INSTALLATION OF ONSITE PRECIPITATED CALCIUM CARBONATE (PCC) PLANT

TNPL has started using Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC) as the wet end filler in both of its Paper Machines, following switching over to alkaline sizing in the Stock preparation. Improvement in paper properties like Brightness, scattering coefficient, porosity, oil absorbency and bulk were realized while using PCC. Besides the quality improvements, the other tangible benefits include reduction in usage of costly synthetic fillers, reduction in Optical Brightening Agent consumption etc. The PCC required for current level of operations is around 80 tpd. The quantity will increase to 125 tpd when PM3 becomes operational.

In view of the huge volume of PCC required, it was considered prudent to have a satellite PCC plant within the mill premises, as being done by major paper industries around the World. Procurement of dry PCC from reputed overseas suppliers is cost prohibitive due to additional costs involved in drying, packing and transportation. Also, availability of such high quantities of imported and engineered PCC is limited.

The on site satellite PCC plant is thus expected to benefit TNPL by Providing a Ready to use cheaper filler Increasing filler loading Reduction in cost of production Improvement in Paper properties on par with International paper grades

The company has selected M/s.Omya International AG, for setting up an On-site PCC plant in TNPL premises. The Plant will have a capacity to produce 60,000 tpa of PCC.

On 11th May 2010, the company entered into a Long term Agreement with M/s.Omya India Private Limited, a fully owned subsidiary of Omya Interational AG, Switzerland.

The Project is scheduled to go on stream during first quarter of FY 2011-12.