ANDRITZ SPECTRUM Podcast

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May 2026

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About the show

Welcome to our exciting ANDRITZ SPECTRUM Podcast. In the first season of our podcast, we will bring together the trends, challenges and solutions that matter most to ANDRITZ customers, and to the pulp, paper and bioproduct industries at large. You will have the chance to listen to expert views as we discuss the current hottest topics of our industry. We will deep dive in the world of the latest innovations and digital solutions, as well as exciting journeys into the latest mill and technology start-ups. Follow and subscribe to our podcast and never miss a new episode!

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44 recent

May 18, 2026Episode 4318 min

#43 How can pulp producers increase yield, and improve efficiency in cooking and the fiberline?

Cooking and fiberline processes are much like conducting an orchestra – dozens of variables must work in perfect harmony. Chip quality, liquor composition, time, temperature, washing efficiency, and bleaching stages all interact to make the final product. Traditionally, long manual test delays, raw material variability, and limited online measurements have forced mills to operate conservatively. Today, digitalization allows mills to replace guesswork with continuous, data-driven optimization. ANDRITZ addresses these challenges with a total automation and digitalization portfolio for continuous cooking and fiberline, combining PulpEye Fiber Properties Analyzer, Smart Chip Level Measurement and the ANDRITZ Advanced Process Controls as well as the ANDRITZ Digital Twins. Together, this solution upgrades the cooking and fiberline by stable, optimized, and increasingly autonomous operations. The results are impressive, including a 0.5 - 1% increase in yield, a 35% increase in Kappa stability and reduced costs in chemical and steam production. In this podcast we talk to John Watkins, Product Sales Manager – Analyzers and Advanced Process Controls at ANDRITZ about the benefits of digitalization of the cooking and fiberline processes, and how mills can can achieve higher availability, lower maintenance requirements and reduced chemicals and water usage. For more information on ANDRITZ’s digital solutions, PulpEye Fiber Properties Analyzer, Smart Chip Level Measurement and the ANDRITZ Advanced Process Controls as well as the ANDRITZ Digital Twins, visit out website: https://www.andritz.com/pulp-and-paper-en/pulp-production/automation-and-digitalization-pulp-en/automation-digitalization-solutions-fiberline

April 22, 2026Episode 4214 min

#42 ANDRITZ ATAD - Solving the TAD energy problem

The Through-air Drying (TAD) process has been well accepted across the tissue industry as a major breakthrough in terms of final product quality; however, the process is notoriously known for its excessive energy demands. ANDRITZ has come to the rescue with the ATAD concept, which is set to revolutionize the energy-intensive demand of TAD production. ANDRITZ has tackled the TAD energy challenge head on by launching ATAD (Advanced TAD) - a groundbreaking innovation designed to slash drying energy use by up to 20%. Crucially, the energy reduction takes place while preserving the premium quality that makes TAD so appealing. Developed through years of research and testing at the ANDRITZ state-of-the-art PrimeLine TIAC pilot plant in Graz, Austria, ATAD addresses the core challenge by removing more water from the sheet before it enters the energy-intensive TAD drying drums. In this podcast we talk to ANDRITZ experts Paul Richards, Senior Technology Manager for Tissue and Grade Owner for TAD & Hybrid technologies, and Boris Jancic, Head of the Tissue Pilot Plant, about ATAD and how it will revolutionize energy challenges in TAD tissue production. For more information on ANDRITZ’s ATAD concept visit our website: https://www.andritz.com/pulp-and-paper-en/paper-production/esg-paper-industry-sustainability/esg-tissue-sustainability

March 13, 2026Episode 4120 min

#41 Can fiber quality, energy consumption and raw material efficiency be automated in panelboard production?

Panelboard producers have a major challenge when balancing fiber quality, energy consumption, and raw material efficiency. Since 80% of the board is wood fiber, any small variation in fiber length or width has a huge impact on the final product. Traditionally, quality checks are done offline and intermittently, meaning operators had to rely on experience rather than data. The biggest challenge is how to gain visibility and control, knowing what’s happening in real time. To alleviate these challenges, ANDRITZ has developed MDFEye, an innovative measuring system that continuously analyzes fiber properties right after refining, using machine vision and data analytics to measure over 150,000 fibers per sample every few minutes right after the refining. When combined with ANDRITZ Advanced Process Controls (APC), MDFEye allows for closed-loop control of refining and drying processes, automatically adjusting parameters to maintain consistent quality and to optimize energy use. The results? Up to 10% of kWh per ton in energy savings, better internal bond prediction, and reduced glue and wood consumption, turning traditional MDF production into a smarter, more autonomous operation. In this podcast, we take a deep dive into the panelboard industry with Genc Islamaj, Senior Sales Manager Automation and Digitalization, and former Product Manager of the MDFEye at ANDRITZ. In this podcast we discover how MDFEye and Advanced Process Controls technologies are helping manufacturers achieve a new level of process stability, energy efficiency, and product quality through smart, data-driven control. For more information on ANDRITZ’s MDFEye and Advanced Process Controls technologies visit our website: https://www.andritz.com/products-en/pulp-and-paper/automation-and-digitalization-paper-en

February 24, 2026Episode 4023 min

#40 What key enhancements can the addition of a shoe-blade gap former make to paper production?

