Metso pulping technology for Aracruz in Brazil

JYVASKYLA, Finland, Aug. 21, 2008 (Press Release) - Metso will supply the main technology for Aracruz's new 1.5-million-tons/year bleached hardwood kraft (BHK) pulp line, to be built at their Guaíba mill in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The expansion will raise the mill's total annual capacity to almost 2 million tons. The new pulp line is scheduled to start up during the second half of 2010. The order is valued at close to Euro 400 million.

Helge: I've visited Aracruz when it started its operation.

The EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) contract with Metso additionally covers the procurement of complementary equipment and services from other suppliers and partners.

The order emphasizes Metso's strong capabilities as a full-scope supplier for the pulp industry, which were further strengthened by the 2006 acquisition of Aker Kvaerner's Pulping and Power businesses. For Aracruz, Metso's scope of supply covers the entire fiber line comprising pulp cooking, screening and washing, bleaching, drying and baling, as well as the recovery boiler and white liquor preparation systems. Metso will also provide process control systems, including the necessary analyzers and special equipment for quality and runnability management. Furthermore, Metso's control and on-off valves were selected as standard for the entire mill.

The fiber line process features the latest evolution of cooking and washing technologies. The continuous Compact Cooking G2 digester is designed for a daily capacity of 5,030 tons. TwinRoll wash presses will be installed for each stage of washing in the fiber line. The brown stock side wash presses will be the largest ever built.

For pulp drying and baling, Metso's DryWay drying machine followed by four Robobaling lines will be installed. The drying machine will have a trim width of 9.99 m and is designed for 4,970 tons' daily production. The Aracruz pulp drying machine will be the second DryWay dryer of this size supplied by Metso.

The RECOX recovery boiler Metso will supply for black liquor burning will be one of the largest in the world. The design capacity of the boiler is 6,130 tons dry solids per day. The boiler employs High Power technology to maximize power generation from bioenergy.

The nominal capacity of the white liquor plant will be 14,300 m3 of white liquor per day. Latest generation disc filters will be installed for filtration of green and white liquor, as well as lime mud. They will process all the necessary white liquor for the new line and will also have surplus for the existing line.

Aracruz is the world's leading producer of bleached eucalyptus pulp. Total production today is the equivalent of 3.2 million tons a year, produced by three pulp mills: Barra do Riacho (2.3 million tons), Guaíba (450,000 tons) and Veracel (450,000 tons, or 50 % of the unit's total capacity). The company employs 12,000 persons and its gross sales in 2007 was $2.14 billion.