Electricity + Control March 2021

CONTROL SYSTEMS + AUTOMATION

New textile recycling plant, Sundsvall, Sweden Valmet, a leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries has been selected by Renewcell as the main equipment supplier for the Sundsvall textile recycling plant.

T he two companies recently signed a contract which calls for Valmet to deliver the main equipment for Renewcell’s planned 60 000 metric tonne capacity textile recycling plant to be developed at Ortviken industrial site in Sundsvall, Sweden. This is a major milestone in the establishment of the first of its kind commercial-scale textile recycling plant in the world. Renewcell’s new Ortviken plant is scheduled to begin operations in the first half of 2022. Patrik Lundström, CEO of Renewcell, comments: “We went through a rigorous selection process and we are confident that Valmet is the best possible long-term partner for Renewcell in our mission to change the global fashion industry. With a trusted supplier like Valmet providing the core equipment, we reduce project risk and gain a committed partner with industry-leading expertise. We look forward to working closely with Valmet to put together a top- of-the-line textile recycling plant concept that can be rolled out not only at Ortviken but worldwide.” Bertel Karlstedt, President, Pulp and Energy business line at Valmet, notes, “Sustainable textile recycling is well aligned with Valmet’s mission of converting renewable resources into sustainable results. I’m very proud that Renewcell selected Valmet as the key supplier for this ground-breaking plant. Our teams have been working well together in developing these solutions and I’m delighted to see this outcome. This is an important project and will be a key reference in this new business area; we look forward to continuing cooperation with Renewcell.” Industrial scale textile-to-pulp plant Through its patented process, Renewcell is able to upcycle cellulosic textile waste, such as discarded cotton and viscose clothes, transforming it into a dissolving pulp product called Circulose ® , which is produced from 100% recycled textiles. In 2018 Renewcell opened a demonstration plant in Kristinehamn, Sweden, which can produce up to 4 500 tonnes of Circulose ® per year. The new Ortviken plant will have a capacity of 60 000 tonnes per year with a possibility to increase the capacity in future. Lundström says, “By replacing virgin textile fibres like cotton with fibres produced from Circulose ® , fashion brands can reduce the climate and environmental impact caused

by raw material extraction and fashion waste generation significantly. We have been recognised for our work to make fashion more sustainable. Most recently, Circulose ® was included as one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Best Inventions 2020.” Vice President of the Fibre Processing business unit at Valmet, Rickard Andersson, flags the project as “an excellent example of how we can use Valmet’s expertise in bio, pulp and paper technology in textile recycling.”

A Circulose ® coaster. The recycled material is used in various products, including merchandise hang tags and cards.

[Photo: Alexander Donka]

Sheets of Circulose ® baled and palleted for onward production.

Electricity + Control MARCH 2021

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