Advanced lime kiln control for Billerud Gruvön

A successful commissioning is about more than just technology – it’s about thoughtful planning, meticulous preparation, and strong collaboration between customer and supplier. On September 15–18, 2025, we at Optimation commissioned our control concept for lime kilns at Billerud Gruvön – a smooth, uneventful startup that was the result of a close partnership from the feasibility study all the way to commissioning.

During the implementation of our new control system, we were met with curiosity and strong engagement from the operators at Billerud Gruvön. This is a sign of a strong company culture and an understanding that the right technology does not replace operator expertise, but reinforces it.

The project has now been delivered and approved, and we are already seeing clear improvements:

• 9% reduction in energy consumption.
• Stable temperatures on both the lime and flue gas sides, with optimal residual carbonate levels.
• Robust control performance that can handle disturbances, such as a 50-degree drop in lime temperature.

The lime kiln will more or less run itself with the supervisory control system. When the complex regulation is handled automatically, the operators’ expertise can instead be used to identify and eliminate what we call “control deficiency costs” – a direct gain for profitability. This is exactly how digitalization creates value: by combining technology and people.

Next stop for Optimation is Nordic Paper in Bäckhammar, where we plan to commission another lime kiln control system during Q1 2026. Don’t hesitate to contact us to learn more about how our lime kiln control concept can support your operations.