DS Smith to invest in new recycled containerboard line at paper mill in Porcari, Italy

Packaging

Image: DS Smith

ABB has secured an order from DS Smith Paper Italia S.r.l, part of international packaging company DS Smith, to supply a new sectional drives system for a new containerboard machine at the company’s Lucca Paper Mill in Porcari, Tuscany, known across Italy for its recovered fiber and white liner products. Once operational, paper machine 3 (PM3) will have an estimated annual capacity of 450,000 metric tons.

DS Smith selected the PMC800 drive system for its Lucca Paper Mill to improve performance, generate greater energy savings and achieve superior product quality, in addition to fast start-ups, high reliability and easy integration with other mill automation. The system will reduce the cost of ownership over the automation lifecycle and offer a high level of control precision and standardized communication between control systems.

ABB’s scope of work also includes M3BP and AXR asynchronous squirrel cage induction motors with special winding for specific applications, as well as control via ABB ACS880 inverters, which are proven to achieve high performance and efficiency. The 8.6 meters wide (wire) PM 3 machine will produce recycled liner grades with a basis weight range of 70 to 135 grams per square meter at production speed of 1,500 meters per minute (m/min) and mechanical design speed of 1,700m/min.

“This project will help to significantly increase production capacity and improve energy efficiency at our plant in Porcari,” said Massimo Basta, General Manager at DS Smith’s Lucca Paper Mill. “Construction of the PM3 is well underway and we look forward to its successful integration which will make a significant difference to paper production in Italy, providing the high performing paper needed to meet the growing demand for sustainable packaging worldwide”

ABB is a global technology leader in electrification and automation.