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<strong>The</strong> <strong>First</strong> Fifty <strong>Years</strong><br />
Feb 1993 Blow tank scrubber started<br />
Mar 1993 New York chilling plant started<br />
Jun 1993 Two cooking liquor storage tanks commissioned<br />
Oct 1993 New water softeners started<br />
Feb 1994 DCS for liquor plant commissioned<br />
As part of the sales agreement with Courtaulds, pulp quality was to<br />
be no worse than that achieved in 1986 (1987 was discounted because<br />
of the pine trial and the flood), although <strong>Sappi</strong> would on a ‘best<br />
endeavours’ basis try to improve quality� Pulp quality over the period<br />
1988–94 was relatively steady and quite similar to 1986, although<br />
silica increased marginally because of the higher production� Calcium<br />
improved with the use of soft water from bleaching onwards and<br />
lower pH’s in the washing plants and spots reduced somewhat –<br />
operating No 2 second screening at lower consistencies had no effect<br />
on silicas�<br />
Silica ppm Calcium ppm Total Ash ppm Resin % Spots/m 2<br />
1986 71 106 638 0.12 713<br />
1989 86 74 785 0.12 545<br />
1990 78 64 712 0.11 510<br />
1991 71 64 703 0.13 391<br />
1992 71 112 8<strong>50</strong> 0.12 383<br />
1993 85 104 932 0.13 290<br />
1994 105 79 783 0.13 498<br />
Despite quality being steady, <strong>Saiccor</strong> was under constant pressure<br />
from Courtaulds to improve quality� From the end of 1992 Courtaulds<br />
were told this would happen as a consequence of the major expansion<br />
that was about to take place�<br />
In 1990 <strong>Saiccor</strong> embarked on a programme to achieve the Quality<br />
Management System ISO 9002 by the end of December 1992�<br />
Although Bryan Thomas had the overall responsibility for the<br />
programme, the bulk of the work fell to Analytical Chemist Alison<br />
Robson� By late 1992 it was realised that the system had grown too<br />
burdensome, and it would be necessary to start again� Although<br />
Alison continued to drive the programme, there was then a major<br />
contribution from line managers� ISO 9002 accreditation was<br />
obtained in April 1994�<br />
Safety had tended to play second fiddle to production at <strong>Saiccor</strong><br />
until Brian White was seconded from Courtaulds on 1 May 1987�<br />
Brian spent his first two years at <strong>Saiccor</strong> making people aware of<br />
safety, also undertaking the difficult task of trying to change the Alison Robson<br />
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