This month a new, state-of-the-art pulping facility came online at the Biron Division of ND Paper, the US subsidiary of Nine Dragons Paper (Holdings) Limited and a grand opening event will be held to celebrate the achievement. ND Paper staff and more than 250 contractors worked on the project over the past year and recently put the finishing touches on the 1,400 mtpd OCC (Old Corrugated Containers) facility.
More than 150 discrete pieces of equipment makeup the overall pulping and refining
aspects of the process. The processing of the recycled cardboard starts with conveying
bales OCC from the warehouse into a pulper vat where the materials are diluted with
process water and mechanically agitation using the same principles as the common
washing machine. Once the raw materials are broken down into a pumpable slurry, the
subsequent screens, cleaners, and specialized process components separate the pulp
fibers from the debris steams.
The new OCC pulping operation will primarily supply the recently converted B26 paper
machine with fiber and the addition makes the Biron mill a 100% recycled fiber
operation with production capacity exceeding 2,000 tpd. As the primary raw material for
the facility, OCC – post-use consumer cardboard removed from the waste stream – is
collected and processed into a renewable fiber-based pulp. This pulp is used in the
manufacture of sustainable, lightweight packaging papers. The facility will be operated
twenty-four (24) hours a day and run seven (7) days per week, working similar
operational and maintenance shifts as the balance of the Biron mill site. It is anticipated
that the OCC facility will employ between 4 -10 people per shift, depending the
operational and maintenance needs.
The OCC recycling plant project helps to advance ND Paper's commitment to
sustainability by reducing energy consumption and removing landfill waste. Recent
studies have shown that using one ton of recycled paper, in place of greater energy
consuming resources, can save 380 gallons of oil, 7,000 gallons of water, 4,100
kilowatts of energy, 4.3 tons of C02, and more than 3 cubic yards of landfill space.
These changes further support the strategic transformation of the Biron Division and the
Company. Over recent years, demand for packaging grades, such as kraft paper and
linerboard, have experienced substantial growth due to a shift toward e-commerce and
consumer demand for more sustainable products. Growth is expected to continue in
these markets into the future.
"The work we're doing at our Biron Division marks another critical step in our
transformation towards a bright and successful future," said Ken Liu, Group Deputy
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Our decision to grow our packaging portfolio is
grounded in strong demand and support from our customers for ND paper products."