Kadant’s Reject Handling Solution for Rag Ropes: Upcycling opportunity that mills should not ignore

Waste management is a crucial aspect of sustainability in the pulp and paper industry. One waste stream that often goes unnoticed is rag ropes, which are by-products of the paper manufacturing process. These rag ropes are typically landfilled, stockpiled, or illegally dumped, causing pollution and harm to the environment.

At Kadant, we recognize the importance of addressing this waste stream and finding innovative solutions for its management. Rag ropes can be bulky and high in water content, making them challenging to handle and dispose of effectively. However, our engineered solutions can turn these waste materials into valuable resources.

Our comprehensive solution involves shredding, separating, and pressing the rejects from rag ropes using Kadant's Shredder, Aeromagnetic Separator, and Coarse Press. The process begins with a heavy-duty single-shaft shredder that directly shreds the rag rope and other pulper heavy rejects into smaller pieces. These shredded materials then undergo a magnetic belt that removes ferrous materials, leaving behind non-ferrous materials, primarily plastic.

For precision cleaning, the ferrous materials go through our patented aero-magnetic separator, ensuring the end ferrous material is free from impurities. The non-ferrous materials merge with the removed impurities and are sent to a specialized Coarse Press, where they are dewatered to achieve up to 75% dryness.

The result is clean metals and dried plastic that can be further upcycled, creating new opportunities for revenue generation. By properly treating the rag rope waste stream, our customers can extract valuable ferrous materials and shredded plastic, contributing to a circular economy.

One of the key advantages of Kadant's Reject Handling (Upcycling) solution for Rag Rope is its ability to provide a complete engineered system for separating ferrous materials from non-ferrous materials, specifically designed to handle pulper rag ropes. Our solution delivers high-quality output, with clean wire ready for upcycling and highly dry plastic suitable for further processing. Furthermore, our solution is a single compact system for managing coarse rejects, providing our customers with a smart, tech-connected, and reliable solution

We offer different sizes of equipment to cater to various production capacities, ensuring flexibility and scalability for our customers. Additionally, we provide the option of pilot plant rental, allowing pulp and paper mills to test and evaluate the system's performance before committing to a full-scale implementation. This compact system is easy to service by the maintenance team and is easy to operate.

By implementing Kadant's "Rag Rope Solution", pulp and paper mills can significantly improve their efficiency, reduce waste, and contribute to a more sustainable industry. This solution aligns with environmentally responsible practices, helping mills achieve their waste reduction goals while supporting Kadant's mission of promoting a greener earth. Together, we can make a difference in waste management and build a more sustainable future.

For more information, send us your inquiry at [email protected].

Reach out to your nearest Kadant Expert and get in touch for this solution for your mill.

Written by Utkarsh Agarwal (Global Marketing Manager KADANT LAMORT SAS )