Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia \u2014 In today\u2019s technological era, more\nindustries are moving towards a circular economy, including the pulp,\npaper and fibre sector. This was acknowledged by Liew WeiMing, Cluster\nManager for Pulp, Paper and Fibre, Asia & Oceania, at ABB Process\nIndustries.<\/p>\n
He said pulp and paper mills were making greater use of biomass and\nusing production residues to generate energy.<\/p>\n
Another notable development is the growth of biorefineries at pulp\nmills. These facilities can also produce biochemicals for use in other\nindustries, creating mutual benefits.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are also seeing more people trying to find ways to recycle\npolyester,\u201d he told CNBC Indonesia, as quoted on Wednesday (7 October\n2026).<\/p>\n
He also highlighted the modernisation of the pulp and paper industry.\nMany people understand paper only as a material for writing, printing or\npackaging, but its uses have now expanded well beyond these\nfunctions.<\/p>\n
New segments are emerging, including sustainable packaging, alongside\nnew applications, particularly in textiles. For example, viscose fibre\ncan be produced from materials such as bamboo to create a softer\nmaterial. Another development is the use of nanocellulose, which has\ndifferent fibre characteristics and a wide range of potential\napplications, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs one of the major players, Indonesia needs to start focusing on\ndeveloping higher-value products rather than simply producing large\nvolumes,\u201d WeiMing stressed.<\/p>\n
He said the industry was no longer just about making paper. It had\nexpanded into new segments, such as sustainable materials, new\napplications in areas including textiles, and the development of new\ntechnologies for bio-based production.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe main conclusion is that most mills undergoing transformation\ninto modern, future-ready facilities capable of adopting technology need\nto take a gradual approach. And we must embrace AI as we move forward\ntogether,\u201d WeiMing said.<\/p>\n
ABB has worked with the pulp, paper and fibre industries for decades,\ndividing the value chain into two areas. The first is the operational\nside: how mills run. ABB provides solutions ranging from substations,\nelectrification, motors and drives to energy management systems, helping\nto reduce emissions.<\/p>\n
The second area is intelligence. ABB recently launched Automation\nExtended, which uses a range of technologies. Its integrated process\ncontrol and optimisation solutions help improve product quality.<\/p>\n
ABB hopes that paper mills will become increasingly modern and\ncompetitive. High levels of connectivity are a key foundation, given\nthat many mills are in remote locations. Connecting mills enables\ncompanies to receive support and collaborate with suppliers and\ncolleagues within their organisations.<\/p>\n
\u201cMills also need to be highly data-driven. We need to collect a great\ndeal of information to make improvements, for example through predictive\nmaintenance. Most mills are now also seeking to become more autonomous.\nTo achieve this, we need to apply data-driven insights and AI to help\noperators make decisions quickly and achieve stable, continually\noptimised operations. With more data and information available, we can\nalso apply advanced analytics and continue moving towards more efficient\nmills,\u201d he concluded, emphasising that connectivity, data and autonomy\nwill be essential for paper mills to remain competitive in the\nfuture.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/abb-pledges-support-for-the-circular-economy-by-maximising-resources-1791964228", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }