Valmet refiner segments slash Stora Enso energy consumption by 5.5 percent in Beihai

Targeted component upgrades yield massive energy savings

As energy costs continue to pressure margins across the global pulp and paper sector in July 2026, Stora Enso has demonstrated that targeted component optimization can deliver substantial operational relief. The company's Beihai mill in Guangxi, China, has successfully reduced the specific energy consumption of its Bleached Chemi-ThermoMechanical Pulp (BCTMP) line by 5.5% following the installation of advanced refiner segments developed by Valmet.

The most significant aspect of this operational upgrade is the preservation of output metrics. Stora Enso achieved this energy reduction while strictly maintaining its production capacity and final pulp quality. Critical parameters, including freeness (CSF) and shive levels, remained completely stable, proving that energy efficiency in mechanical pulping no longer requires a compromise on fiber quality.

The ShiveClean and Turbine technology combination

The breakthrough at the Beihai facility stems from a highly customized engineering approach. Valmet's technical teams analyzed historical operating data, raw material characteristics, and segment-wear patterns to design a bespoke solution. The resulting refiner segments combine Valmet's proven ShiveClean design with its latest-generation Turbine technology, which optimizes flow conditions within the refining zone.

Installed in late 2025, the new segments immediately demonstrated a clear reduction in energy consumption during the high-consistency refining stage. Mill operators further optimized the process by moderately increasing the energy input at the low-consistency stage, perfectly balancing the performance across the entire BCTMP line.

• Energy reduction: 5.5% drop in specific refining energy consumption.
• Technology: Valmet ShiveClean combined with Turbine concept.
• Quality impact: Zero degradation in freeness or shive levels.

Ge Liangzheng, Production Director at the Stora Enso Beihai Board Mill, emphasized that energy efficiency remains a core pillar for reducing costs and supporting low-carbon development. The results have been so definitive that Stora Enso ordered a second set of these energy-saving segments well before the first set reached the end of its operational lifecycle.

The Beihai upgrade proves that the most lucrative sustainability gains often hide in the granular details of mechanical pulping rather than sweeping facility overhauls. Will other major BCTMP operators follow suit and rethink their refiner segment strategies before energy prices force their hand? Follow The Paper for daily news, market signals and key updates from the global paper, corrugated and packaging industry. — Sigue toda la actualidad del sector en www.thepaper.ai