In order to avoid unplanned stoppages, the Smurfit Kappa paper mill in Piteå, Sweden, has been upgraded to the next-generation SKF Multilog On-line System IMx-8. The system measures data 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 vibration levels, the system can also incorporate other process parameters, such as pressure and temperatures, to further improve insight into the health of the machine.

Smurfit Kappa in Piteå is Europe’s largest ­kraftliner mill. Every year it manufactures 700,000 tonnes of kraftliner, a paper used to manufacture high-class corrugated cardboard.

“Here at Smurfit Kappa in Piteå we are looking forward to the new system, which will help us to automate much of what is currently manual analysis of the condition of the machinery,” says Jonas Snäll, maintenance engineer at Smurfit Kappa in Piteå. “This is a good next step in our digitalization work.”