Maximizing efficiencies and flexibility on paper machines is essential in the highly competitive market of paper and board production. Producers are now actively looking for flexibility in new machine lines or alternatively have reached the limit of their existing forming technology. ANDRITZ‘s PrimeForm TW Shoe-Blade GapFormer provides a highly flexible solution that enables strength and formation with operating speeds of 1600 m/min and a wide range of grades and furnishes, with single-ply basis weight references from 30-250 gsm. As well as for installations in new machines, the former is ideal for fast and uncomplicated rebuilds as the basics of the are already installed, for example frame and rolls, remain unchanged. ANDRITZ simply implements the shoe-blade technology in the forming area. With the Shoe-Blade GapFormer, it is possible to add another grade or to convert quickly to a different grade, for example packaging paper. In this podcast we talk to Lawrence William, Global Product Manager Forming, Paper & Tissue Division, ANDRITZ, to find out the about the benefits of the Shoe-Blade GapFormer which include adjustability, flexibility and a truly pulsation free shoe design. For more information on ANDRITZ’s PrimeForm TW Shoe-Blade Gap Former visit our website: https://www.andritz.com/products-en/group/pulp-and-paper/paper-production/paper-board-machines/primeform-forming

December 2, 2025Episode 398 min

#39 Can product uniformity be maintained in the production of nonwovens by automating the process?

One of the toughest challenges in the production of nonwovens is maintaining product uniformity at high speeds. Issues like the 'smile effect,' where fiber accumulates on the edges of the mat, lead to quality losses and wasted material. Producers are also under pressure to cut costs, save fiber, and reduce manual interventions, all while meeting sustainability goals such as lowering energy usage and emissions." The actual process of producing nonwovens can be described as similar to baking bread - but at industrial speed. Fiber mats have to be laid evenly, layer after layer, without clumping at the edges or thinning in the middle. Even a small imbalance can create wasted material, downtime, and product inconsistency. Traditionally, operators had to constantly adjust settings to avoid this, but that is all changing with autonomous control. ANDRITZ has developed ProWin™, an autonomous web profiling solution that combines the strengths of its ProDyn™ and ProWid™ technologies, together with Advanced Process Controls systems. The results? Up to 15% faster production speeds, 10% fiber savings, more even fabric weight, and dramatically reduced operator workload. In this podcast we talk to Guillaume Julien, Global Sales Director, Nonwoven, ANDRITZ about addressing the challenges of maintaining product uniformity at high speeds through a smart combination of technologies and automated regulation. For more information on ProWin please visit our website: https://www.andritz.com/nonwoven-textile-en/technologies/needlepunch/web-profiling-pro-win

November 11, 2025Episode 3817 min

#38 What advantages does the acquisition of Diamond Power International bring to ANDRITZ customers?

ANDRITZ recently acquired Diamond Power International, a global company which brings a large range of complimentary cleaning products and services to boiler operators in the pulp, paper and power industries. The company has been supplying specialist boiler cleaning services for over 100 years, and has a comprehensive portfolio covering boiler cleaning systems and process optimization tools including sootblowers, replacement parts, and upgrades, boiler cleaning controls, cameras and monitoring, port rodders and dampers gauges and level indicators. Diamond Power’s products have been developed to assist customers in solving challenges, improving efficiencies as well as enabling them to respond to changing markets, new fuels, and increasing environmental regulations. In this podcast we talk to Henrik Wikstedt, Senior Vice President, Division Manager Recovery & Power Service, ANDRITZ, and Michael Michael, President of Diamond Power International, now a member of ANDRITZ Group.Find out how ANDRITZ customers will benefit from the expanded product and service range, global reach and access to a worldwide service network, financial stability, and lifecycle support for efficient and reliable boiler performance. For more information, visit our website: https://www.andritz.com/products-en/pulp-and-paper/diamond-power

October 15, 2025Episode 3719 min

#37 How can tissue manufactures realize hidden production potential with digitalization?

