A paper machine might not be the first place one looks for signs of industrial automation’s next phase — but ABB and Swedish pulp and paper manufacturer Billerud are making the case that legacy manufacturing can be rebuilt from the inside out.
ABB has signed a modernization agreement with Billerud to upgrade Paper Machine 5 at its Gävle mill in Sweden, one of the company’s principal production sites for liquid packaging board and liner. The Gävle facility is no small operation — across Billerud’s network, output from this location contributes to the equivalent of roughly 200 million packaging containers per day, used in consumer goods and food applications worldwide.
The modernization project centers on bringing the mill’s core systems onto ABB’s current platforms. This includes an upgraded ABB Ability System 800xA distributed control system, new-generation AC 800M controllers, refreshed quality control capabilities, and updated drive technology. Together, these changes give plant operators faster, clearer insight into machine performance and allow production changes to be made with considerably more precision — helping reduce deviation from quality targets while cutting waste of both materials and energy.
Cyber security is another significant dimension of the upgrade. As industrial systems become more connected, older automation environments carry growing vulnerabilities. The modernized setup addresses this directly, creating a more resilient operational environment suited to current standards and future requirements.
