ABB has received an order worth USD 17 million to install the process control and instrumentation system in the largest paper machine ever built. The brain of the giant paper machine – to be built by Finland’s Metso Paper Inc. (formerly Valmet) for Papierfabrik Palm GmbH & Co. KG in Germany – will be based on ABB’s Industrial IT technology. The system will include integrated process, quality and drives control, 100% defect detection, online machinery diagnostics and a real-time data warehouse for information sharing. ABB will also supply power distribution equipment, motors and drives for the machine, which is scheduled to be commissioned in October 2002, at Palm’s Wörth works near Karlsruhe. ABB will begin work on the contract in October 2001, for completion by July 2002. Designed to deliver paper at speeds of 1800 meters per minute, the machine’s key product will be semicoated base paper for corrugated board used by the packaging industry.
