For a long time, newspapers, books and other printed items have been declared to be “on the way out.” The death knell has been sounding in paper and pulp plants for decades now. Still, the producers who have survived in these industries have done so in spite of all the dire predictions of doom and gloom precisely because they have figured out how to survive technology disruption with innovative equipment.

Paper and pulp is still produced on every continent, particularly in the United States, China, Japan and Canada. One of the issues the paper industry has had to learn to survive is its image as environmentally wasteful producers. For example, the bleaching plan that produces the recognizable products we are all familiar with, can be environmentally damaging, including the run-off water or treatment water needed to complete the process. Some companies have incorporated a non-chlorinated process to make things more environmentally friendly. This is where Komax could help.

In order to get the environmental results needed, the stock must be heated during a transfer process, and many older heating systems just could not handle that effectively without a ton of cost. Fortunately, Komax can provide static mixer heating that allows direct steam injection, where stock passes through the unit and steam is introduced at the same time. Minimal energy usage is a win-win for paper and pulp companies – their costs go down in a market that is cut-throat as it is, and their image as becoming more environmentally conscious increases.

Don’t rely on your Kindle just yet! Although the world certainly looks different than it did a few decades ago, the paper industry isn’t as dead as some of its critics seem to think. With innovative thinking, it will go on for years to come.