MPY 410 Vacation Work

At sappi Mill Stanger

Diederick J Taljaard 29031096

Abstract
It is a requirement of the Engineering council of South Africa (ECSA), that each student completes 6 weeks of technical training in an engineering environment at the end of their second and third year of study. The outcomes also require the students to write a technical report about the work done. Diederick J Taljaard spent seven weeks at Sappi pulp and paper mill in Stanger. This is a report explains his objectives, results and findings of his vacation work at the end of his third year of study.

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Table of Contents
Abstract.................................................................................................................................. i Introduction ...........................................................................................................................vi 1. Sappi ............................................................................................................................ vii 1.1. 1.2. Sappi Limited ......................................................................................................... vii Sappi Mill Stanger .................................................................................................. vii

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figures

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tables

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symbols

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Introduction
The vacation work is a bounded way to introduce an upcoming engineer to the engineering environment without the responsibilities of a professional engineer. The student is placed between experienced engineers who can help stimulate a learning and knowledge absorbing curve to help the student become ready for the true work environment. Diederick had to learn the engineering management system at Sappi. He faced new complications with each task and learned stimulating ways to overcome them.

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1. Sappi
1.1. Sappi Limited

South African Pulp and Paper Industries Limited was established in 1936 shortly before construction of its first mill Enstra in Springs, Gauteng. In 1973 the company was reregistered as Sappi Limited, as it is known today.

1.2.

Sappi Mill Stanger

Stanger mill is a Sappi paper and Paper Packaging (SPP). This mill is quite unique because it is seen as a Green mill, because of its used raw material. Its basic source of material is bagasse to produce pulp. Bagasse is the waste part of sugar cane. This is very ideal because the mill is situated in KwaZulu-Natal, between sugar cane farms which supply a steady supply of bagasse. With the pulp produced on site as well as imported pulp from other Sappi mills in SA, it produces 110,000 metric tons per year of coated wood free paper and tissue paper. The production process, as seen in fig. 1, at Sappi Stanger is a common paper making process except its raw material and the start of the process includes another Mill, a Sugar Mill.

Sugar Mill

Moist Depithing

Concrete Slabs

Paper Machine Wet Depithing Pulp plant

Pre Winder Coater Vary Roll Winder

Tissue Machine
Tissue Cutter Tissue Converting Plant

Figure 1.1: Production process at Sappi Stanger

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Sugar Mill
The Sugar Mill is situated in the heart of the

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