New pipe joining technology shortens installation at Ponderosa fibres mill

Owned jointly by Ponderosa Fibers of America (75%) and Appleton Papers (25%), the $192 million, 125,000 ft2 Northampton facility converts 600 tpd of office waste into more than 400 tons of pulp for the manufacture of copy paper, carbonless business forms and coated papers. The Northampton mill contains 80,000 ft of piping to handle the millions of gallons of water required for the deinking process. This includes 40,000 feet of 2 1/2 in. to 30 in. stainless steel process piping to service the batch pulpers, cleaners, washers, flotation tanks, bleaching units, and presses. Another 30,000 ft of small-diameter stainless piping supplies pump seal water, filtrate water, washdown stations, service water and compressed air for control instrumentation.