ANDRITZ commissions India’s largest fibreflow drum pulper at N.R. Agarwal Industries

INDIA – International technology group ANDRITZ has successfully commissioned a state-of-the-art recycled fiber line at N.R. Agarwal Industries Ltd. (NRAIL), marking a significant technological leap in India’s pulp and paper sector.

Located at NRAIL’s mill in Vapi, Gujarat, the new line features India’s largest FibreFlow drum pulper, enhancing the company’s capacity to produce high-quality recycled fiber for coated duplex board production.

With a daily capacity of 685 tonnes, the line processes a challenging mix of sorted office paper (SOP), coated book stock (CBS), and high-brightness recycled paper, supplying premium fiber to the largest coated duplex board machine in India.

At the heart of the installation is the Prime FibreFlow Drum, a 32-meter-long unit with an internal diameter of 3.5 meters—the largest of its kind in India.

This cutting-edge pulper gently slushes recycled material while efficiently separating coarse contaminants with minimal fiber loss, ensuring both high yield and product quality.

The project incorporates several advanced technologies from ANDRITZ that further enhance the efficiency and sustainability of the recycled fiber line.

One of the key components is the PrimeScreen X unit, which is equipped with the innovative PrimeRotor.

This combination delivers outstanding screening performance, ensuring that contaminants are efficiently removed from the fiber stream.

At the same time, it significantly reduces energy consumption, contributing to both operational savings and environmental benefits.

In addition, the line features a compact paper machine approach (PMA) system, specially designed to deliver a steady and uniform pulp supply to the paper machine.

The compact design not only saves space but also guarantees consistent pulp quality and stable flow, while keeping energy usage and maintenance requirements to a minimum.

To further improve material efficiency, the installation includes integrated broke handling and fiber recovery systems.

These systems help recover usable fibers from production waste, minimizing material loss and ensuring maximum resource utilization.

This setup supports N.R. Agarwal’s broader commitment to sustainable manufacturing and waste reduction.

Venkatesh, President of Technical Operations at NRAIL, praised the collaboration with ANDRITZ, “We are delighted with the successful start-up of the recycled fiber line. The experts from ANDRITZ have been highly professional and supportive throughout the project.

“We are confident that the line will enhance our production capabilities and contribute to our sustainability goals.”

Founded in 1993, N.R. Agarwal Industries Ltd. is a pioneer in using 100% deinked wood-free recycled furnish in India.

The company manufactures a wide range of recycled paper products including duplex boards, writing and printing papers, and newsprint, catering to both domestic and global markets.

With this latest installation, NRAIL reinforces its commitment to innovation, sustainability, and delivering high-performance recycled paper products, while ANDRITZ further strengthens its presence in South Asia’s fast-growing paper industry.

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