New Stock Preparation Plant (value of project £48M)

MJ Technical Innovations currently supply the projects management team to deliver the Mills high standards requirements for: overseeing the Civil ground works, installation of all plant and pipework’s. Electrical substations HV transformers through to MCC and field wiring. Towards the end of 2025 and early 2026 oversee the testing and commissioning of the stock preparation plant with the integration of existing fluid control systems associated with the existing Paper machinery.  

The UK’s largest papermill based in the south of England, a world leader in sustainable packaging solutions, is currently 50% through the project works, to be commissioned early 2026 a £48 million investment in a new fibre preparation line. attractive returns through improved efficiency and reduced costs.  

The paper mill is the largest mill for recycled papers in the UK, and the second largest in Europe. It produces 830,000T of paper every year, all made from 100% recycled fibre.   

The new line will supply recycled fibre to one of its highly versatile paper machines, that is capable of producing white top test liner, plasterboard liner and other corrugated case materials (CCM) grades.  

A state-of-the-art drum pulping and screening system that more efficiently separates contaminants from fibre such as plastics, barriers and coatings will also be installed as part of this initiative.  

The system maximises the use of materials in the recycling process in addition to reducing water usage and energy consumption.  

This reduction of emissions by more than 6000 Tonnes of CO2 a year reaffirms the mills goal of decreasing their Scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions by 46% compared to 2019, by the year 2030.  

Waste will be significantly decreased by 39,000 Tonnes annually which also helps the business reach its 2030 target of optimising every fibre for every supply chain and sending zero waste to landfill. 

The new equipment will lower the mill’s freshwater use by more than 50,000m³ a year - the equivalent of 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools. ⁱ  

The mill aims to send zero waste to landfill by 2030 and, through implementation of the stock preparation system, the business will maximise the materials that arrive at the mill by improving the fibre-yield per tonne and therefore reducing waste to landfill 

Commissioning of the new Stock Preparation plant is due early in 2026. 

2.    New £70M CHP ground investigation works completed January. 450Tonnes of asbestos contaminated soil removed along with old redundant underground services ( HV cables and pipeworks) to allow 350 deep piles to be installed   Site handed over to E.ON for construction phase with comprehensive covering documentation. Ongoing support for client.

3.     Two large steam package boilers to be dismantled, transported 196 miles, re-installed and commissioned. Budget costs collated (£680K). capex approved.  Installed and commissioned.

4.     DCS and PLC replacement from Allen-Bradley to ABB on a 6mtr deckle Paper machine and stock approach Systems. Winder drives upgrade from Rockwell to ABB

5.     Paper Web Inspections systems installation to 3 paper machines. Two completed

6.     Project management, for manufacturing plant building roof replacement.  Generation of required Specification, Capex application writing, Risk assessment / method statement approval. Installation project management to completion  

7.     Automatic Fabric cleaning systems with speed tracking and associated installation of chemical storage tanks and pipe work with controls utilizing Siemens PLC.

8.     Paper Machine Guarding design and Project management of 3rd Party fabricators.

9.     RCF stock blending process design for packaging grades top sheet. New pipe line installed toand commissioned. Completed on time and within budget.

10.     Design of Pipe work with generation of Isometrics drawing to enable offsite fabrication for Thick Stock transfer from Preparation plant to Machine.

11.  Access platform design and fabrication/Installation to Stock Prep plant.

12.  Various Water Dilution controls design and installation to control final consistency for both Pulp and Chemicals systems.

13.  Polymer chemical addition control and installation/ commissioning of pumps/ pipes/ valves and cabling.

14.  Machine protective guards design fabrication and installation to bring up to current standards.

15.  Flow and consistency with PH monitoring systems for large Effluent treatment plant to allow accurate EA reporting

16.  Project management for Sprinkler systems installation with a large Paper storage ware house (water wet Riser).

17.   Project management for fire prevention systems installation (Foam). Including interfacing with clients Insurance Company, to ensure the agreed standards are agreed before final design specification has been issued.

18.  Technical assistance to large manufacturing company to change asset management system from API-PRO to SAP.