UPM Blandin No. 6 line marks 25 years of operations This month UPM Blandin celebrates the 25th anniversary of the No. 6 modernization project. No. 6 line officially started producing paper in September, 1989 following a two year construction process. Initially a $323 million expansion, the project scope included a new paper machine, coater, supercalenders, woodroom and pulpmill. The equipment has been renewed with several investments over the years. An editorial in the Grand Rapids Herald Review by the editorial staff on September 27, 1989, said: “No. 6 is a commitment to Blandin’s future. No. 6 is a response to a progressive plan to keep the company competitive and profitable. It has also been planned with a watchful eye on the natural resources upon which the company depends.” “No. 6 and the entire mill continue to have a positive economic impact on the Grand Rapids area,” said Joe Maher, UPM Blandin general manager. “Not only in paper mill jobs, but several associated businesses that support mill operations, including the logging industry. We remember the construction, training, and long hours spent installing and starting up hundreds of pumps, motors, electrical systems and a paper machine building as long as three football fields.” The Scope of the No. 6 Project The No. 6 project included a new paper machine, coater, supercalenders, winders, woodroom and pulpmill. The paper machine was engineered and designed in Germany and built in Sao Paulo Brazil; and paired with an off-machine coater manufactured in Finland. After traveling to Germany and reviewing several proposals, the President of Blandin Paper Company, Al Wallace, John Ward, Blandin Vice President and George Flater from British Columbia Forest Products (then owner of Blandin) chose the new equipment. The paper machine was designed with a 311” width, operating at speeds of 4,000 feet per minute (fpm), producing lightweight coated paper, and operating 24 hours a day. The coater features Finnish coating technology and operates in excess of 5,000 fpm. The supercalenders were manufactured in Appleton, Wisconsin and operate at speeds over 2,000 fpm. The winders were designed to operate at 7,500 fpm and accommodate the jumbo rolls being produced by the No. 6 paper machine. Site preparation begins 1987 With the equipment purchased, the project began with site preparation – a basic operation but crucial to the success of the overall project. Over 250,000 cubic yards of earth were excavated and compacted to support the 4,000 ton paper machine. Soil testing revealed that the site was on an old lake bed or river bottom and silt was discovered down to 150 feet below ground. To support the heavy equipment and machinery, the piles (steel beams) needed to penetrate the silt and be pounded into dense ground. Over 1,000 piles were pounded, some almost 200 feet deep in the area of the pulp mill. There is more steel underground to support the structures than above ground. Cranes were brought to the site to erect 6,400 tons of steel. Construction of the framework for the buildings and equipment began as the new machines, motors, drums, grinders, etc. began shipping to Grand Rapids via air, boat, truck and train. No. 6 produces first reel of paper – September 25, 1989 With construction completed in the summer of 1989, the mill prepared for an anticipated operational start-up in September. The new woodroom and pulpmill were operational, producing quality pulp. After several starts and stops, the No. 6 paper machine produced its first full reel of paper on Sept. 25, approximately 25 months after ground was broken for the modernization project. Over the past 25 Years Since the No. 6 project start-up 25 years ago, UPM has continued to re-invest in the original project: • No. 6 Coater drive replacement • Grinder Rebuilds • Replace drum debarkers in woodroom • Replace the DCS hardware and software for Pulpmill & No. 6 Paper Machine • Install new shoe press on No. 6 paper machine • New GAP former on No. 6 • New roll wrapper No. 6 Today No. 6 line produces lightweight coated magazine and catalog printing paper and runs at speeds exceeding 5,000 feet per minute. “During the expansion project the extra hard work of our employees, millwrights, electricians, pipefitters, and installation personnel was exceptional. Today we continue to benefit from their efforts and are proud to have a workforce equally dedicated to the continued success of our mill operations,” said Maher. “We appreciate the support of our community and we continue our commitment to quality paper making.” Interesting facts: • Equipment came from around the world by air, boat, truck and train – including the countries of Brazil (paper machine); Finland (coaters, winders, grinders, woodroom equipment); roll grinder (Germany); filled roll lathe (Italy); bleach pulp thickeners (Austria); engine lathe (Poland); disc thickeners and pulp cleaner (Sweden); heating, ventilating systems and dryer hood (Canada) • To build No. 6, more steel was used underground than above ground. • The 850 foot length of No. 6 paper line is equivalent to: a 90 story high rise; the length of three football fields. • No. 6 runs at 5,000 feet per minute. That’s equivalent to driving a car 50 m.p.h. • A Sikorsky helicopter was used to hoist 40 loads of heating and ventilating equipment to the top of the No. 6 building. The heaviest load weighed 4,000 pounds. • The number of construction jobs on the project peaked at 800.
Posted on: Mon, 22 Sep 2014 16:29:19 +0000
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