AFRY - an important partner when SCA Obbola in Sweden build their future mill
Demand for paper based packaging is growing. This trend is being driven by a number of factors – increased e-commerce, a growing population and the ambition to reduce the use of plastic. To meet this demand SCA has decided to build a new paper machine for the production of krafliner at its Obbola paper mill in Umeå, Sweden. The annual production in Obbola will increase from the current 450,000 tonnes of kraftliner to 725,000 tonnes to meet the growing demand for renewable packaging. A central part of the project is the subproject MEG, where AFRY has been trusted to handle the implementation of the project.
The investment project, “Expansion Obbola” is divided into five subprojects: Paper machine, Recover Fiber, Recovery boiler, MEG, and infrastructure. AFRY will handle the execution of the subproject MEG, which is a Swedish acronym for pulp, energy, and auxiliary systems and has the aim to debottleneck the current process. In brief, the MEG subproject is composed of increased capacity for pulp washing, recovery boiler and supporting systems, a new refiner, and a new biological effluent treatment plant. A large number of new pipe bridges and a new sprinkling system are also included.
SCA selected AFRY as their partner in the implementation engineering services for the new paper machine project in their production site in Obbola, Sweden. The assignment includes implementation engineering services project management, working environment, expediting, construction management, 3D scanning and engineering of process, piping, mechanical, electric and lightning to be carried out between H2/2019 and H1/2023. The total investment cost is 7.5 billion SEK over five-year period. A central part of the project is the subproject MEG, where AFRY will have the responsibility of implementation of the subproject.
“We have collaborated with AFRY before and they have been part of the feasibility study for the Obbola rebuild. The project started in the Autumn of 2019 and it is progressing according to plan. When we finalize the project in 2023, we will have the most advanced kraftliner board-machine on the market together with our access to high-quality northern wood-fibres – and an efficient and stable wood supply. This is sustainable in more than one perspective”, says Per Strand, Project Director for project Expansion Obbola and acting Production manager at Obbola mill.
“We are of course very proud to be a part of one of SCA’s largest investments. We can utilize our local presence supported by global competence by executing this project using our combined Swedish and Finnish resources. This way we're able to provide SCA the best engineering solutions and technological knowledge”, says Peter Kaarle, Project leader at AFRY for the subproject MEG.
For further information, please contact:
Mikael Fränckel, VP & Head of Process Industries Sweden
+46 10 505 87 06
Peter Kaarle, Project Leader
+46 10 505 96 04
