Automation equipment is a fast growing business segment of the Andritz Group.  The main assignment of the Andritz Automation team is to focus internal and external competence and experience to support Andritz production technologies.  Three hundred thirty (330) engineers at 23 Andritz sites worldwide are responsible for automation and the smooth running of Andritz technologies and products.

The integration of new companies generates additional competencies in automation. To ensure that the engineers are trained on the latest hardware technologies and software skills, employees attended seminars and training programs.

Research and Development

Andritz Automation works on automation solutions to improve processes and plants from a technical and economic point of view.  R&D projects focus on advanced control strategies and special sensors for Andritz technologies to further improve the quality of products and the efficiency of the engineering processes.

In support of the Refiner Commander™, a new modular automation system for refiner control, the Refiner Protection System™ (RPS) was launched.  The system increases the life of refiner plates. More than 15 units sold since the launch show the success of this innovative product.

Short start-up times and product changes during production require new control strategies of plants and machines.  The Advanced Process Control development based on MPC (Model Predictive Control) is a main goal of Andritz’s R&D activities.

Two Advanced Process Control projects, one for flatness control in rolling mills and the other in bleaching plants, are in the practical test phase.  The proven experience of IDEAS Simulation and CyberMetrics enhances the overall competence in this field.

MIS (Multi-Ingredient Scan), a sensor platform which identifies quality parameters of fluids using spectography and provides controllers with input data from online measurements, has successfully finished the pilot tests on customer sites.

Business development

Andritz Automation will provide the engineering, medium- and low-voltage equipment, automation, simulation, installation, and start-up of the systems for CMPC’s Santa Fe project in Chile.

Arkhangelsk Pulp and Paper mill in Russia ordered a complete low-voltage electrification and process control system.

Celulosa Arauco currently operates the world's largest debarking and chipping lines for eucalyptus at its Valdivia mill.  Andritz delivered a dedicated control system to meet the high capacity demand and the challenging quality needs of the customer. Due to the success of this installation, Arauco chose Andritz as a supplier for their Itata project.  The delivery includes a process control system and special electrical motors.

Andritz received further DCS (Dedicated Control System) orders for the P-RC™ APMP plants to be installed at Estonian Cell’s mills in Kunda, Estonia and Zhongmao’s mill in China.

Automation for pulp mills reached a record volume of new orders.  These deliveries include total electrification, automation, and instrumentation for all major processes: fiberline, recovery, white liquor plant, and pulp drying.  Deliveries of the RBS-Z20 (Recovery Boiler Safety System) were made to Zellstoff Stendal in Germany, SPC Ruzomberok in Slovakia, and Portucel Soporcel in Portugal.  By the end of the year three more orders were received.

An Advanced Process Control Model of the recovery boiler furnace was integrated into a Simulator at UPM-Kymmene’s Pietarsaari mill in Finland.  Two additional deliveries were ordered by other customers during the year.  

Andritz Automation's activities in the field of process simulation and staging have been very successful.  At the Pietarsaari mill, an excellent start-up of the recovery boiler was achieved due to the fact that the control system was checked out with an IDEAS simulator prior to actual start-up.

Further deliveries for simulation include:

• Arauco, Itata, Chile: pulp mill simulator for recovery, recausticizing, lime kiln, and white liquor production areas.

• CMPC, Santa Fe, Chile: pulp mill simulator and simulation for all major areas.

• Shell Canada, Canada: steady-state models for project feasibility study of a major oil sands plant expansion.

• Enbridge Pipelines, Canada: control valve optimization studies and optimum control strategy to reduce costs for Trans-Canada pipelines.

Andritz has also strengthened its position as an automation integrator for steel strip processing and slitting lines in Asia.  Data exchange with production control and ERP systems, in addition to electric drive equipment and Level 2 process control, was delivered for plants of WISCO in China and SEAH in South Korea.  Andritz Advanced Process Control solutions were implemented in all stainless steel plants delivered by Andritz.