COMPETENCE IN PAPER

Newsletter

January 2023

From the association

Meeting ZELLCHEMING Main Committee

Dear ZELLCHEMING members and friends,

We hope that you all had a good start into the year 2023, for which we wish you all the best!

On December 7, 2022, the ZELLCHEMING Main Committee met for a video conference chaired by Dr. Ernst-Ulrich Wittmann, Chairman, and Prof. Dr. Markus Biesalski, Main Committee Chairman. The agenda included the following items: Implementation of the compliance rules, status of internal and external communication in the association, recruitment of young talents, new topics and projects as well as a report on the activities of the office and, last but not least, the call to all members and expert committees to get more involved in Expo 2023.  

With regard to the structural integration of competition law into the work of the association, the chairman explained that all members with a responsible position in the association had now been asked for written confirmation of the rules now in force. The next step for those who need to deepen their understanding will be a training session with legal counsel. The exact date will be announced.

As part of the report on the Internal & External Communications stand, the results of a survey of ZELLCHEMING Expo visitors were presented: This had shown that 73% use LinkedIn (by far the most popular social media channel of our target group). Against this background, this will continue to be the focus in the future, with the aim of further increasing the number of followers in the various ZELLCHEMING groups on LinkedIn.

Markus Biesalski presented the input that had resulted from discussions with students in the course of strengthening the recruitment of young scientists and emphasized that they would like, for example, to have a contact person in each technical committee with whom they could communicate at eye level. It was also suggested that universities should be considered as venues for technical committee meetings in order to attract interested students as audience members, and that the dates and venues should be published more transparently.

Afterwards, Markus Biesalski drew a positive stock of the ZELLCHEMING Conference - Cellulose Based Materials and explained that a continuation of the successful event in 2024 is being considered, but that it is still being discussed under which framework conditions. A cooperation with EPNOE (The European Polysaccharide Network of Excellence) as co-organizer is under consideration and as a first step in this direction ZELLCHEMING will actively participate in the EPNOE-Conference 2023 in Graz and contribute to a round table discussion.  

Petra Hanke reported on the activities of the office and held out the prospect of the quick introduction of the planned CRM system. In the run-up to Expo 2023, she then gave a quantitative summary of the past event: among the approximately 1,900 participants were a total of 209 ZELLCHEMING members and 38 technical committee members.

Ernst-Ulrich Wittmann impressively pointed out that this showed a strong discrepancy in terms of the importance of the event and the commitment of the members. The goal for Expo 2023 is to increase the number of participants by 20%, especially in the areas of manufacturing and science. "This is where the technical committees are strongly challenged to activate and inspire their members to participate in the Expo. We should not forget that our ZELLCHEMING General Meeting was originally the deciding factor for the event and we want our members to play their key role here again!", he underlined and stated that the Board clearly encourages the Technical Committees to hold one of their annual meetings during the Expo in Wiesbaden.

Finally, Petra Hanke introduced a new concept for the third day of the event: The ZELLCHEMING Career Day. This is intended to enable companies in the sector to present career opportunities in their operations and to establish direct contact with potential new employees.

Award of the Hans-Clemm-Memorial Medal to Dr.-Ing. Heinz Joachim Schaffrath

On the occasion of its 116th Annual General Meeting 2022 in Wiesbaden, the Association of Pulp and Paper Chemists and Engineers awarded

Heinz Joachim Schaffrath, PhD.

the Hans-Clemm-Memorial Medal.

Dr.-Ing. Heinz Joachim Schaffrath graduated from the Technical University of Darmstadt in 1989 with a degree in mechanical engineering, specializing in paper engineering. From 1988 - 1993 he worked as a research assistant at the Institute of Paper Technology under Prof. Göttsching and received his doctorate in 1994.

In 1993, Dr. Schaffrath started working at Steinbeis Glückstadt and from 2001 to 2005 he was plant manager at Steinbeis Gemmrigheim. He then moved to FS Karton in Neuss, where he held the position of plant manager until 2009. After one year as Technical Manager of the Meldorf paper mill, Dr. Schaffrath took over as Head of the Physical Laboratory and Paper Testing in the PMV at Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences in July 2020.

f.l.t.r.: Dr. Ulrich Wittmann, Chairman of the ZELLCHEMING Association, Dr.-Ing. Heinz Joachim Schaffrath, Prof. Dr. Helga Zollner-Croll, Deputy Chairwoman of the ZELLCHEMING Association, Laudator Prof. Dr.-Ing. Samuel Schabel, PMV TU Darmstadt

He has been a member of the ZELLCHEMING association since 1985 and has been working in the TEST technical committee (semi-material and paper testing) since 1988, where he took over the position of secretary from 1993 to 1995. Since 2002, he has successfully led the Technical Committee, which now bears the name DATA, as chairman. Also to be mentioned is his function as deputy leader of the district group Baden-Württemberg from 2000-2005 and his participation in the technical committee on recovered paper utilization (RECO) from 2006-2010.

