Valmet will deliver the world’s first artificial intelligence (AI) based Valmet IQ Web Inspection System (WIS) to Progroup’s paper machine PM2 in Eisenhüttendstadt, Germany. The PM2 has been a world speed record-setter since its start-up by Valmet in 2010. The new machine vision system targets to increase the containerboard machine speed even further.
The order was included in Valmet's orders received of the fourth quarter 2020.
“We selected Valmet’s machine vision system as it provides the most advanced technical setup on the market. With the use of artificial intelligence, we are consistently continuing Progroup's strict digitization course. Consistently searching and using innovations is part of our DNA,” says Karl Achleitner, Senior Vice President, Operations Paper, Progroup.
At the core of the solution is the Valmet Industrial Internet (VII) providing the ability to combine data from multiple platforms in the mill and take web inspection analytics to a totally new level. Included in the delivery is a winder control package to take the fullest advantage of the new web inspection capabilities.
“This is the most comprehensive machine vision order we have received, with web inspection and web monitoring fully integrated into the Valmet DNA Automation System. For the first time, the Valmet Industrial Internet enables the real-time combination of WIS data with other process and quality system information to radically improve problem solving efficiency. With advanced data processing, defect and anomaly prediction is vastly improved and changes or interruptions to production can be reduced more effectively,” says Marko Toskala, Director, Quality Management Systems, Automation, Valmet.
Progroup’s PM2’s last 24-hour world record of 1,751 m/min was set in 2019. During the record run, the 10.85-meter-wide PM2 produced corrugating medium at a basis weight of 80 g/m² with an overall efficiency of 94 percent, which was the seventh PM2 world record overall.
"The achieved world records are irrefutable proof of the outstanding technology Progroup and Valmet have built into the PM2 and the excellent expertise with which our employees maintain and operate the machine. What is outstanding is that the PM2 is still setting new records over 10 years after it was commissioned, thanks to the perfect interaction between people and technology,” says Karl Achleitner.