Azima Awarded Contract by K.T.G. (USA), Previously Part of Scott Paper
AutoWalkTM service will allow 80-acre Memphis tissue plant to gather its own vibration data, and still reap the benefits of expert analysis and Internet-based reporting from Azima.
MEMPHIS, TN – January 29, 2008 – K.T.G. (USA), previously a subsidiary of Scott Paper and a manufacturer of bath tissue and facial tissue, has awarded Azima a contract to implement the company’s AutoWalk service. AutoWalk is a program in which a client’s vibration data, collected manually by factory staff, is remotely analyzed by Azima specialists and then uploaded to a web-based interface for easy access and review. This allows companies with a condition monitoring system already in place to further their program, without abandoning existing software and instrumentation. With AutoWalk, clients have anytime access to Azima’s on-staff industry experts and web-based reporting.
K.T.G., which manufactures bath and facial tissue under the White Cloud name for all Wal-Mart stores across the United States, is a 1.8 million-square-foot plant on 80 acres in North Memphis. It is the biggest industrial complex in the city, with 40 acres under one roof. With such a large operation, the mill already had a program in place to monitor the health of its machines. This included software and instrumentation for the routine data collection and analysis of equipment in the plant, equipment databases, and trained personnel. K.T.G. was monitoring more than 2,300 measurement points, but wanted personnel with more extensive knowledge to analyze the findings. K.T.G. turned to Azima.
“Although we already had a large-scale monitoring program in place, we knew we needed to intensify that effort to stay productive and reduce downtime,” said Jim Israelson, Maintenance Manager of K.T.G. “Azima offered a cost-effective, advanced service that would mesh our existing infrastructure with Azima’s in-house experts and Internet-based reporting. We did not want to face additional capital expenditures, and implementing a program on a turnkey basis with outside labor would have cost 60% more than Azima’s AutoWalk.”
"The opportunity to provide our AutoWalk service to K.T.G., a major paper mill standing for nearly 65 years, is an exciting opportunity for us," said Don Rainey, Director at Azima. “K.T.G. selected Azima because of our proven track record, and we are committed to living up to that expectation.”
About K.T.G. (USA)
K.T.G. is a 1.8 million-square-foot paper mill situated on 80 acres in Memphis, Tennessee. The plant was originally part of Scott Paper and Kimberly-Clark, and was purchased in 2002 by Kruger Inc., a Canadian manufacturer of pulp and paper. K.T.G. manufactures premium tissue products, under its own brand names and private labels, for retail, industrial, business, and institutional use. Over the past several years, Kruger has instituted a major modernization plan at the plant, to fulfill Kruger’s strategic objective of expanding into the premium private-label segment of the U.S. retail market.
About Azima
Azima is a software and services company focused on industrial machine reliability. The company utilizes industry experts and a web-based portal to deliver timely information and advice about equipment condition, in either a single plant or across the enterprise. This leads to improved productivity, reduced production risk, enhanced asset management, and more. Azima’s approach includes proven methods such as vibration; thermography; lube oil analysis; motor and battery testing; reciprocating compressor monitoring; and balancing, alignment, and other advanced services. Azima is a reliability partner for many Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 industrial companies, offering international sales and support. The company is headquartered in Woburn, Massachusetts.
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