With Joacir Costa and Leandro Escobar
Many of the pulp & paper mills in the US are 70 years old or older. They were built at a time when much of modern technology wasn’t available or even anticipated. They’re often steam powered and line shaft driven.
The steam, often a byproduct of cooking the woodchips as part of preparing them for the next stage of paper production, can be an efficient power source. Breaking down a pulp & paper facility into its simplest forms; wood and wood pulp goes in at one end of the process and paper comes out on the other end. There are many steps and different equipment that make that process happen.
Initiating greenfield pulp & paper mill projects is difficult in the US given the regulation and permitting process, so it makes sense to improve the efficiency and sustainability of existing mills.
Asset Management
One of the biggest challenges facing pulp & paper mills is maintaining the equipment to ensure optimal operations. An unexpected shutdown can potentially cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per event, depending on production rate and downtime duration. Managing aging equipment requires not only specialized knowledge of how the equipment is supposed to operate, it also requires insight into what kind of maintenance schedule to set up for each piece. Then comes the task of assigning personnel to execute on the schedule.
There are a lot of moving parts involved in maintaining assets. This is where a proven assets management program backed by years of expertise, can make all the difference. At Timenow we bring a team to you to help you set up an asset management program that will reduce downtime and improve efficiencies.
Project Management
The environmental regulations around the pulp side of a pulp & paper facility are quite stringent and will take a long time and considerable money to complete. This makes greenfield projects in pulp & paper so cumbersome. Making changes on the pulp side of a brownfield facility will most likely be limited to swapping out old equipment that is no longer up to the task.
Brownfield projects, which can included upgrades, or expansions of existing facilities, require careful planning, especially when new equipment will need to work seamlessly with existing equipment. When we take on project managing brownfield projects, we make a point of visiting with the client on-site to get a detailed look at what the project parameters look like. What might sound good on paper, might not be as feasible in reality, especially when new systems must integrate with legacy equipment, utilities, and operating practices..
At Timenow we draw on decades of experience across different industries, and often after a detailed site visit, we’re able to offer solutions to problems we’ve seen across industries. Experience brings efficiency, and potential savings in time and money.
For example, we are very familiar with the importance of ensuring that all steam-powered systems operate at a similar pressure, while accounting for legacy design constraints, control philosophy, and operating envelopes. However, fine-tuning equipment to properly mesh with other—often older—systems requires specific expertise. If needed, Timenow can provide that expertise for the project.
Sustainability
Improving efficiency and reliability of existing assets and adding in new more energy efficient equipment reduces your energy consumption, which in turn improves emissions and lowers costs.
The opportunity for sustainability in pulp & paper is different from other industries. The steam in essence is a byproduct from the cooking of the woodchips into pulp. Using that steam to then power other parts of the facility means it’s not just vented out and the energy lost. By improving on that cycle and reducing heat, energy and steam loss, a pulp & paper facility can become more sustainable.
A Clear Path to the Future
Together we can chart a clear path forward for pulp & paper facilities in the US. With the skills and expertise Timenow brings, we can help you plan for more efficient asset management and establish clear project management strategies.
We bring:
- Strong risk management
- Clear project pathways
- Precise planning around maintenance windows
- A time-tested methodology that respects legacy systems
- A partnership mindset
If you’re facing aging infrastructure, tight timelines, or modernization initiatives, our team is here to help. Book a 20-minute diagnostic call and learn how Timenow can support your project with on-site readiness, structured methodology, and AI-enhanced execution.