Global technology company ABB has been contracted by manufacturer of forest products, Arauco, to modernize its Licancel cellulose plant in Chile to deliver faster response times, greater cyber security, upgraded operator interfaces, enhanced process reliability and flexibility for remote working.

Arauco will continue to utilize ABB Ability System 800xA distributed control system (DCS) and extend its use as the foundation for all operations at the plant. This will be done in two key stages: updating the existing System 800xA to version 6.1 and migrating from older DCS Infi 90 systems to new process communication and termination units to modernize the communications, network and controllers.

Moving to an ABB Ethernet network will allow more flexibility with the control system, enabling remote working and reliability improvements.

This will support Arauco's process improvement plans for Licancel, its 154,000 ton capacity plant for unbleached kraft pulp (UKP) cellulose located in the Licantén district of Maule region. Arauco is driving sustainable forest management and use of renewable sources across the country through local research and development into technologies to meet these aims.

Following detailed engineering studies, teams from ABB will collaborate with Arauco staff on site to complete the upgrade and system commissioning, resulting in a fully-migrated system and a platform fit for future adaptations and trends.

"This modernization marks a departure from technologies that have been in place since the 1990s," said Jorge Mesa, Licancel Plant Manager, Arauco. "Having the new, improved distributed control system and applications in place will better equip us to facilitate tackling our additional technological development projects, and achieving our best ever process performance at Licancel."