In today’s paper industry, maintaining consistent product quality while optimizing operating costs is essential for improving mill competitiveness. Valmet IQ Controls and Applications provide advanced control and optimization solutions that enable paper mills to achieve real-time quality control, reduce process variability, and improve overall machine performance.

As the core of the Valmet IQ Quality Control System (QCS), the solution combines intelligent control applications, multivariable predictive control (MPC) technology, and advanced diagnostic and analysis tools. It provides a clear view of process performance and product quality while enabling mills to optimize the entire production process, from stock preparation and wet-end operations to final product quality control.

Designed to deliver stable quality efficiently at the economic optimum, Valmet IQ Controls and Applications help mills manage machine line performance, improve process stability, and achieve predictable quality. By utilizing multivariable predictive controls and proven process models based on decades of first-hand papermaking experience and real-world data, the system enables better decision-making, improved operational efficiency, and sustainable production performance.

Key benefits of Valmet IQ Controls

• Improved quality profiles for better raw material economy and lower operating costs.
• Reliable automated controls for faster grade changes and process transitions.
• Increased process stability and predictable product quality.
• Reduced process variability and minimized off-spec production.
• Enhanced machine performance and runnability.
• Better production efficiency through intelligent control applications and optimization.
• Real-time visibility into process performance and product quality.
• Seamless integration with the Valmet DNA platform for a unified and structured user experience.

Multivariable predictive control (MPC) for predictable quality and process stability

Papermaking processes are continually changing. Variations in raw materials, operating conditions, and production requirements can create performance gaps that directly impact product quality, resource efficiency, and machine performance.

Using Multivariable Predictive Control (MPC), Valmet IQ Controls and Applications help mills predict and mitigate process disturbances before they affect the final product. The system continuously monitors process conditions and takes predictive actions across multiple control loops, keeping the entire production process balanced and operating at its optimum.

Based on decades of first-hand papermaking experience and real-world process data, Valmet’s unique multivariable process models enable mills to achieve truly predictable quality while improving overall process performance.

Key benefits:

• More predictable and consistent paper quality.
• Improved process stability and reduced variability.
• Better raw material utilization and reduced waste.
• Enhanced machine performance and operational efficiency.
• Sustainable long-term improvements in production performance and product quality.

Valmet IQ MD Optimizer: multivariable machine direction (MD) control

Valmet IQ MD Optimizer is a multivariable Machine Direction (MD) control solution designed to reduce process variability before the wet sheet is formed, enabling a higher level of paper quality control performance. The system integrates fast-responding wet-end process controls with dry-end feedback controls to maintain process stability and improve overall machine performance.

Benefits of Valmet IQ MD Optimizer

• Faster machine startups.
• Faster and more efficient grade changes.
• Reduced dryer breaks.
• Improved machine runnability.
• Enhanced wet sheet uniformity through stable short circulation.
• Reduced MD variability and improved quality consistency.

The full-scope Valmet IQ MD Optimizer can simultaneously manage:

• Thick stock flow.
• Filler flows.
• Retention chemical flows.
• Steam pressures
• Multiple paper quality variables during steady-state operation, speed changes, and process upsets.

By keeping the process balanced across multiple control loops, the system helps mills achieve smoother MD properties, predictable quality, and stable production performance under all operating conditions.

Valmet IQ CD Controls: Intelligent cross-direction (CD) quality optimization

For paper and tissue producers, controlling cross-direction (CD) profiles is essential for achieving uniform product quality, improving machine performance, and minimizing raw material losses.

Valmet IQ CD Controls are high-level intelligent control applications that optimize CD performance across paper, tissue, board, coater, calender, and pulp drying processes. Using data from high-resolution measurements, the system continuously monitors and optimizes quality profiles across the sheet width.

Key benefits of Valmet IQ CD Controls

• Improved product uniformity and quality consistency.
• Optimized CD profile performance across the machine width.
• Enhanced machine runnability and operational efficiency.
• Reduced raw material waste and improved resource utilization.
• Fast recovery following process upsets.
• Ability to meet increasingly demanding quality requirements.

Valmet IQ CD Controls can handle everything from single-loop control applications to the most advanced multivariable control solutions for virtually any measured profile variable. Integrated tuning and troubleshooting tools simplify system maintenance and ensure excellent web quality, stable runnability, and reliable production performance.

In addition, built-in maintenance tools and automatic calculation of control models and parameters help reduce maintenance efforts while ensuring consistently optimized control performance.

Valmet IQ Controls Offering

Valmet IQ Controls and Applications provide a comprehensive portfolio of control and optimization solutions designed to help pulp, paper, board, and tissue producers achieve predictable quality, improve process stability, enhance machine performance, and optimize production efficiency across the entire manufacturing process.

The offering covers applications for stock preparation, wet-end operations, final quality control, CD profile control, tissue-specific processes, and advanced machine optimization. Together, these intelligent control applications enable mills to manage machine line performance, reduce process variability, and maintain stable product quality under all operating conditions.