1. Pulp and Paper Technology
Pulp and Paper Technology Education and Research at AIT Dr. Raimo O Malinen Director, Finnish PPT Project FoS Coordinator
March 2006
Pulp and Paper Technology

2. Pulp and Paper Technology
PPT FoS - Background
Strong growth in pulp and paper consumption and production in Asia since the late 1980’s
Almost revolutionary technical development in Asian paper industry since then – from small polluting mills to the state-of-the-art mills
Increasing demand for qualified engineers with pulp and paper education – thousands of expatriates in Asian paper industry in the mid-1990’s
March 2006
Pulp and Paper Technology

3. Pulp and Paper Technology
PPT FoS - Background
Limited or no academic level education for paper industry in most Asian countries – practically no lower-level schools for operators
No strong research institutes for pulp and paper in the region – very limited research if any in regional paper companies
35+ % of global paper consumption in Asia
March 2006
Pulp and Paper Technology

4. Pulp and Paper Technology
PPT FoS - Background
The idea for PPT FoS was initiated in Advance Agro paper company in 1994 and was presented to the Government of Finland in 1995
The decision to establish PPT FoS was done in 1996 – the MOU between AIT and Finnish Government was signed and in June 1996 Advance Agro decided to support laboratory building
The project activities were started in May 1996
The operations were started up in January 1998
March 2006
Pulp and Paper Technology

5. Pulp and Paper Technology
PPT FoS - Objectives
To produce high quality pulp and paper engineers of local background for local needs.
To contribute to environmentally sound, sustainable development in the region by supplying education and knowledge of available technology and conducting research in current problems.
March 2006
Pulp and Paper Technology

6. Pulp and Paper Technology
PPT FoS - Financing
Building was financed by Advance Agro, utilities by AIT and Finland
Laboratory equipment, library, furniture, etc. almost 100 % funded by Finland in the beginning, since then 80 to 90 % by Finland
AIT has been supporting most of annual operating budget
Finland has supported three faculty members plus annually a few short-timers, AIT has financed one faculty member plus staff
Finland has given annually 10 to 13 full MSc scholarships plus recently one PhD scholarship
Paper and related business has donated some instruments and altogether 8 scholartships
March 2006
Pulp and Paper Technology

7. Pulp and Paper Technology
PPT FoS - Staffing
Four full-time faculty members
Annually several short-time lecturers and other supporting experts with the Finnish project
Other staff 7, laboratory staff limited relevant education and experience which has made laboratory development more slowly; during the last four years both lab supervisors have been also doctoral students
March 2006
Pulp and Paper Technology

8. Pulp and Paper Technology
PPT FoS - Laboratory
Good basic equipment for pulp and paper laboratory
Limited equipment for higher-level research – acceptable for the PhD program
Major upgrade would require large investments – not realistic without a new major sponsor
March 2006
Pulp and Paper Technology

9. Pulp and Paper Technology
Curriculum
Course
Code
Course Title
Credit
Status
Semester
ED74.01
Pulp Manufacture
4(3-3) R
Aug
ED74.02
Fibre and Paper Fundamentals
ED74.03
Wood, Non-wood and Pulping Chemistry
2(2-0) E
ED74.04
Special Characteristics of Paper
ED74.05
Anatomy of Papermaking Fibers
2(1-3)
ED74.06
Structure, Markets and Economics of Paper Industry
ED74.07
Analytical and Research Methods in Paper Sciences
2(0-6)
ED74.08
Paper and Board Technology
3(3-0)
Jan
ED74.09
Unit Operations in a Chemical Pulp Mill
ED74.10
Pulping and Papermaking Laboratory
ED74.11
Environmental Control in Pulp and Paper Industry
ED74.12
Recycled Fibre Technology
ED74.13
Pigment Coating and Printing
3(2-3)
ED74.14
Advanced Pulp Mill Technologies
ED74.15
Pulp and Paper Mill Design
March 2006
Pulp and Paper Technology

10. Pulp and Paper Technology
Curriculum
Curriculum must include also basic courses because no good BSc programs in the region
The number of courses to be offered shall then be high
At best, students are required to take only 06 to 70 % of our courses which means there are not enough students for all courses
For PhD students only basic master courses available; PhD students cannot specialize in their course work at all
March 2006
Pulp and Paper Technology

11. Pulp and Paper Technology
Students
Annual intake around Master students. Presently 5 PhD students. The current and previous students represented following countries: Bangladesh China Finland India Indonesia Iran Myanmar Nepal Pakistan Sri Lanka Thailand Vietnam
March 2006
Pulp and Paper Technology

12. Products and Services of AIT PPT FoS
Degrees in Pulp and Paper Technology
MSc and PhD degrees
Certificates
Thesis, research reports, conference presentations and publications
Tailor-made seminars and short courses for industry according to the needs
Research projects
Contract research and testing services
Library services
March 2006
Pulp and Paper Technology

13. PPT FoS – Contract Research
A number of regular customers from paper industry as well as from machine and chemical suppliers
Projects typically small (testing)– revenue from projects has somewhat supported a low operation budget
Capacity for research projects is limited; skills of laboratory staff are not adequate for demanding contract research (no relevant education or experience; two key persons, lab supervisors still doctoral students)
Total gross revenue in 2006 will be at least 500,000 Baht
March 2006
Pulp and Paper Technology

14. Research Focus of PPT FoS
Optimum utilization of regional raw materials for papermaking
Eucalyptus camaldulensis (Thailand)
Acacia (Indonesia and Thailand)
Bamboos (Thailand, Vietnam)
Other non-wood materials
Improved utilization of recycled fiber in paper industry in the region
Development of process technologies for regional raw materials
ECF and TCF bleaching technologies with regional raw materials
Development of product quality based on regional raw materials
March 2006
Pulp and Paper Technology

15. Strengths of AIT PPT FoS
PPT is part of Asian Institute of Technology, a well known international, English speaking university
Located fairly close to the industry in the fastest developing pulp and paper making region in the world
Strong knowledge of raw materials and modern, efficient, sustainable and environmentally sound technology.
Connections with local companies and universities in the Asia-Pacific region
Up-to-date equipment available, PPT laboratory equipped with good basic laboratory instruments and with increasing number of more sophisticated instruments
March 2006
Pulp and Paper Technology

16. Pulp and Paper Technology
Achievements
Ca 110 graduated MSc students by the end of the year 2005
Two graduated doctoral students
Six doctoral students in progress
Several graduated MSc students from AIT-PPT have been in PhD programs in Finland, USA, Canada, Germany, Australia; three graduated by 2005
In terms of the number of graduates per year AIT-PPT belongs to top-five academic paper schools in the world
March 2006
Pulp and Paper Technology

17. Vision of Pulp and Paper Technology Field of Study
The Vision of PPT FoS is to establish and strengthen its position as a leading pulp and paper education center in South-East Asia to support the development of environmentally friendly paper industry in the region.
This is implemented by producing MSc and PhD graduates as well offering research services for the use of regional paper industry.
AIT PPT FoS is striving to become an important part of the global network of universities, especially with European Union and Asia Pacific, providing education and research services for paper industry.
March 2006
Pulp and Paper Technology