Irving invests in SC-A+ upgrade

Pulp & Paper, Mar 2005

PRINTING PAPERS

J.D. Irving Ltd. will spend C$140 million over the next year rebuilding its Irving Paper Saint John, N.B., mill's No. 1. paper machine with new equipment to produce higher-value, higher-grade supercalendered SC-A glossy catalogue and magazine papers. The rebuilt Metso Paper machine will have production capacity of between 200,000 tpy and 230,000 tpy.

Site preparation work has already started for installation of Metso's latest multi-nip calendar for finishing high-end uncoated mechanical paper, the online Optiload Twinline Calender. At the same time Metso will rebuild the machine's press section to include a SymBelt B shoe press.

The No. 1 paper machine will have the first online unit of its kind ever to go into operation-not the first time the mill has been an industry pioneer. In 1990, Irving was one of the first companies in the world to introduce softnip calendar technology for higher gloss paper. And in 1998, the company was the first in North America to install OptiLine technology, enabling the production of higher value flyer and catalogue paper on an inline supercalender.

The No. 1 paper machine underwent a C$80-million rebuild by Metso in 2004, including a top wire former upgrade and installation of a new center-driven reel and a new winder. The company expects to complete the project in the first quarter of 2006, having invested a total of C$220 million in improvements to the Saint John mill during a three-year period.

"This investment in 'world first' technology is the company's commitment to ensuring the future success of this mill in a fiercely competitive global marketplace," said Jim Irving, pres, of J.D. Irving. "Our dedicated sales force at Irving Forest Services is focused on delivering the highest quality of SC-A and SC-A papers to our valued customers. We look forward to the launch of this exclusive product at the beginning of 2006."

Until the end of last year the mill manufactured both SC and newsprint grades on two machines equipped with soft-nip calendars having rated capacity of about 540 mtpd of SC grades and about 530 mtpd of newsprint.