In order to avoid unplanned stoppages, the Smurfit Kappa paper mill in Piteå, Sweden, is upgrading to the next-generation IMx-8 monitoring system from SKF. Over 1,000 measurement points in the PM1 and PM2 paper machines are continuously monitored, as the company says in the press release received by Lesprom Network.
The system measures simultaneously and emits an alarm at the slightest change in performance, thus increasing the level of control over the condition of the machinery. In addition to vibrations, the system can also incorporate other process parameters, such as pressure and temperatures, to further improve the insight of the machine health.
“Reactive maintenance is four times as expensive as planned maintenance, so the trend within the industry is towards planned maintenance,” says Hans Steding, Business Coordinator for condition monitoring at SKF in Luleå.
Smurfit Kappa in Piteå is Europe’s largest kraftliner mill and every year manufactures 700,000 tonnes of kraftliner, a paper used to manufacture high-class corrugated cardboard.
SKF is a leading global supplier of bearings, seals, mechatronics, lubrication systems, and services which include technical support, maintenance and reliability services, engineering consulting and training.
