This is the first part of our series on pulp and paper, which includes where the industry is headed and how smart sensing technologies can drive innovation and cost savings for manufacturers.
Despite predictions of a paperless society, the pulp and paper industry is alive and well. Yes, graphic papers – the broad category of paper used for printing and writing – did begin its inevitable decline starting around 2007, the same year the iPhone made its debut. Online news, emails, e-commerce, electronic recordkeeping, calendar apps, digital payments and receipts, and other technological advancements all had a hand in the steady decline.
Not all categories are similarly affected, though. The boom in e-commerce around the world, in addition to a growing global population, means a demand for more containerboard, more packaging, and more sanitary and hygiene products.
No one knows exactly where the industry will be in the next few decades, but one thing is certain: pulp and paper companies need to evolve in order to remain relevant. And it’s more than just converting a few machines to produce more of the fibers that are in demand.
The Future of Pulp and Paper
To remain competitive, the industry needs to look for opportunities and efficiencies in all aspects of the business. Sustainability is another area of focus, called for by both consumer preferences and government mandates to decarbonize. The next steps for the pulp and paper industry include
- Higher-efficiency boilers, incinerators, and drying machines to reduce carbon emissions
- Renewable energy sources like green hydrogen, biogas, and biomass (including municipal solid waste)
- Smart sensing and remote monitoring during pulping and papermaking processes
- Energy self-sufficiency by converting sawdust, bark, shavings, wood chips, and other biowaste into fuel
- Novel uses for waste wood, such as engineered building materials and in agriculture
- Using black liquor, a byproduct of pulp processing, as fuel in papermaking
- Recovering and reusing the inorganic chemicals in black liquor
- New revenue stream from extracting and refining the biodiesel, ethanol, and methanol produced during pulping processes
- Recycling more fibers rather than using virgin materials
Smart Measurement Solutions
Whether a paper company is investing in small upgrades or designing a manufacturing plant from the ground up, advanced measurement solutions should be part of the equation. WIKA USA is a trusted supplier of not only robust process gauges, smart electronic sensors, calibrators, and other instruments, but also installation and repair services, saving businesses money and time. Our product specialists are well-versed in basic materials industries such as pulp and paper, and can offer expert advisory as companies prepare to retrofit machinery or build a new facility.
WIKA instruments are found in pulp and paper plants around the world. Our portfolio of products and services cover the following:
- Flow metering solutions
- Temperature monitoring solutions
- Pressure monitoring solutions
- Level monitoring solutions
- Force and weighing solutions
- Calibration, field services, diaphragm seal system (DSS) repair, and more
Pulp and paper is an energy-intensive industry. As your company moves toward greater sustainability and efficiencies, partner with WIKA USA for robust, reliable instruments and high-quality services.
This article continues with “Flow Metering Solutions for the Pulp and Paper Industry”.