Integrated paper and packaging company Unipak Hellas has purchased KPM KC7 microwave consistency sensors from automation company ABB for its new paper mill in Pelasgia, Greece.

KPM KC7 employs microwave true-phase technology to provide precise total consistency measurement of mixed pulps, different quality pulps and pulps with fillers, regardless of flow rate, for process control.

Mills can achieve representative, accurate, reliable measurements unaffected by process variables or obstructions by using the technology. The transmitter has no moving parts, which can enable high equipment uptime and minimum maintenance.

The inline, dual-plate design is equipped with an optional retractable temperature sensor for hard processes. The flow-through model fits pipes of up to 16" diameter.

Microwave consistency sensors are suitable for blend/mixing chest, machine chest, recycled pulps and pulps with changing qualities: freeness, kappa and ash.

ABB area sales manager Erik Teunissen commented: “Our customer only brought the mill online in 2023 and we’re looking forward to their team realising the benefits of solving all consistency problems with one kind of sensor.”

Unipak Hellas division process improvement manager Jihad Hasrouni added: “It is part of our company’s drive to boost production capacity of recycled corrugated case material, such as testliner and recycled fluting grades, at our mill in Pelasgia.”

This is the first time a customer has opted to use microwave only, rather than a combination of different measurement technologies, throughout an entire facility.

Paper mills are becoming increasingly modernised globally. Nordic Paper recently installed electrostatic precipitators in one of its mills and United Arab Emirates-based Union Paper Mills has ordered automation systems for its paper machines.