In an exclusive interview with Paper Mart, Mr. Ram Santhanam, Director – Engineering at Haber, sheds light on the critical role of water audits in driving sustainability and operational excellence within the pulp and paper industry. He shares insights into how tailored audits and innovative solutions like AI-driven tools are helping mills optimize water management, reduce consumption, and align with environmental goals, emphasizing the importance of integrating process and water expertise to shape the industry’s sustainable future.
Paper Mart: Why is a water audit important for the pulp and paper industry, particularly in India?
Ram Santhanam: Water is fundamental to pulp and paper production, playing a key role in pulping, washing, and chemical recovery. In India, with its diverse geographical conditions and focus on sustainability, water audit becomes a valuable tool. It helps mills assess their water usage, optimize processes, and enhance resource efficiency. A well-executed audit improves water conservation and supports operational excellence and regulatory compliance, making it a critical step for the industry.
Watch: In Pursuit of Lesser Water Footprint
PM: What makes water management in this industry so unique, and how does a water audit address these needs?
RS: The pulp and paper industry requires a continuous and substantial water supply, but each mill has its own unique paper grades, manufacturing processes, raw materials used, and water systems whilst this may affect productivity or quality. This makes water management highly specific to each operation. A water audit provides a structured approach to understand these nuances. It evaluates water source, flow, quality, and reuse opportunities while aligning with production demands. It also addresses common misconceptions like re-routing being construed as re-use. By doing so, it not only reduces water consumption, but also enhances process efficiency and sustainability, which are essential for long-term growth.
Also Read: Krofta Engineering: Turning Wastewater Into Savings
PM: How does Haber’s approach to water audits stand out in the pulp and paper sector?
RS: Haber’s strength lies in our holistic understanding of both water systems and processes. Our team combines expertise in process optimization and water management, which allows us to counsel solutions on reducing specific water consumption for each process, industry benchmarking, and appropriate treatment programs & dosing systems. With advanced AI-driven tools like eLIXA®, we provide real-time monitoring and actionable insights, enabling plants to achieve measurable improvements in implementation vis-à-vis planned through audits. This dual expertise allows us to address water and process challenges simultaneously, delivering long-term value and sustainability for our customers.
With advanced AI-driven tools like eLIXA®, we provide real-time monitoring and actionable insights, enabling plants to achieve measurable improvements in implementation vis-à-vis planned through audits.
