Successes and prospects: Mondi's path to operational autonomy
The paper industry is on the brink of a new era – a future where innovation and automation merge to redefine the very essence of papermaking. At the same time, we’re facing more challenges than ever: shrinking resources, a growing lack of skilled workers, and a new, urgent need for sustainability. This presentation delves into the transformative potential of the autonomous paper mill and the solutions it offers to these challenges.
At Mondi we are convinced that industrial autonomy will create a compelling future, combining IT and OT technologies to elevate the workforce, thus enabling future economic growth and sustainable operation.
Together with Voith we ventured into a new development for our mills that will increase the efficiency of every single operator, freeing up capacity to innovate and drive the internal transformation process. With the use of Optima as our implementation of Voith’s operations management solution MillONE we will improve our work processes, stabilize production, and lift productivity and output to an entire new level.
With Optima Mondi can bridge internal organizational boundaries by creating a unified interface for all involved users, e.g. operations, maintenance, management. Further the solution allows to scale the methodology across all production assets and the global Mondi fleet. The first implementations on several production lines show us that we are on the right path into the future. Operators have shown great acceptance of the system and became meanwhile an active part of daily continuous improvement activities.
The new technologies of the autonomous paper mill will be a catalyst for change, propelling the pulp and paper sector as well as the paper industry in general toward a future characterized by climate-positive practices. Autonomous paper mills will allow us to take an active step toward new industry standards where resources are conserved, reused, and recycled, reducing the paper industry’s ecological footprint.
Digitalization has the potential to not only support the industry but amplify its biggest assets: machines operating with remarkable precision, powered by artificial intelligence, data analytics, and smart sensors – fusing cutting-edge technology with the principles of circularity and sustainability. Autonomous paper mills will empower the skilled workforce with advanced tools, enabling them to make data-driven decisions and foresee challenges, thus reducing the potential for mistakes and miscalculations. Advanced AI-driven systems and IoT integration will ensure precise control over resource consumption, minimizing waste and maximizing the use of renewable materials.
At Voith, we are convinced the autonomous paper mill embodies resilience and adaptability in the face of climate challenges. Its agility in responding to market demands, coupled with its ability to innovate rapidly, can position the pulp and paper sector as a dynamic force within the industry. With this presentation, we hope to engender discourse, collaboration, and partnerships, fostering a collective commitment towards leveraging technology for a sustainable, circular, and climate-resilient future.