With the award of the Hans-Clemm-Memorail Medal, ZELLCHEMING would like to honor Dr. Schaffrath's commitment to teaching and research over many years, especially in the context of the ZELLCHEMING association. He has been a driver of innovation for decades and has actively contributed to networking at many points through his both academic and industrial background.

The recording of the tribute is available on our YouTube channel.

Good reasons for a ZELLCHEMING membership

Denis Bilkic, Student, Karlsruhe Cooperative State University

• What role does the paper, pulp or fiber-based industry play for you/your company?
  I am studying paper technology at the Duale Hochschule Karlsruhe and my practical partner is Stora Enso Maxau GmbH, which, as you know, produces graphic (magazine) paper. This means that my practice partner and I are directly dependent on developments and research in this area.
   
• What made you decide to become a member of ZELLCHEMING?
  Due to my mechanical engineering studies, which I completed for the most part beforehand, I am generally very interested in technical research and development. I consider the ZELLCHEMING association, through its technical committees, to be an ideal association of the most diverse fields in the pulp and paper industry.
  
  Furthermore, I would like to expand my network in the industry, as I consider the exchange with specialists from different fields important, both from a professional and personal point of view.

Denis Bilkic

• In what way would you like to contribute to ZELLCHEMING?
  First of all, I hope to get an overview of the structure and current tasks.
  
  In particular, I am interested in the specialist committees for plant and energy technology (ENEN) and environmental issues (ENVI) and in advancing the topics dealt with in these departments.

Dates

• January 13, 2023
  Online Meeting Technical Committee Coating of Paper and Board   (COAT)
• March 08-09, 2023
  Meeting Technical Subcommittee Energy (ENEN1)
• March 21-22, 2023
  Meeting of the Technical Committee on Utilisation of Paper for Recycling and the Technical Subcommittee Recovered Paper Utilisation
  Meeting Technical Committee Pulp and Paper Testing (DATA)
• April 27-28, 2023
  Meeting of the Technical Committee on Plant Engineering and Energy (ENEN)
• June 20-22, 2023
  ZELLCHEMING-Expo

From Industry & Society

Protocol for evaluating the recyclability of fiber-based packaging

The 4evergreen Alliance has released the beta version of its protocol for assessing the recyclability of fiber-based packaging. This is the first part covering the process in standard recycling plants. This groundbreaking tool will help the entire value chain to improve and harmonize the assessment of recyclability of existing and future packaging products. Until now, there has been a lack of a common European method for assessing the recyclability of products.

75 experts from across the value chain worked on the protocol, analyzing data and incorporating the results of more than 50 actual recycling tests on nearly 100 different product samples.

The beta version, which has now been released, can be used by the entire industry to quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate individual cellulose fiber packaging products for their suitability for recycling in standard mills. Users are encouraged to test the assessment protocol and provide their feedback in order to optimize this beta version into a first full version to be incorporated into future versions. 4evergreen experts are already working hard to expand the protocol to include the assessment of recyclability in factories with deinking equipment and other specialized technologies. The updated versions will be launched later in 2023.

Peter Hengesbach, co-leader of the project and head of recycling at Stora Enso, said, "We have worked extensively across the fiber-based packaging sector to share our knowledge and reach consensus on this new and unique recyclability assessment protocol. We look forward to hearing what people think of this version so we can refine it and expand its use to all types of recyclers. Our goal is to make the protocol a widely used and accepted tool throughout the value chain."

The Recyclability Scoring Protocol provides users with guidance on how to interpret the results of the Cepi Recyclability Lab Test, which provides parameters on the efficiency of the recycling process and the quality of the recycled paper produced. These results can then be entered into the tool to calculate the protocol's score. The tool evaluates the data and gives a score from -100 to +100. The higher the score, the easier the product is to recycle in a standard mill. A negative score means that a product is not suitable for recycling in a standard mill, but can potentially be recycled very well in another facility.

