Valmet to supply a demonstration scale plant for next generation dissolving pulp cooking to Sappi in South Africa

Valmet Oyj's press release on June 22, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. EET

Valmet will supply a dissolving pulp cooking demonstration plant to Sappi in South Africa to explore and optimize the extraction of biorenewable chemicals. The plant will be close to industrial size and is located at Sappi's Ngodwana mill. The demonstration plant will make it possible to study the next generation dissolving cooking process and test new ideas in mill scale. Start-up of the new plant is scheduled for the beginning of 2017.

The order is included in Valmet's second quarter 2016 orders received. The value of the order will not be disclosed.

In this project Sappi and Valmet will together take the next step in dissolving pulping and explore new revenue possibilities in the dissolving pulp production. These new revenues include possibilities to extract bio-based materials from the cooking plant pre-hydrolysate stream such as sugars and lignin to beneficiate to higher value bio-chemicals.

"This investment in new technology continues to support Sappi's strategic direction of seeking new bio-based opportunities and at the same time will generate a platform with associated benefits for further increased volumes and quality of dissolving wood pulp," noted Andrea Rossi, Sappi's Group Head Technology.

"We are very pleased that Sappi has selected Valmet as the supplier of the Ngodwana mill dissolving cooking demo plant. Our common target is to create the next generation dissolving pulp cooking concept which has the potential to be a game changer for our industry the coming years. The main features with the new concept are higher dissolving pulp quality, lower operating cost and a new optimized hydrolysate revenue stream. This project is in line with our R&D targets to provide advanced technologies and promote the use of renewable material. This will also further strengthen our market leadership position within dissolving pulp technology," says Lars Sjödin, Director at Valmet's Fiber Processing business.

Information about the customer Sappi

Sappi Specialised Cellulose is a division of Sappi Limited and sells dissolving wood pulp (specialised cellulose) to converters for a wide range of consumer products, but in particular for the manufacture of viscose staple fiber (VSF) for clothing and textiles. They are the world's largest manufacturer of dissolving wood pulp (from two mills in Southern Africa and the Cloquet Mill in North America) and export almost all of the production from their mills.

Sappi's Ngodwana pulp mill in South Africa (image by Sappi Limited)

VALMET
Corporate Communications

For further information, please contact:
Lars Sjödin, Director, Fiber Processing, Pulp & Energy, Valmet tel. +46 70 625 57 11

Andrea Rossi, Group Head Technology, Sappi Limited tel. +27 11 407 8003

Sappi's press release June 14, 2016

Valmet is the leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. We aim to become the global champion in serving our customers.

Valmet's strong technology offering includes pulp mills, tissue, board and paper production lines, as well as power plants for bioenergy production. Our advanced services and automation solutions improve the reliability and performance of our customers' processes and enhance the effective utilization of raw materials and energy.

Valmet's net sales in 2015 were approximately EUR 2.9 billion. Our 12,000 professionals around the world work close to our customers and are committed to moving our customers' performance forward - every day. Valmet's head office is in Espoo, Finland and its shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki.