Mechanical pulp attracts a lot of experts

"The carbon dioxide debate and the realisation that the supply of bioraw materials in the world is good but finite has created new impetus in the development of mechanical pulp technology. This provides positive winds for an industry that has otherwise been greatly reduced due to the decline in demand for publication paper. Today, the conference is more about the production of pulp for paperboard and similar packaging materials compared to before," says Birgitta Engberg, Centre Director of the FSCN Research Centre and Chair of the Organising Committee for IMPC. 

The IMPC (International Mechanical Pulping Conference) is held every two years, alternating between North America and the Nordic countries. Researchers and experts from New Zealand, China, Canada, Finland, Norway, Austria, Estonia, the United States, Spain, the United Kingdom and Sweden participate, and this year it is Mid Sweden University's research center FSCN that organizes the conference. The 33th edition of the concerence is being held 27-29 May.

At the FSCN Research Centre, research in pulp and paper production has been conducted since 1999. A major focus area is research in wood, fibre and cellulose materials in order to achieve new properties and areas of use. The other major focus area within the centre is advanced energy materials, such as battery electrodes, and how these types of materials can be manufactured smarter. 

Mechanical pulp is also called high-yield pulp because a very large part of the raw material becomes product - about 95%. The pulp can be produced almost carbon-free as the mechanical decomposition of the wood uses electricity, water and a small proportion of common known chemicals.

At the conference, scientific presentations will be held in areas such as refining and process control, process optimization, new types of mechanical masses, new adapted material manufacturing techniques, machine learning and AI for process monitoring and material characterization, and energy optimization. The presentations are selected by an international scientific committee.

"IMPC inspires and creates many new ideas in discussions with like-minded people, as well as opportunities for new collaborations. Continued development in the area is important, not only from an economic industry perspective, but also from an environmental point of view. If low-carbon mechanical pulp could replace plastic in disposable packaging to a much greater extent than today, problems with plastic and microplastics in nature could also be reduced," says Birgitta Engberg. 

Invited speakers are leading representatives of the Swedish forest and paper industry:

• Stefan Sjöström, Senior Vice President, Global Business at CTMP, SCA
• Nils Hauri, Head of Research, Rottneros
• Peter Dahlén, Technical Director, Holmen Board & Paper
• Frank Peng, Senior Technical Advisor, Stora Enso
• Thomas Lindstedt, R&D Specialist, Billerud

The conference will conclude with a study visit to SCA Ortviken in Sundsvall, where the industry's transformation will be evident in a local context. Paper production was discontinued and a rebuilding was carried out to be able to produce mechanical pulp for use in other products, mainly packaging.

"We are very proud and happy to welcome researchers and industry experts in mechanical pulp technology to Sundsvall. The technology area is in an exciting development phase where the goal is to broaden the use of mechanical pulp in the sustainable, fiber-based products of the future," says Birgitta Engberg.

Here you can read more about IMPC 2024. 

Contact person:

Birgitta Engberg, Centre Director of the FSCN Research Centre and Chair of the Organising Committee for IMPC, birgitta.engberg@miun.se