Could An Octopus Change The Profile of U.S. Paper Mills DePere?

“Kadant’s Octopus™ stock approach system has raised the performance level of an older machine to compete with modern fourdriniers with dilution headboxes.”  - Jim Jilek, regional engineer, U.S. Paper Mills, Depere

Continues Jilek, “This radial distributor allows for higher quality, as well as an increase in production and energy savings. We are also seeing better winder performance as we slit the ribbons.”

 

Running more evenly across the entire paper machine means greater output of first quality board, because we no long face uneven caliper. Drying is more efficient, because we dry based on uniformity, and don’t overdry because of peaks and valleys in the paperboard.

 

Key Features:

  • Provides uniform CD flow/basis weight to headbox independent of total flow rate
  • Does not require operator to balance unit in response to flow changes
  • Dampens pressure pulsation
  • Reduces entrained air
  • Reduces floc size

 

Key Benefits Gained From The Octopus System

  • Improved product quality, uniformity and output
  • No longer adjust mechanical slice, increasing safety
  • Fewer inter-wound rolls at dry end
  • Lower basis weight, lower material costs
  • Lower energy costs

 

Reduced variability in CD weight distribution translates into reduced sheet caliper variation, and moisture variability. These changes result in significant energy savings through more efficient pressing and better face contact through the dryer sections.


In the past, when a backtender would see a poor profile, it was necessary to make manual adjustments at the headbox. This was time consuming, and not very efficient, because a certain amount of variability was bound to occur in the space of time when adjustments were being made. 

 

Adds Jilek, “Because the headbox is a hot and uncomfortable area to work, manual profile adjustments were always problematic, even for highly skilled operators.  Now, our teams simply take readings from the control room screens, and let the Octopus system do the adjusting. Excellent CD profiles have become the norm, because of this change.”

 

Making Life Easier

Says Jilek, “Backtenders now monitor the profile and CD spreads that show up on the DCS. They are seeing a very accurate synopsis of the profile at any given time. In addition, they get feedback from the winder operators, so any weight variations can be addressed quickly and efficiently.”

 

Making The Switch To The Radial Approach In 8 Hours

Krueger and Jilek proudly point out that the retrofit only required eight hours of downtime. Once installed, their fourdrinier has run more smoothly than ever before, experiencing fewer glitches in production and output.

 

Comments Krueger, “Thorough planning with the Kadant team allowed us to develop a strategy to get up and running fast.”