Pulp and paper

SPM has supplied condition monitoring solutions to the pulp and paper industry for many years. Our first customers were North European paper mills in the beginning of the 1970s.

Condition monitoring is a cornerstone in the asset management of pulp and paper plants. Having control of the operating condition is a must to optimize plant profitability. Maintaining availability, maximizing fore-warning time, and avoiding secondary damages are the main reasons for applying condition-based monitoring in pulp and paper.

Typical applications in pulp and paper are conveyor belts, chippers, chip classifiers, blowers, screw conveyors, refiners, pressure screens, agitators, nip monitoring, felt rollers, spreader rolls, suction rolls, yankee cylinders, drying cylinders, vacuum pumps, realers, and also electrical motors, pumps, fans, and gears.

"We continue to invest in SPM equipment to increase plant availability by avoiding bearing damage that may develop into failure."

Andreas Lindblom, Maintenance Manager of the mechanical workshop at Södra Cell Värö.

Digester condition monitoring for improved productivity

Whether the outlet device is hydraulic or gear-driven, SPM offers an unmatched reliability solution for digesters. The solution monitors the bearings that support the bottom scraper and shaft, where damage may develop quickly, with potentially disastrous consequences.

Benefits of the condition-monitoring solution for digesters:

  • Minimized production downtime
  • Maximized productivity
  • Less secondary damage
  • Reduced cost

Technical Solution: Digester

Products for the pulp and paper industry

Considering the harsh environment of paper mills, SPM offers every piece of hardware and software equipment you need for an efficient condition-monitoring solution, from the point of data collection all the way through to evaluated measurement data. Our products and measuring techniques are specifically developed for the needs of the pulp and paper industry.

Portable instrumentation

Our range of handheld instrumentation includes equipment for shock pulse measurement, vibration severity measurement, and vibration spectrum analysis.

Intellinova online systems

With Intellinova, our unique HD condition monitoring technologies can be fully utilized to successfully provide earlier warning of mechanical problems than any other monitoring technology.

Transducers and transmitters

Selecting the right sensor for your application is vital to measurement accuracy. We offer a wide range of high-quality sensors and transmitters.

Case studies

Bearing damage on press roll

At Romanian paper mill Vrancart S.A., the online system Intellinova Compact with HD condition monitoring technology is installed to monitor the press section of paper machine K25. This case study involves the detection of bearing damage on one of the press rolls, showing the development of the da...

Multistage gearbox failure

Part of a comprehensive project investigating and determining best practices for gearbox monitoring with HD technology, this case study involves condition monitoring of a multi-stage gearbox in a pulp mill.

HD Technologies on couch roll

This case study shows comparative measurements between SPM HD and HD ENV on a couch roll bearing in paper machine K25 at Romanian paper mill Vrancart S.A. Adjud.

Outer race damage in Chemi-Washer

This case study from Bulgarian pulp mill Svilocell is about the detection of a bearing damage through route-based condition monitoring on a Chemi-Washer, using the portable data analyzer Leonova Diamond.

Wash press monitoring with SPM HD

This case study describes test measurements performed on an 8 RPM wash press in the bleaching plant at Zellstoff Pöls AG in Austria using the SPM HD method.

Low speed bearing monitoring on low-pressure feeder

This case study deals with the implementation of condition monitoring on a low-pressure feeder in one of Sweden’s biggest pulp mills, Södra Cell Mönsterås.

Vibration monitoring on paper machine calender

Swedish paper mill Stora Enso Kvarnsveden applies vibration monitoring on the PM8 super calender to optimize its operation and extend the service life of the rollers.

SPM HD on low speed machinery in paper production

Ortviken Paper Mill in Sweden, owned by SCA, produces coated publication papers, LWC and newsprint on four paper machines with an annual production capacity of 850.000 tons. For Ortviken, the SPM HD® measuring technique is the solution to years of problems with bearing-related breakdowns on low-R...

Hallsta Paper Mill measures bearing condition with SPM HD

"Since April 2009, we have been engaged in a project together with SPM, where we have measured bearing condition on four of our twin wire presses with SPM HD® measuring technique. To maintain pulp quality, it is essential that these presses work properly. Any breakdowns also lead to major costs f...

News

Eska equips board machine with online condition monitoring

Dutch solid board producer Eska has decided to equip the PM7 board machine in its Hoogezand plant with an online condition monitoring system from SPM Instrument. Eska...

Södra Cell Värö pulp mill ensures availability of drying machine with online monitoring for Industry 4.0

At Swedish pulp mill Södra Cell Värö, condition monitoring has long been a well-integrated and successful part of preventive maintenance. The mill is now making furthe...

Holmen Paper Hallsta upgrades condition monitoring system on PM12

At Swedish specialty paper mill Holmen Paper Hallsta in Roslagen, condition-based maintenance has long been a prioritized strategy. As a first step in the upgrade of t...

Nordic Paper Bäckhammar continues to expand online vibration monitoring on PM4

Swedish-based specialty paper manufacturer Nordic Paper has recently expanded its online vibration monitoring on paper machine PM4 at its Bäckhammar plant. In order to...

Case study: Gear and bearing failure in multistage gearbox

This case study presents the results of condition monitoring on a multistage gearbox driving a disc filter in a pulp mill. Within the scope of these measurements, the...