Chinese firms order from Kadant.

Kadant Inc., Acton, Massachusetts, USA, recently received orders totaling nearly US$ 11 million for stock-preparation systems from three customers in China. The equipment supplied by the company's Kadant Black Clawson Inc. subsidiary will recover usable fiber from various sources of wastepaper using advanced de-inking, pulping, cleaning, screening, and washing technologies.

* Zaozhuang Hua Run Paper Co., Ltd. purchased two stock-preparation systems for new production lines that will double capacity at its mill located northwest of Shanghai. One system will process mixed office wastepaper when the mill produces white linerboard for high-quality boxes. It will also process recycled newsprint when the mill produces gypsum paper used on the outside of wallboard. The second system will process recycled corrugated material used to produce white linerboard and gypsum paper. The equipment is scheduled for installation and startup by the end of this year.

* Ningbo Zhonghua Paper Co., Ltd. also ordered a system for the processing of mixed office wastepaper used for the production of white linerboard at its mill located south of Shanghai.

* Kinfai International Industries Ltd. ordered three systems far its new Dongguan Jianhui Paper mill. This greenfield mill located near Hong Kong will produce one million metric tons of coated whiteboard per year. Kadant systems in part one of the three-phase project will process mixed waste and recycled newsprint for the production of multi-ply whiteboard used for packaging. Installation is scheduled for early 2004.

In other Kadant news: Kadant Black Clawson (KBC), Mason, Ohio, USA, has improved repair and service levels for pulp processing equipment. Chalmers & Kubek (C&K), Alston, Pennsylvania, and KBC will cooperate with C&K calling on paper mills throughout the Southeastern United States. C&K and KBC have had a working relationship since 1998. Repairs and service will now occur at four locations: KBC in Rayville, Louisiana, C&K at Athens, Georgia, C&K at Aston, Pennsylvania, and C&K at Springfield, Massachusetts.