"The new Da Vinci QCS quickly provides our operations team detailed information about our product. The integration of fast and accurate sensors with our control strategy has resulted in fast grade changes and additional production after process disturbances."
Wolfgang Schwaiger, Line Manager, MM-Karton
MM-Karton’s two mills in Austria upgraded their Quality Control Solution (QCS) systems to Honeywell’s Da Vinci™ QCS technology to improve product quality, resulting in the following benefits:
MM-Karton is part of the Mayr-Melnhof Group, the world-leader in recycled fiber-based carton board and Europe’s leading manufacturer of folding cartons. The company was founded more than 100 years ago and has become the European market leader in its business segments during the last 20 years.
MM-Karton is composed of nine mills in Europe with a total annual production capacity of approximately 1.6 million tons. The product range comprises the complete bandwidth of all types of recycled carton with grey, bright, white and kraft back. The production of virgin fiber-based carton board rounds off the comprehensive range of products offered by Mayr-Melnhof Karton.
High-quality products have always been a hallmark of MM-Karton and the company wanted to maintain this reputation into the future. Operations staff at MM-Karton’s two Austrian mills examined ways to help improve the quality and process efficiency of their multiple production lines. The staff recognized that by replacing the legacy control systems with newer automation technology, it would improve product quality, reduce costs and increase the overall efficiency of the three paper machines at both mills.
MM-Karton evaluated a number of vendors and chose Honeywell for its technology leadership, product quality and value. The company was also looking for a global technology partner with proven capabilities in project execution and aftermarket services.
MM-Karton replaced its older quality control systems in each mill with Honeywell’s Da Vinci QCS with advanced sensor technology. The results of the project included an increase in finished product quality, reduced costs and an improvement in overall recycled board production.
With Da Vinci, the mills now have access to the industry’s most comprehensive suite of on-line sensors, combined with fast scanner and data processing speeds to deliver precise, high-resolution measurements and effective quality controls. Da Vinci’s production reports and process analysis displays provide instant visibility to the efficiency of the paper machines and the quality of the paper that is being produced.
MM-Karton is very pleased with the knowledge and expertise of the Honeywell project team as well as the overall project results, delivered on time and on budget.
“The Honeywell solution has delivered very good sensor technology for the standard measurements as well as for the optical online measurements,” said Franz Fuchs, Automation Manager, MM-Karton. “The measurements are the basis of the Quality Control Solution. Integration and communication with the existing installed control systems, as well as flexibility of the local Honeywell team was an important part of the success of this project.”