Outsourcing boiler feedwater treatment can aid mill bottom line

Intense global competition is forcing paper mills to look critically at all aspects of mill operation to reduce costs and become more competitive. Water treatment, specifically, boiler make-up water purification, is a key component in efficiently operating a power plant. If a mill needed to upgrade water treatment facilities, it traditionally invested capital in new equipment. However, outsourcing this function is an alternative method. A step-by-step process for conducting a comparison of the two options, as well as the results from mill experience at St. Lauren Paper Products Corp. is outlined.