ANDRITZ annual report 2012 - ANDRITZ Vertical volute pumps

58
Harmonizing
man and
machine
Geoff Poulton was born in
England and writes for
numerous international
corporations as a business
editor. His report looks at the
development of automation
technology, which is found
in almost all ANDRITZ
products, and asks
whether humans will soon
be replaced entirely by
machines.
Opening the door, it’s like entering
a sauna: the air is heavy and
warm, while clouds of steam billow
around the high-ceilinged
room. “Our Finnish colleagues
feel especially at home here,”
jokes Gerhard Schiefer, Head of
the Automation department at ANDRITZ. This is the
testing location for pulp mill process and automation
technology, dominated by a twin wire former, which is
currently in the middle of a four-week virtual testing
period. It is here that ANDRITZ tests its electrical automation
equipment for an array of different technologies,
which helps to maximize process efficiency at
production plants around the world.
With ear defenders firmly on against the noise of the
press, two of Schiefer’s colleagues are huddled around
a computer screen as the six meter high machine works
away. Almost every piece of information imaginable
about the power distribution, process efficiency, emissions,
and condition of each component is displayed
on the screen. It is in stark contrast to the twin wire
press from 1950 that stands a few hundred meters
away as a museum exhibit at the ANDRITZ headquarters
in Graz, Austria; almost all elements of the process
were controlled by hand on this machine. “Automation
technology like this,” Schiefer says, indicating the array
of graphics on the screen, “means that production
has become more consistent, efficient, environmentally
friendly, and safer.”
Initially set up in 1984 to unify the Group’s existing automation
expertise that was spread around its different
business areas, ANDRITZ AUTOMATION has grown to
become a global team of 1,200 experts, serving
both ANDRITZ’s own five business areas and external
customers. “Our core focus as a plant and equipment
supplier means that we have unique technical expertise
in the engineering and operating processes,” explains
Schiefer. “We help to bridge the gap between project
planning and operations.”
He cites the example of a new twin wire former-based
drying line that was recently brought into operation
at the world’s largest dual-line pulp mill near the city
of Três Lagoas in central Brazil (Eldorado pulp mill).
“ANDRITZ AUTOMATION was involved in the initial
commissioning phase, which enabled us to plan everything
thoroughly with the customer. Given that this
was a cattle breeding company looking to diversify its
operations into pulp production, this was important as
it gave us the time to help recruit and train the personnel
that is now operating the plant.”
This represents one of the most important factors in
the services offered by ANDRITZ AUTOMATION. Tailormade,
real-time process simulations allow customers
to work together with ANDRITZ during the planning
and installation phase to learn about the automation
equipment and identify any areas for improvement.
Depending on the location of customer and plant, this
can either be done on site, as was the case in Eldorado,
or at the ANDRITZ headquarters in Graz.