Fiber Producer - Case Study

Sustana operates three business units across nine recovery facilities, a paper manufacturing facility, and two fiber recycling facilities in Quebec and De Pere, Wisconsin. They use proprietary processes to manufacture sustainable recycled fiber from recycled paper content, which is used to produce printing and commercial papers, tissue paper, and food-grade packaging products.

Sustana needed to improve the quality of its recycled fiber products in terms of appearance, strength, brightness, bulk, and ink receptivity. They sought a more environmentally friendly production process with a longer shelf life and more economical shipping than the wet lap fiber production process. The plant produces 50 to 60 bales per hour over three shifts and requires a marking solution for internal routing and traceability within the facility for efficient production.

Goals:

• A marking solution that prints on both sides of the bales with characters up to 3 inches in height.
• Implement the new print solution within a tight schedule.
• Enhance sustainability and support the circular economy.

We knew Sustana needed a custom solution on a tight timeline. After an onsite meeting to review print samples and product parameters, Matthews Marking Systems developed a solution to ensure consistent and perfect prints. The V-Series valve inkjet marking system, with three precision 32-valve printheads, prints large characters, brand information, lot codes, and 2D barcodes on both sides of each bale. The modular design of the V-Series provides flexibility, while the efficient ink delivery system reduces the cost per print.

The MPERIA marking and coding automation platform controls the V-Series printers, integrating with Sustana’s database for accurate messaging. A camera scans each printed 2D barcode, ensuring easy identification and accurate coding relayed to Sustana’s network. This rugged system, capable of flexible mounting, withstands the harsh mill environment and the traversing arms that secure the fiber bales between print heads, ensuring high-quality and reliable production.

• Flexible, custom printing solution
• Higher level of sustainability
• Low cost of mark
• Accurate ID coding on each product

We worked with Matthews to implement a custom-engineered marking solution to support Sustana's sustainability goals and the expanded production capacity at the De Pere plant. The V-Series printer solution ensures flexibility, high efficiency, cost-per-print savings, and reliability.

The marking solution for Sustana's new dry pulp line exemplifies their dedication to considering the environmental impact at every stage of a product's life cycle.