The 4evergreen Alliance is adding the Recyclability Assessment Protocol to a growing suite of tools developed for industry. These include the "Guide to Improved Collection and Sorting of Fiber-Based Packaging for Recycling" and the "Guide to Designing Fiber-Based Packaging to Promote Its Circularity.

The protocol and explanatory documentation are available for download here: https://4evergreenforum.eu/about/guidelinesandprotocol/

From the membership

Congratulations!

Voith Paper's XcelLine paper machines have been awarded the German Sustainability Award (DNP) in the Design and Vision categories. The ZELLCHEMING association congratulates its member company on this very special award!

"We are overwhelmed that our paper machines prevailed among the many competitors," says Dr. Michael Trefz, President Projects at Voith Paper. "The award underlines our market-leading and innovative solutions that contribute significantly to a sustainable transformation in the paper industry." The German Sustainability Award is the most comprehensive award of its kind in Europe - eight competitions, a high number of applicants and more than 2,000 guests at the various closing events are among them. The award is presented by the Stiftung Deutscher Nachhaltigkeitspreis e.V. (German Sustainability Award Foundation) in cooperation with the German government, leading municipal associations, business associations, civil society organizations and research institutions.

The decisive factor for the DNP jury was the contribution to achieving the climate targets of the 2030 Agenda. The XcelLine paper machines convinced across the board with their highly efficient design and the resulting resource savings: From material selection and product design to optimal production operation and product durability, the modular paper machines set industry standards. The award in the Vision category is also based on the design study "Papermaking Vision", which Voith presented in 2021 and which shows the future of the papermaking process.

"For our team, the German Sustainability Award is recognition and motivation to continue on the path toward resource efficiency in the long term," adds Dr. Christoph Lapp, Senior Vice President Product Management at Voith Paper.

The jury of the German Sustainability Award was convinced by Voith's holistic approach to taking a pioneering role in the paper industry, both today and in the future. Voith therefore "completely deserved" to win the German Sustainability Award, said Prof. Michael Baumgart, founder of the Cradle to Cradle concept, at the award ceremony in Düsseldorf.

Drewsen commissions photovoltaic system

After Drewsen Spezialpapiere succeeded in taking the first step toward regenerative energy supply a few months ago with the purchase of three wind turbines, the investment in a 1.4 megawatt peak photovoltaic system now followed. Shortly before the end of the year, the ZELLCHEMING member company commissioned its first ground-mounted system.

On an area of 16,000 m², 3,590 solar modules were installed, which, with an expected electricity production of almost 1,300,000 kWh per year, cover about one eighth of the external electricity demand in a regenerative and climate-friendly way. The investment sum for this plant amounts to around one million euros. In total, the company plans to invest around 100 million euros over the next few years in order to gradually move away from fossil fuels. By 2030, 80% of the company's energy needs should already have been converted to renewable alternatives.

"We are convinced that we are on the right track to be able to produce sustainable papers that replace plastic, for example, with regenerative and locally generated energy," says Managing Director Dr. Matthias Rauhut.

ARTE documentary about technology of ECOFARIO

Our ZELLCHEMING member Sebastian Porkert has already enjoyed many reports about the company and the technology since ECOFARIO was founded in 2013. Now ARTE has produced a documentary that is very much worth watching and can also be accessed via the media library. Together with Prof. Dr. Christian Laforsch, spokesman of the Microplastics Collaborative Research Center at the University of Bayreuth, Porkert and his team can be seen in the ARTE documentary "Mikroplastik auf der Spur"

"We originally developed our system to filter microplastics from wastewater. Over the past few years of successfully testing the High-G separator, we have been able to collect a wide range of results from a variety of applications - not only for the filtration of microplastics and the pollutants attached to them. From oil and fiber extraction to pollutant removal, our technology has achieved promising separation values in a variety of fields. Each approach to an application field opens up new opportunities to optimize processes with Ecofario technology," says Porkert.

After elaborate and very successful trials that started in July last year, the first system has now also been placed in the paper industry. Pfleiderer Teisnach GmbH & Co. KG has purchased a system to significantly reduce fiber losses in its production process. Says Porkert, "Since we expect a fiber loss reduction of 60 to 75 percent, the investment in the system will pay for itself more than quickly."

Dr. Sebastian Porkert

In addition to this very important milestone, his team has just rebuilt the stock preparation plant of the paper technology laboratory at Munich University of Applied Sciences. It is now equipped with one of our high-G separators, which can be used for both teaching and research purposes.

