform for the visitors. Now, we need to grow in size and for that we have planned out some strategic moves which we will announce pretty soon. Presently, the majority of visitors are from trading community.”

On the diversification plans he said “this year we did the show in Kenya likewise we are planning to organize Paper Africa 2012 in Durban, South Africa. The paper industry has also shown the promising future in this region.”

On the success of Paper Arabia 2011 he told: “it’s the first-of-its-kind industry expo attracted over 6120 trade visitors from more than 85 countries. Big names such as APP, Abu Dhabi National Mill (ADNPM), Orient Links and others participated in full force in Paper Arabia 2011 and they introduced new technologies and products and concepts such as new textured tissue by ADNPM which received lot of attention by visitors. This year many companies offered environmentally friendly products based on agricultural or post consumer wastes.”

Al Fajer is totally dedicated to this industry and would like to see this industry growing he concluded!