AI is transforming the pulp and paper industry by improving the efficiency, quality, and sustainability of operations. By integrating AI technologies into key areas such as process control, quality assurance, energy management, and supply chain optimization, manufacturers can drive productivity, reduce costs, and deliver superior products to customers. The ongoing adoption of AI holds the potential to further enhance operational excellence, enabling the industry to remain competitive in an increasingly demanding market. Considering the enormous benefits of application of AI , IPPTA organised the 60th AGM & seminar at Chandigarh on 28th February and 1st March-2025.
The Indian Pulp and Paper Technical Association (IPPTA) organized its 60th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Seminar on February 28 and March 1, 2025, at the Radisson Red in Chandigarh, Mohali.
Chief Guest on the occasion, Mr. Ashish Ranjan, Chief Digital Officer (CDO), National Engineering Industries Ltd. (NBC Bearings), inaugurated the seminar by lighting the lamp and delivering the inaugural address.
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Mr. Pavan Khaitan, President, IPPTA, delivered the presidential address, while the welcome address was given by Mr. Chirag Satia, Chairman –Programmer Committee & Director, Satia Industries Limited.
Mr. M.K. Goyal, Honorary Secretary General, IPPTA, gave an outline of the seminar, while the keynote address was delivered by Dr. Juergen Abraham, President, Voith Paper P&S Business, Digital Business Officer and Member of the Management Board of Voith Paper.
The Vote of Thanks was proposed by Mr. S.V.R. Krishnan, Vice President, IPPTA.
The first technical session of the event, on topic ‘Data Driven Decision Support Using AI,’ was chaired by Dr. Ashish Kumar Sharma, Director, CPPRI. During the session, Mr. Daniel B. Smith, Global Director, Instrumentation & Automation BTG – A Voith Company, apprised the audience about ‘A Next Step in Industrial Digitalization’.
Mr. Santhosh Kumar N from ABB Global Industries & Services Private Limited, spoke on ‘Data-Driven decision making in Paper Machines using Virtual Measurements’.
Mr. M.N. Reddy from Kuantum Papers Limited, impressed the audience with their knowledge about ‘Kuantum’s Leap in Paper Industry: Boosting Productivity and Quality with AI’.
This was followed by the second session, chaired by Mr. Sridhar Gopalan, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ANDRITZ, on ‘Boosting Productivity And Quality With AI’. Mr. Shankar Das from BTG- A Voith Company, spoke about ‘Digitalization in Action: AI/ML Driven Decision Support in Pulp & Paper’. Mr. Rakesh Uniyal from Valmet Technologies Private Limited, talked in length about ‘Empowering Productivity and Quality in AI Era’.
Mr. Akhilesh Kumar and Mr. Sunandan Mallick from JK Paper Mills, Jaykaypur, informed the audience about ‘Prediction of real-time stiffness and moisture percent in Paper through AI’.
The third technical session, on topic ‘AI-Based Strength Efficiency,’ was chaired by Mr. Ajay Gupta, CEO at Century Pulp and Paper Limited. During the session, Dr. Sankaraiah Sreeramula and Mr. Kannan Pattabiraman, Turilytix Private Limited Singapore, Optipid Consulting, India, spoke about ‘Leveraging BIG-AI for Proactive Sheet Break Prediction in Pulp and Paper Industries’.
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Mr. Anurag Dhiman and Mr. Saurabh Kolekar from HABER, talked about ‘Application of AI-based Approach in Paper Making Process’. Mr. R.B.Lakshmipathi Sakthi and Mr. K.Sakthivel from Tamil Nadu Newsprint & Paper Limited (TNPL), apprised the gathering about ‘Harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in TNPL Paper Conversion Process’.
The second day of the seminar began with a technical session on ‘AI-based Bleaching Efficiency,’ chaired by Mr. Sidhartha Mohanty, Head Manufacturing & Projects, ITC LTD, PSPD. During the session, Mr. D. Radhakrishnan from Seshasayee Paper & Boards Limited, spoke about ‘Case Study of AI-Driven Pulp Bleaching: Achieving Significant Reductions in Chemical Usage’.
Mr. M.Mahenthran and Mr. M.P.N. Balamurugan from TNPL, apprised the gathering about ‘Bleaching Process Chemical Optimization and Control in Chemical Bagasse Pulp Mill in TNPL’.
Mr. Alexis Métais, Xylem, France, gave informative views on ‘AI Enhanced Ozone Production for More Efficient Bleached Pulp Production’.
The highlight of the event was an all women’s panel discussion on ‘Innovation & Leadership,’ moderated by Ms. Priya Venkat, COO & Co-Founder, HABER, Pune. Panelists included Ms. Gunjan Bhardwaj, Director, AB Finiscope; Ms. Jyotsana Shrivastava, Senior VP-Sales Paper, Archroma India Private Limited; Ms. Kritika Tripathy, Co-Founder & CEO, Ecosure Pulpmolding Technologies Limited; Ms. Mahuya Chaturvedi, Marketing and Consumer Product Head, Century Pulp and Paper; Ms. Monika Koustubha, Product Manager- Paper Technologies, Buckman Asia Pacific; Ms. Ruchica G Kumar, Director, Ruchira Papers Limited; Ms. Saloni Sharma, Director, Saloni Paper Machines Private Limited; and Ms. Yashika Saxena, Technology Deployment Manager, Minerals Technologies India Private Limited.