From the technical committees

Technical Committee Paper Production adopts list of key figures in the press section

At the end of November, the ZELLCHEMING Paper Making Committee (PMAK) met at UPM Nordland in Dörpen. The meeting, chaired by chairman Dr. Michael Hunold, was attended by around 15 members of the technical committee and some guests.

The agenda included technological aspects on the subject of "Key figures in the press section". The elaborated overview was further refined and finalized after considering some changes. In the next step, the list of key figures will now be made available to all ZELLCHEMING members. In view of a similar approach for the dryer section, it was decided that it would not be useful to develop a list of key figures, but rather a "checklist of efficient dryer section operation" to support problem solving.

Group picture FA PMAK during the plant tour at UPM Nordland Papier in Dörpen in November 2022

In addition, the round table discussed key technical issues, occupational safety topics, personnel developments from the companies and developments at the universities in sessions of around 5 minutes each. The meeting ended with a detailed tour of the paper mill's production halls.

Microbiology Technical Committee - Review 2020-2022 and Outlook Activities 2023

The ZELLCHEMING Microbiology Expert Committee (MBIO) has submitted its 2020 to 2022 annual report and a preview of planned activities this year.

Although, due to the pandemic, the associated restrictive requirements and the economic situation that will be very demanding in 2022, the activity of the FA MBIO had been very subdued as members found less time to commit to the association, the following highlights were nevertheless highlighted:

• Contribution to the website (2020): The entry text was moderately modernized and a common photo (collage) was posted. The goal for 2023 is to have a more active presence.
• Active Substances Fact Sheet (2021): The tabular overview of active substances was finalized in 2021 and made available to the association.
• MBio Interactive Glossary (2020 onwards): The Technical Committee conducted an internal ranking and identified 10 priority areas from many interesting topics. These were further narrowed down in their relevance to the paper industry (PI) for an external ranking (controlled by a questionnaire in the newsletter ZELLCHEMING). The survey showed that especially topics concerning health protection but also old familiar topics like biofilms (microbiological basics/monitoring/general counter strategies) are interesting for the PI. An interactive glossary was chosen as the form, clarification of the technical possibilities and implementation are on the agenda for this year. Currently, group formation is triggered before editing can begin.
• Membership recruitment (2022): Ideas to use the existing contacts in the papermaking center in Gernsbach and at the universities exist. However, it has been shown that a personal approach is still best.
• Virtual Days 2021: The FA participated in the Virtual Days with an interview and a discussion panel. The focus was primarily on the FA's current work priorities.
• Expo 2022: The FA led two Guides Tours on the topic of "Antimicrobial Treatment" (6/29/22 and 6/30/22).
• Future Topics (2022): For the first time in a long time, the FA gave a platform to a company engaged in R+D tasks. In a presentation by the company DBG, members were able to learn how rejects and other waste from production could be used energetically for biogas/biofuel/CO2 production and as fertilizer. It is considered to push the idea of an external neutral R+D input to make FA more attractive.
• Outlook 2023: Start actual work on the interactive glossary. Updating the FA's contribution on the website. Push advertising about the association, membership recruitment. Participation in Expo 23. A smaller workshop ("closed" event in separate rooms) is planned on the part of the FA MBio with the topic "Microbiology in the paper mill, correct sampling and simple on-site monitoring, outlook on automations" (working title).

From the network

ZELLCHEMING Women4Paper mentoring program launched

At the beginning of December 2022, the first three teams were sent on their way together in an online kick-off meeting. Each mentor and mentee team was also assigned another representative of the Women4Paper network in case questions arose that could not be answered in tandem.

"It's great to see that our mentoring program is now entering its pilot year after a good six months of preparation! We were able to put together three teams that fit each other very well and correspond to the wishes that the mentees had for their mentors," says Petra Hanke, Managing Director of ZELLCHEMING Service GmbH and initiator of the Women4Paper network. "We are very excited to see how the joint development will take shape and are already looking forward to the experience reports that the teams will present at the ZELLCHEMING Expo 2023."

Laura Liukkonen, Pilot Plant Director and Technology Manager at Andritz, who played a leading role in designing the Women4Paper mentoring program, explains: "It is about time that women in this special, but also strongly male-dominated industry support each other and thus also make their ideas and approaches more visible. Our Women4Paper network is making an important contribution here to ensuring the future viability of a sustainable and innovative industry!"

Anyone who would like to join the Women4Paper network (men are also welcome) can join our LinkedIn group or register informally here: c.gembus@zellcheming.de.

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