Metal, concrete or plastic: two Karelian companies develop partnership by introducing innovative materials
The enterprises of the “Karelia Pulp” group increasingly prefer regional partnerships. At the same time, cooperation is determined both by the geographical location of its participants and their readiness for innovation, competences and high customer focus.
At the enterprises of “Karelia Pulp”, they continue to review the pool of equipment and spare parts suppliers in favor of the partners from Russia and friendly countries. The cooperation of the Kondopoga Pulp and Paper Mill (KPPM) and “KTK-RTI”, a Petrozavodsk company specializing in comprehensive maintenance of hydraulic, pneumatic and lubrication equipment, high-strength fasteners and bearings, has been going on for eight years now and has every chance of expanding and prolonging.
— The specialists of the partner company, who we gained our first experience of working with in 2016, drew our attention to the new generation of plastic and, understanding the needs and requirements of the enterprise, suggested using it at the KPPM, — says Sergey Baidin, the Managing Director of the Kondopoga Pulp and Paper Mill.
— In 2018, at the plant in Kondopoga, we used INKULEN PE, a high-molecular plastic, for the first time. Polymers are used in various industries from food to heavy ones, and we have also worked with pulp and paper companies. And although we are participating in a project solving environmental problems for the first time, we are confident in our product and that it will meet the customer's needs, — says Mikhail Sidorov, the Technical Director of “KTK-RTI”.
High-molecular plastic found its application in the environmental project of the pulp and paper mill, which essence is modernization of the equipment of the biological treatment shop for industrial wastewater, namely, replacement of the settling tray made by the specialists of “KTK-RTI” from Petrozavodsk.
— We replaced the first such concrete tray earlier with a stainless steel analogue from a domestic partner. And when in 2022, due to rising prices and difficulties with logistics, the cooperation ceased, after calculations and analysis, we decided to manufacture the next tray from INKULEN PE with “KTK-RTI”, — comments Evgeny Vikhrov, the head of the environmental service of the Kondopoga PPM. — Wear resistance, strength, resistance to extreme weather conditions are the most important characteristics of the required material for us, because the operating conditions are difficult: every hour, about 1,500 m3 of water comes out of the settling tank, which has a round shape and is located in the open air.
— Before delivering the equipment to the customer, we always test it, because both our and the customer's responsibility is enormous. The project with the environmentalists of Kondopoga was no exception. We made sure that our material corresponds to the declared loads and only then tackled the project, — continues Mikhail Sidorov, the Technical Director of “KTK-RTI”.
The parties intend to continue their cooperation, especially since other companies of the “Karelia Pulp” holding have also expressed interest in its successful experience.
