Recently, ABB, a global leader in industrial automation and digital solutions, has further deepened its strategic partnership with Södra Cell, Sweden's largest forestry group and pulp manufacturer. As a frontrunner in Sweden's pulp industry, Södra Cell operates several modern, high-tech pulp mills and is committed to enhancing production efficiency and achieving sustainability goals. Against this backdrop, ABB's Advanced Process Control (APC) system has once again garnered Södra Cell's favor due to its outstanding performance and proven effectiveness.

Previously, Södra Cell successfully deployed ABB's APC solutions at its pulp mills in Mönsterås and Värö, resulting in significant improvements in process stability and effective reductions in resource consumption. Building on this success, Södra Cell has now decided to order a similar solution for its Mörrum pulp mill to further enhance its bleaching processes. This collaboration not only marks a further deepening of the partnership but also signifies an important step forward in Södra Cell's digital transformation journey.

Under the framework agreement of the strategic partnership, ABB will deploy its advanced APC system at the Mörrum pulp mill, expanding the functionality of the existing ABB Ability™ System 800xA® Distributed Control System (DCS). The project team will work closely with Södra Cell's mill experts to implement this solution, covering various aspects such as operations and process analysis, model development and validation, control system implementation, and project training. The project is expected to be completed and delivered by the end of 2025.

Marie Boman, Project Manager at Södra Cell, expressed her enthusiasm: "We are very much looking forward to collaborating with ABB again on the APC project at the Mörrum pulp mill. By integrating our accumulated APC project experience from other mills and our in-depth understanding of the Mörrum mill's processes and control systems, combined with joint collaboration with ABB experts, we are confident of achieving success once again."

Martin Björnmalm, Local Head of ABB's Pulp and Paper Business in Process Industries, also expressed confidence in this collaboration: "We are extremely proud of our excellent cooperation and the shared business achievements we have made together. By optimizing production quality and stability, we have successfully helped Södra Cell enhance its competitiveness. Winning the trust of users and introducing solutions to their third mill fully demonstrates our consistent commitment to helping our customers stay ahead in the competition."

It is worth mentioning that integrating APC into the existing operating environment centered around ABB Ability™ System 800xA® will enable fully automated operation and reliable result prediction. Södra Cell will be able to optimize key operational processes and determine their priorities in the bleaching plant based on data-driven decision-making, thereby further enhancing production efficiency and resource utilization.

As one of Södra Cell's important production bases, the Mörrum pulp mill specializes in producing high-quality pulp and dissolving pulp for textile and other applications. The implementation of this APC project will help the mill achieve more stable and optimized bleaching processes, including reduced brightness fluctuations, decreased chemical consumption, and overall improvements in the bleaching process. With the advancement and implementation of this project, Södra Cell will take more solid steps on its path to digital transformation and sustainable development.