Valmet has developed the OptiBin for pulp mills' digester chip feeding. Its task is to serve as a buffer before the digester and to remove air from the chips in an odorless manner.

"The startup was very successful. We started production according to our schedule. What's more, even the startup curve, with a gradual increase in output, followed our plans. A week after the shutdown, we reached full production," says Jonas Lindqvist, Deputy Director of Production and Project Manager at Nordic Paper. "There is still some residual points and, of course, some trimming to ensure that we achieve the goals we have set for the project," he adds.

Thanks to the new chip bin, Nordic Paper estimates an increase in production of about 1,000 adt/yr. In addition, the OptiBin has led to substantial fiber savings, and as a bonus for those living nearby the mill, it is expected to minimize malodorous emissions into the environment.