The Chilean Multinational Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A. automates water quality measurements while producing pulp with state-of-the-art Kuntze analysis systems

Background information

Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A. is a global company headquartered in Santiago, Chile that develops quality products based on renewable forest resources such as pulp, coated boards or moldings. For all its production processes, the amount of free chlorine in the production water must be strictly between 0.8 to 1.2 parts-per million (ppm). If this value is not met, this can lead to quality problems in the pulping process, increased reagent usage, or increased water usage. For measuring this threshold level, the company previously made use of mechanically cleaned sensor, which was not sufficient and required frequent manual cleaning and calibration. This made running the installation a highly labor intensive and inefficient process.

Challenge

Two major problems arose from the previous measurement process and system: First, the company faced precision problems in the measurement accuracy of the free chlorine and second, they experienced a high maintenance frequency of the current free chlorine measurement equipment and sensors resulting in a permanently large effort to ensure perfect water quality. It was clearly visible that for ensuring precise measurement results and less maintenance effort, Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A. required a top-notch water analysis system that was optimally matched to the applications, low-maintenance and largely automated.

Kuntze Solution

For more efficient and precise measurement of water quality, the Chilean Kuntze partner “Analitiks SpA.”, installed a Krypton® Multi multi-channel water monitoring system for the measurement and control of free chlorine and pH at Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A. In doing so, our partner was able to solve our client’s challenges with great success. After a short introductory and test round, Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A. experienced the benefits first-hand: Kuntze’s Krypton® Multi system was tremendously easier to use and required less maintenance due to a steady flow of water without manual intervention and an elimination of cleaning and maintenance of the sensors, while being more precise in its measurement. Through the installation of the Krypton® Multi, Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A. was able to reduce high maintenance work and expenses for instance for system calibrations. By replacing the outdated technology and relying on Kuntze as one of the global quality leaders in the field of water analysis, the company significantly saves on personnel costs by leveraging a more precise, stable and automated system. 

Analitiks SpA. also carried out a statistical analysis with more than 160 samples after installation at the plant to show that Kuntze equipment is much more precise. The analysis revealed that the Krypton® Multi significantly improved the precision of chlorine measurement which also led to an optimal determination of chlorine dosage, lowering chlorine consumption by 30% compared to what they normally used. 

Since Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A. has been very satisfied with the solution, the company commissioned Analitiks SpA. to install the Krypton® Multi in another two production centers in Chile in the last two years. 

About Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A.

For more than 50 years Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A. has been developing products based on renewable forest resources. These allow the company to offer a wide variety of sustainable and quality solutions that improve the lives of millions of people around the world. The quality forest products are part of a value chain for the paper, clothing, construction, packaging, furniture and energy industries. 

Being present in the forestry, pulp, wood, panel and clean and renewable energy sectors, Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A. is a globalized company with a presence on 5 continents, reaching almost 5,000 clients throughout the world generating a total annual turnover of $150 million US dollars. Today, the company owns a modern processing plant of more than 15,000 square meters built on 18 hectares of land and employs 700 people.