Largest pulping line in the world starts up with ANDRITZ technology

Since August 2017, the main technologies and production equipment provided by ANDRITZ for Fibria's new pulp mill in Três Lagoas (MS) Brazil, are in operation. The works were started up in advance of the schedule.

As a result of investments of BRL 7,345 billion, the second Fibria plant in Três Lagoas will have a production capacity of 1.95 million tonnes of eucalyptus pulp per year. Adding to the first unit, already in operation in the city, the company now has a production capacity of 3.25 million tonnes of pulp / year, which makes Fibria's operation in Mato Grosso do Sul one of the largest pulp mills of the world. In total, considering all the other units of the company – Aracruz (ES), Jacareí (SP), and Eunápolis (BA), where Veracel operates – Fibria reaches a production capacity of 7.25 million tonnes of pulp / year, consolidating its global leadership in the sector. With this successful EPC delivery and smooth start-up of the equipment, ANDRITZ has once again demonstrated its technical capabilities and experience in handling very large projects.

The Horizonte 2 Project – that became the new Fibria unit – is one of the largest private investments in Brazil. ANDRITZ supplied the complete wood processing plant (four chipping lines), the world’s largest single hardwood fiberline (6,120 adt/d), the pulp drying plant (dual 8 m wide drying machines), the largest evaporation plant in the Western hemisphere, the largest recovery boiler in South America (8,250 tds/d), and the largest single-line white liquor plant (18,900 m3/d) with two lime kilns.

According to Joel Starepravo, ANDRITZ Project Director, “Fibria signed the contract in July 2015 with start-up scheduled for fourth quarter of 2017. We met that fast-track schedule together. One thing we learned from previous large projects is that the first 100 days are critical – getting started on the right things at the right speed. We focused on making sure that our engineering was solid, that our subcontractors had the guidance they needed to work effectively, and that the manufacturing quality and schedule were solid.”