Sipat S.A., a leading tissue paper producer in Morocco, has adopted an advanced automation and control system from ABB Technologies to support its ambitious plans, which include a significant improvements in its products quality and production capacity.

 

The new system features ABB’s Quality Control System (QCS), including a High-Performance Infrared Fiber Weight (HPIR-FW) sensor, designed to optimize energy and raw material use, reducing operational costs.

 

Located in Meknes, Sipat S.A., which is owned and operated by the El Kendouci family, is recognized for producing high-quality tissue paper for the Moroccan market. The recent upgrade will improve performance and efficiency across two existing tissue machines at its mill, ensuring long-term reliability and productivity.

 

ABB has successfully deployed the QCS 800A system on both tissue machines, TM1 and TM2. With this installation, Sipat S.A. anticipates numerous advantages, including safer, non-hazardous optical measurement, reduced moisture and fiber variation, and lower energy and fiber consumption.

 

“ABB is a leader in providing quality control solutions to the pulp and paper industry, with deep technical expertise in paper mills that enhances performance and productivity,” said Driss El Kendouci, General Manager of Sipat S.A. “This expertise, combined with ABB's global experience and local presence, was a key factor in our decision to replace our legacy system with ABB’s solution.”

 

Ahmed Fathy, Local Business Line Manager for Egypt, emphasized ABB’s role in supporting the project. “Our experience in the pulp and paper industry, especially within the region, helped us gain Sipat S.A.’s trust. The local ABB team played a crucial role in creating the solution package, and we look forward to expanding our presence in the tissue-making industry through this project.”

 

The ABB Ability™ Quality Management System (QMS) for pulp and paper optimizes production by ensuring consistent, on-spec paper output at the lowest possible cost. It offers full visibility of process and system performance, enabling real-time measurement, quality controls, and defect detection. This system significantly reduces downtime, sheet breaks, and material waste, boosting efficiency and output.

 

The HPIR-FW solution is designed to provide accurate and reliable measurements of fiber weight, moisture, and temperature in a single sensor, without the need for radiological isotopes. These precise measurements allow operators to fine-tune controls, leading to reduced variability, faster start-ups, and more efficient grade changes, all while lowering raw material and energy costs.