Trim system in India to be first to handle sugarcane paper.
- Published: April 01, 1996, By Wolpert, Vladimir
Voith Sulzer Papiertechnik GmbH commissioned M&Y to design and supply a trim system for a winder at its Tamil Nadu plant in India to handle newsprint and printing and writing paper derived from sugarcane bagasse.
The plant is reportedly the first mill to successfully use this material as its principal fiber source. The system is capable of coping with a maximum of 160 mm of trim coming off each side of the Voith winder, and the winder is expected to run 60-gsm paper at speeds up to 2,500 m/min.
The complete trim system includes a chopper fan, a patented air velocity controller (AVC), acoustic enclosure, and silencers with dry-type dust filter.
The concept of using bagasse for papermaking is crucial to the Indian pulp and paper industry, which suffers a shortage of forest-based cellulosic raw materials.
Recycling Units
Tesco Stores U.K. have brought into operation the first of nine Tesco Recycling Service Units in Greater Manchester, England.
The nine units will recycle 160,000 tons of cardboard outer packaging and 10,000 tons of plastic shrinkwrap every year from Tesco stores. An additional 50,000 tons of cardboard will be saved through the use of plastic trays that can be washed at the units, then collected by suppliers for reuse.
Sir Ian MacLaurin, Tesco chairman, says, "The recycling service units demonstrate, in a practical way, our commitment to the environment. These units will not only save thousands of tons of cardboard and shrinkwrap from landfill sites but will also save Tesco [pounds]12 million a year. The scheme proves that it can make good business sense to be environmentally sensitive."
The reusable trays are designed with a 75% nesting capacity to help minimize transport and storage costs.
Dioxin Emissions
A recent report from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution, which reviews emissions in the U.K, shows that the dioxin emissions from modern energy-from-waste plants are so low that post-1996 household waste combustion is not expected to be a significant source.
According to the European Energy-from-Waste Coalition, "This strongly supports the evidence from other European countries that energy-from-waste plants equipped with modern technology are net dioxin destroyers and cannot be considered a significant source of dioxin in the environment."
In Sweden, since 1985, total dioxin emissions from MSW (municipal solid waste) incineration have been slashed by 96%. Despite a planned doubling of incineration capacity in the Netherlands by the year 2000, that country's contribution to total dioxin load will be reduced by 82% based on 1991 figures.
William Seddon-Brown, chairman of EEWC, says, "With more commitment by local authorities and continued investment from government and the private sector in new plants and upgrading of existing facilities, we could virtually eliminate dioxin emissions from this source by the year 2000.
"Using waste as a fuel currently saves some ten million tons of coal a year and has the potential to provide a significant contribution to Europe's electricity generation on the basis of alternative energies."
Resins for Open-Mold
DSM Resins BV, the Netherlands, has launched the first in a new generation of polyester resins for open-mold processing techniques. These resins feature low styrene emissions, not only in the static or curing stage but also during lamination. They also maintain the physical properties of existing high-standard products, especially with regard to product performance and interlaminar adhesion.
Synolite 5520-I-1 is a pre-accelerated thixo-tropic polyester resin specially designed for hand lay-up, spray-up, and chop-hoop applications. Through the application of a new technology known as INSERT (Intrinsic Styrene Emission Reduction Technology), a styrene emission reduction of about 50% is achieved without the use of paraffins or waxes as filmformers.
Synolite 5520-P-1 contains a low-styrene emission additive. In combination with INSERT, no problems with respect to interlaminar adhesion are encountered.
Vladimir Wolpert publishes reports dealing with paper and plastics technology, marketing, and environmental matters. He has been in the industry for more than 50 years.
