Paper production increased by 10% with ABB machinery drives

A Manchester paper mill has increased its output by 10% with the help of three ABB machinery drives, installed by system integrator Drives and Automation. The drives control three electrically driven machine sections and synchronise these with the rest of the machine, which is driven by a line shaft, without the assistance of an external PLC.

Romiley Board Mill is an independent paper mill that manufactures paperboard from recycled fibre. The board is mainly used in packaging.  The company saw an opportunity to increase output by adding a new dryer section to its existing paper machine. To avoid costly mechanical modifications to the line shaft, the new section needed to be electrically driven. The new configuration of the machine also required independent speed control of the existing calender and reel-up sections with sectional drives.

“The ABB machinery drive was identified by Drives and Automation as the most suitable AC drive for this application,” explains Ernie Domville, technical manager of Romiley Board. “All functions for sectional speed control and communications are contained within the drive, which means that a controlling PLC is not required. In addition, the ABB machinery drive represents latest technology, which will remain current for many years. The mill already has many ABB drives, both AC and DC, and we are well satisfied with ABB’s products”.