The paper and corrugated seminar held recently at the Swiecie mill in Poland attracted 233 participants from 23 different countries. The main focus of the three-day event was to illuminate the process from paper making to corrugated board in a simple and transparent way. The seminar targets people who work in the paper, packaging and corrugated industries.
Maciej Kunda, CEO Mondi Swiecie, took great pleasure in hosting this very successful seminar in Swiecie. He explains: “The fibre-to-corrugated-board seminar is a major component of our customer service. It provides an excellent opportunity to share and exchange our paper and corrugated production expertise, so that customers can optimise their operations. It also gives us a closer insight into our customers’ needs and thus enables us to serve them better. Finally, it is crucial that the participants also have fun and get to know each other better. The quality of the seminar is corroborated by the attendance figures. In 2002, when the first seminar was held, we had about 100 guests. This time, 233 participants from 23 different countries enrolled for the event.”
The popular seminar is masterminded by Marek Motylewski. He is head of the technical service department and has worked at the Swiecie mill for 30 years. “I believe that the unique agenda is a key factor in the success of our seminar. During the three days we cover a wide range of topics that are not actually dedicated to either paper or corrugated issues. We always focus on the big picture, on both the paper and the corrugated industry. We specifically address the many different challenges that can arise in our everyday work. It is a unique approach within the industry and what makes the seminar stand out.”
The first day of the event focused on the basic issues of paper making. Among the topics that were discussed in depth were forestry, the pulp making process, the various stages of the paper making process and the different methods of measuring paper quality. The mill tour and visit to the ECO7 facility were highlights of the opening day. The ECO7 is one of the first lightweight recycled containerboard machines in Central Europe. With a design speed of 1,700m/min, the machine produces 470,000 tonnes of lightweight recycled containerboard per year. Together with the start-up of ECO7 on 1 September 2009, a new service concept called ECO premium was introduced. The new paper machine produces paper for stock, so that standard grades can be delivered within Poland in 24 hours and to neighbouring markets within 48 hours.
The second day was devoted to examining the general structure of the containerboard market and the outlook for the coming years. ‘Lightweighting’ was clearly identified as the major trend for the future. Lightweighting reduces the overall weight of packaging solutions by using lower-substance flutings and kraftliners. According to the latest market figures, customers are clearly focusing on less weight, more strength and lower overall costs.
On the closing day of the event, the participants looked at added value in paper production, including methods for identifying the parameters that trigger corrugated board defects. Various procedures for improving runnability on the corrugator, converting quality and the overall quality of corrugated materials were considered.