Ahlstrom-Munksjö Paper in Billingsfors, Sweden has successfully installed Pressductor PillowBlock/PRT load cells in their paper machines and winders

Success story

Successful installation of Pressductor PillowBlock Load Cells and Radial Tensiometers

Success story | April, 2020

ABB has successfully installed Pressductor PillowBlock Load Cells and Pressductor Radial Tensiometers in Ahlstrom-Munksjö Paper Billingsfors' paper and winder machines providing accurate web tension measurement.

In one of their paper machines, PM2, Ahlstrom-Munksjö Paper Billingsfors had some tough prerequisites and challenges for accurate web tension measurement: Production of very thin paper; with low tension; with heavy rolls; and with an improper wrap angle that might force them to lower a deflector roll to improve the angle.

ABB was contacted and Pressductor PillowBlock load cells were installed to solve the situation. It turned out to be a very successful solution and today the tension measurement works perfectly, leading to a good production process. The improper wrap angle was good enough and no change or rebuilding of the deflector roll was needed.

What we achieved

We asked Mr. Lars-Eric Aronsson, Paper Mill Manager, and Mr. Thomas Ebbesson, Electrical Engineer, to tell us more about the installation of the ABB Pressductor load cells.

”Ever since the Pressductor PillowBlock load cells were installed and commissioned in our paper machines they have been running very well without any problems. ABB Pressductor load cells are very robust and durable.

“In the paper industry you expect that the products, and in this case the load cells, can take an impact without breaking, for example when the maintenance people climb up and down on the machine. For sure, you can step on a Pressductor load cell without breaking it; that is a big advantage.”

“In general, the ABB Pressductor load cells is a good invention.”

Mr. Fredrik Magnusson, Electrical Engineer, adds his opinion about the new PFEA tension electronics:

”The PFEA tension electronics are working very well. The display is easy to operate and there are many good functions to take advantage of.”

Mr. Mikael Pettersson, Mechanical Engineer, commented about the load cells in the winding machine for coated paper:

”In the winder we have Pressductor Radial Tensiometers, PRT load cells, they are very robust and give very stable signals. The PRT load cells have been installed for some years and they have been running without any problems.”

ABB's solution

ABB Force Measurement have supplied Ahlstrom-Munksjö Paper AB, Billingsfors, Sweden, with around 30 Pressductor PillowBlock load cells and Pressductor Radial Tensiometers (PRT load cells).