Westerville, OH, June 13, 2018 - ABB announced that global pulp & paper trade organization TAPPI recently honored a team of ABB experts, Dr. Shih-Chin Chen, Ake Hellstrom and ChangYuan Liu, with the Jasper Mardon Memorial Prize for the Best Papermaking Technology Paper presented at PaperCon. The annual award is the highest honor for a technical paper at the event. The ABB team collaborated on the winning paper, entitled "Best Practices for Maintaining QCS Scanning Systems at Pristine Conditions."
TAPPI CEO, Mr. Larry Montague presented the award at PaperCon 2018 in Charlotte, NC in April. It recognizes the paper from the previous year's conference that "best advances the science of papermaking."
Left to right: ChangYuan Liu (ABB), Larry Montague (TAPPI), Dr. Shih-Chin Chen (ABB)
"We are very proud of our team and their dedication to improving the process of papermaking for the industry, "said Jim Fisher, Local Business Manager, Process Industries in US for ABB. "They have devoted their careers to discovering and developing methods and technologies to improve the papermaking process. This paper is a great example of sharing best practices for the greater good of the industry. We are honored that their work has been recognized by TAPPI."
The paper was authored by Dr. Chen, Ake Hellstrom and ChangYuan Liu, a multi-generational team of experts in the process of papermaking. Dr. Chen is Corporate Executive Engineer with ABB's Pulp & Paper business, and has been with the company for 34 years. Ake Hellstrom, Principal Engineer for scanners and sensors, retired from ABB in 2009 after 40 years of services for ABB, and still collaborates with colleagues at ABB on ideas and practical solutions. ChangYuan Liu joined ABB in 2013; since then he has worked with Dr. Chen and other technology development and service teams as Regional Technology Advisor (RTA). The authors drew upon their collective experience to write the winning paper.
The paper discussed how online quality measurement and control systems (QCS) are critical equipment that papermakers need to achieve intended sheet qualities and to optimize production throughput for most sheet-making processes. The most crucial mechanical systems within the QCS are the scanners that carry various sheet quality measurement sensors; these traverse across running sheets continuously during production. Long lifespan, high reliability, and consistent accuracy in harsh environments are all critical for these scanners. The paper examined the potential issues faced with QCS scanners and introduces new measurement and analysis methods to evaluate the conditions of scanning systems, and the best practices to keep QCS scanners operating in the most pristine condition possible.
Awarded each year by TAPPI, The Jasper Mardon Prize honors the memory of legendary industry scientist and author Dr. Jasper Mardon. During his 50-year career, Mardon made many significant contributions to paper making technology in areas including machine design, operation optimization, training and education and research management.
Formed in 1915, TAPPI (Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry) has around 14,000 member engineers, managers, scientists, academics, suppliers and others from around the world. The trade organization serves professionals working in the global pulp and paper industry and related fields.
ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a pioneering technology leader in electrification products, robotics and motion, industrial automation and power grids, serving customers in utilities, industry and transport & infrastructure globally. Continuing a history of innovation spanning more than 130 years, ABB today is writing the future of industrial digitalization with two clear value propositions: bringing electricity from any power plant to any plug and automating industries from natural resources to finished products. As title partner of Formula E, the fully electric international FIA motorsport class, ABB is pushing the boundaries of e-mobility to contribute to a sustainable future. ABB operates in more than 100 countries with about 135,000 employees. www.abb.com
