Dalum Papir

Yesterday I have visited the De-inking factory and the mill of Dalum Papir and discussed solutions about the continuation of one old pending project of mine. The process of recycling paper is very complicated and the experience of the following path really emotional.

Mr. Berth Steen gave me a tour explaining every step of the process. The production of Dalum Papri is based on 100% recycling by using 120.000 tonnes of post consumer waste paper per year and turning it into 75.000 tonnes of brand new paper (coated and uncoated). Nothing will be wasted at the end, the remains of ink will be used in the production of cement, the remains of paper will be used for the heating system of the city, the water after been recycled six times will return to the river cleaner than before and so on…).

The process takes place in two different implantations in Næstved and Odense. The factory is highly automated with only 300 employees and runs 24 hours a day 7 days a week.





The steps are many and complicated. Basically the used paper will go through pulping and through mechanical purification where the coarse impurities the plastic, the clips and stables, etc will be removed (this is actually what is going to be used for the municipal heating/power).
Then though a flotation system impurities such as ink and glue will be removed as well by the addition of soap and air (the de-inking sludge is used for cement production). Then in big washing basins the smallest impurities are washed out and the usable fibers will end up in biological washing basins. After the biological bleaching (using Hydrogen Peroxide and non-chlorine bleaching) the fibers will be de-watered by pressing (this water will be recycled six times before it is bio-actively cleaned to return to the stream). The piles of fibers are transported to the mil by train (75.000 tones) over the bridge to the other Danish island where the Dalum Paper Mil is located.


At the mil founded in 1874 (and situated in Odense) the recycled fibers will be used to produce paper. One big machine will do most of the work by mixing and pressing the fibers. Then the ready fine paper will be coated or not, dried cut into sheets or rolled and then exported all around the world.