Sylvamo - a three-week factory shutdown to ensure the maintenance of its production equipment

Why a mill shutdown?

This shutdown is part of the core processes of the paper industry. Why is it necessary? To carry out maintenance and inspection work and to consider future investments/replacements of site equipment and materials, both preventive and corrective.

The challenge for the client during this period is to ensure the organisation of the various workplaces, but also to guarantee a high level of safety for all employees present on site.

The Sylvamo factory is therefore shut down for three weeks so that the various parties involved, including Apave, can carry out the necessary investigations and checks to ensure the safety of the production equipment.

A large-scale project

Our team carried out several jobs:

• More than fifty pressure and non-destructive testing (NDT) inspectors from all over France were mobilised for the equipment testing work. In addition, a team of 24 consultants was set up to supervise the health, safety and environment (HSE) monitoring of the site, and to support the companies and SYLVAMO in the preparation and execution of their work.
• Apave's skills in this area range from checking pressure equipment, pipes and tanks to ensuring the safety of people on the site.
• "It was a really intense job, working in three shifts for three weeks! The works did not stop at any time during this period, so the teams of consultants had to be present at all times to ensure HSE supervision. Our presence during the working day was mandatory 7 days a week to guarantee a quality service, coordination between those involved, ensure good relations with the plant management and be reactive to risk-related requests," says Florent Lamarque, project manager and consultant for Large Safety and Industry Projects.