SAVE FIBER AND MAINTAIN PROPERTIES

摘要

Raw material cost-reduction is a key business driver in today's market. Paper producers are under constant pressure to improve the overall cost efficiency of their operations in the face of unforeseen economic challenges, shifting market demands, and escalating costs. Typically, fiber can account for half of the expense in paper production. Over the years, there has been a continual effort to replace fiber with less costly fillers, such as calcium carbonate, since purchased virgin fiber can cost as much as seven times more than filler. Market pulp prices have also started to rise; the current cost for kraft pulp is approximately $750/ton. In contrast, the cost of calcium carbonate has remained steady over the past 10 years. Additionally, increased filler content in the sheet can provide other benefits, such as energy savings in the dryer section, and improved opacity, brightness, and smoothness of the sheet.