The Future of Refining

ice_screenshot_20220719-201510.png

New capabilities for measuring pulp quality present opportunities to automate and optimize refining. Properties such as crill, which previously were rarely used, are now better understood and providing the opportunity to optimize raw material usage and profitability. With online measurement of crill and other such properties, refining can be automated to produce optimal product quality and profitability. This presentation will discuss these new opportunities and present a vision for the future

Learning outcomes:

  • Recognize that new online sensors provide insight into what is happening to furnish in a refiner
  • Understand the opportunities for optimization of final product quality

Who Should Watch?

Typical Job Titles 

  • Process Control Engineer 
  • Mill Managers

Type of Company

  • Manufacturer

Which Divisions and Committees should attend?

  • Process Control
  • PIMA
  • Paper and Board
  • Corrugated Packaging
  • Process and Product Quality

Speaker: 

Pat Dixon, PE, PMP

VP of Automation, Pulmac 

Pat is an experienced automation engineer and project manager.  He received his degree in Paper Science and Engineering from Miami University in 1987, and is chair of the academic committee for the Miami University Pulp and Paper Foundation, having twice received the Pioneer Award.

Pat has worked for SAPPI (Somerset mill), Honeywell, Pavilion Technologies, Advanced System Integration, Emerson, and Global Process Automation.  In 1999 he established DPAS to provide system integration, automation consulting, and project management services to firms such as DuPont, Kraft Foods, Andritz, B Braun Medical, Samsung, and Austin Energy.  He joined Pulmac in August 2021.  

Pat was licensed as a professional engineer in 2007.  He is now licensed in Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Colorado.  In 2018 he earned certification as a Project Management Professional from the Project Management Institute. 

Inside this Section