The tissue industry is driven by high-speed production, fast grade changes, and constant pressure to reduce waste and energy use. However, many mills struggle with visibility and knowing exactly where and why losses happen. From sheet breaks and quality deviations to energy and fiber overuse, hidden inefficiencies cause losses everyday. ANDRITZ addresses this challenge with an integrated portfolio of digital solutions. Central to this offering is Metris Insights, a data platform tailored for tissue production. Enhanced by Optimization of Process Performance (OPP) and Metris Advanced Process Control (APC), it enables real-time optimization, automation, and efficiency improvements across production operations. Metris Insights integrates data from all mill systems into a single, user-friendly platform, providing real-time dashboards, statistical process control, machine learning tools, cost and energy tracking, soft sensors for key process variables, and automated reporting and alerts. In short, the combination of Metris Insights, OPP and APC gives operators and decision-makers the visibility they need to move from guessing to knowing and from reacting to optimizing. In this podcast we speak to John Schroeder, Director Packaging and Tissue Digital Solutions from ANDRITZ about the immediate positive improvements digitization brings to tissue production processes. For more information on Metris Insights and OPP in tissue production visit our website: https://www.andritz.com/pulp-and-paper-en/pulp-production/automation-and-digitalization-pulp-en/automation-digitalization-solutions-fiberline/metris-plant-insights

September 17, 2025Episode 3616 min

#36 How to increase revenues by lifting the quality of the wood chip side stream in sawmills?

As demand for quality wood chips increases at pulp mills across the globe and the sourcing of logs in some regions becomes more difficult, the wood chip side stream at sawmills can often be a significant revenue source. This means sawmill operators have a genuine opportunity to fill the gap by supplying wood chips to pulp mills. However, top quality chips are key. To ensure the production of quality chips at sawmills located across the globe, ANDRITZ mission in the supply of chipping technology is to always work to improve chip quality, reduce operational costs, increase uptime and maintain consistency of output – all in the safest of environments. ANDRITZ sawmill products include debarking and chipping equipment, including its PowerHead canter and the well-known TurnKnife system. This equipment is in use in sawmills all around the world – operating on various wood species in a variety of climates. In this podcast we talk to two ANDRITZ experts, Andreas Henning, Global Product Group Manager, and Adrian Yeoman, Customer Service Manager for Australia and New Zealand, about how sawmills can open up new revenue streams by utilizing the very best in chipping technology. For more information, visit our website: https://www.andritz.com/products-en/pulp-and-paper/service-solutions/sawmill-chipping

August 26, 2025Episode 3510 min

#35 What difference can digitalization and AI really make to pulp mill operational performance?

Today’s pulp mills are operating under intense pressure to be more sustainable, more efficient, and more reliable. One of the biggest challenges is dealing with process variability. These include fluctuations in raw material quality, changing production demands, and complex chemical dosing requirements. These issues not only affect the stability of the operation but also drive up costs and reduce efficiency. ANDRITZ has developed a combination of optimization and artificial intelligence tools to assist pulp mills in reducing chemical usage, minimize failures and achieve greater stability in operations – with some remarkable results. Metris Optimization of Process Performance (OPP) and Metris Copilot integrate advanced analytics with AI to enhance mill operations. Metris OPP leverages plant data to detect inefficiencies and define optimal conditions, while Metris Copilot delivers real-time, AI-driven recommendations, enabling continuous performance improvement and informed, data-based decision-making. In this podcast we talk to André Demuner, Global Automation and Digitalization Business Manager at ANDRITZ about how these new technologies allow pulp mills to move from simply managing problems to preventing them entirely. For more information, visit our website: https://www.andritz.com/pulp-and-paper-en/pulp-production/automation-and-digitalization-pulp-en

August 5, 2025Episode 3321 min

#34 What benefits will ANDRITZ’s acquisition of A.Celli Paper bring to tissue, paper, and board customers?

ANDRITZ recently acquired A.Celli Paper, an Italian company with extensive experience in tissue, paper and board machinery and services. The company offers turnkey tissue plants and tissue machines including key components and services, as well as winders, unwinders, and rewinders, and packaging solutions for all kinds of tissue, paper, and board production. The company operates in more than 60 countries, with the A.Celli Paper brand being well-known globally with around 1,000 installations. Its installed technology includes over 100 tissue machines, 400 rewinders for tissue and paper and 100 roll handling systems. The acquisition now enables ANDRITZ to be a full line supplier to the tissue paper and board industries, from stock preparation to finished reel. In this podcast, we welcome experts from the former A.Celli Paper, Luca Billi Sales Director and Chiara Allegrini Operations Manager and Alexander Wassermann, Executive Vice President, ANDRITZ Paper & Tissue to discuss the extra benefits now available for tissue, paper and board producers. For more information, visit our website:

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