CHIP PROCESSINGKey operating components are:
Key operating components are:
A crew of 7 individuals carry out the daily operation of the Pulp Mill in a safe and efficient manner. We run 24/7 every day of the year, with the exception of maintenance shutdowns. There are a total of four crews that work on a rotational basis.
Our areas of responsibility include not only the production of quality TMP pulp, but we provide the following for use mill wide:
Using state of the art technology enables us to run lean. The Control Room Operator uses a computer based operating system. He is in constant radio contact with members of the crew, who are his eyes and ears out in the field. Video cameras to oversee vital areas in the mill, such as the boiler drum level, are required by law.
TMP employees follow a thorough on-the-job training program which is complimented by our computerized Learning System. Other requirements of the TMP Operators are:
Named "Wild Rose", after our Provincial flower, Alberta's first (and still only) paper Machine is the fastest newsprint Machine in Canada, the most productive Machine in North America and within the top 10 of most productive Machines in the world (for single Winder).
To start the process of making paper a mixture of pulp from our TMP Mill and broke/trim from the Paper Machine are diluted with recovered process water and fed into the forming section of the Paper Machine at a volume of 75,000 l/min.
Initially the diluted mixture is more than 98% water. By the time it has gone through the former, press sections, dryers and calendar stack, and becomes paper, it will be about 9% water.
Most of the removed water is reused in the paper making process. Steam, a by-product of our TMP refining process, is used at the Paper Machine to help dry the paper.
The 8.5 meter wide sheet produced on the Machine is wound onto Jumbo Reels at 1550+ metre/minute (93 km/hr +). Jumbo reels weigh more than 20 Metric Tonnes and take 50 min or less to produce. Once the jumbo reel reaches full size a new reel is started without interrupting production, this is called a turn-up.
Turned up jumbo reels are tested for strength, caliper, opacity, brightness, and other properties both in our lab and online during production via an on-machine scanners.
A high speed digital camera system inspects the sheet prior to the reel for defects and alerts operators by providing them with an image of the concern. Over the years we have diversified our Machines capability to produce grades such as rotogravure, high bright and light weight.
Jumbo reels are assigned a TAPPI identification number for the purpose of linking production and customer related information required for further processing.
The next stop for the paper on the jumbo reel is the Winder where its wound into smaller rolls destined for our customers. Jumbo reels as pictured above are wound into smaller diameter sets comprised of up to 18 rolls each with multiple options as to diameters, widths and core types for many different customers.
The Winder produces one set of paper at a time at speeds up to 2750 m/min (165km/hr), one jumbo will typically contain enough paper for 4 to 5 sets. Depending diameter and grade each set can contain up to 21 km of paper in length.
Because people are at the core of ANC’s success and long term sustainability safety is at the forefront of everything we do. ANC will continue to be a leader in our industry through employee innovation, diversification and investment in new technology.
This area is responsible for weighing, wrapping, labelling and storing our finished paper rolls, as well as the shipping of rolls out by rail or truck to our customers. Here is how our fully automated wrapline works.
Rolls leave the Paper Machine Winder complete with barcodes and head downstairs to the finishing line and paper warehouse.
Exiting the automatic "lowerator", the bar code is automatically scanned as the roll "rolls" by. The wrapline computers then know which customer the roll is destined to, and what the diameter width and length of the roll should be.
Roll width and diameter is double checked against the customer order and ANC specifications. Simultaneously, the TAPPI (Serial #) of the roll is stencilled on both ends.
The rolls' width and diameter determines what size and length wrapper to use.
Our characteristic blue band is applied to the top and bottom of the roll to help protect the edges in our warehouse and during shipping (beside it makes the rolls look really good!).
Determined by the roll diameter, the proper size "head" is automatically placed on each end of the roll. Our blue band is then tucked over top.
An outer head and vapour barrier is then applied using heat and glue, sealing the package.
A high quality thermal transfer label is then printed automatically and placed face down, glue up on a conveyor. The conveyor goes out to the centre of where the roll is, the roll is released, and the weight of the roll applies the label!
Rolls are then weighed one more time, and automatically "upended", onto a conveyer.
Rolls are placed in our paper warehouse by clamp trucks with laptops connected to our inventory and shipping system by a Wireless Computer Network. (These "rugged" laptops are the same model used in Police Cars).
Trucks back into our enclosed Warehouse, where they are loaded with newsprint roll. We also ship by rail, with box cars being brought inside the warehouse to load.
