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Hands-On Workshop for Pulp and Paper Basics

Co-sponsored by TAPPI and NC State University

Held on the campus of NC State, Department of Forest Biomaterials, Paper Science and Engineering Program, Biltmore Hall, on the corner of Western Boulevard and Dan Allen Drive in Raleigh, North Carolina

Upcoming Training Events

Workshop Overview

Equipment
Pilot paper machine run during the pulp and paper hands-on workshop

This hands-on, laboratory-based introductory workshop will provide attendees with a broad overview of the basic concepts in pulp and paper manufacturing, including pulping, bleaching, chemical recovery, recycling, papermaking and converting.

The course will consist of presentations each morning and hands-on laboratory and pilot-plant exercises every afternoon. Course material discussed in the morning will be re-emphasized in lab and pilot plant exercises for increased understanding. This course will provide important information in the training of anyone that needs to understand the industry.

Special Benefits for Course Participants

  • Increase understanding by participating in hands-on laboratory exercises
  • Get an overview of the entire pulping and papermaking process
  • Find out how different processes affect paper properties
  • Appreciate the overall structure of the paper industry
  • Perform hands-on lab experiments to enhance understanding of process
  • Run a pilot plant paper machine
  • Close interaction with pulp and paper professors in small groups

Who Should Attend

This introductory-level workshop is appropriate for technical and non-technical individuals with a desire for training with a laboratory focused course to understand and appreciate the basics of pulping, bleaching, recovery, recycling, papermaking and converting operations.

The workshop is especially beneficial for:

professional instruction
Pilot plant activities in pulp and paper hands on workshop.
  • New process engineers, manufacturing operators and technicians who want to understand more fully how raw materials are processed into products in an active training environment.
  • Individuals who wish to broaden their knowledge of the processes through basic laboratory and pilot paper machine experiences
  • Sales and service personnel, machine operators, and maintenance personnel who need to better appreciate paper machine operations by conducting a pilot paper machine trial.
  • Individuals who have completed TAPPI’s Introduction to Pulp and Paper short course and who want to benefit from the laboratory and pilot plant experiences.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this workshop, participants should be able to:

workshop
Hands-on pulp and paper training activities
  • Discuss the structure and chemistry of wood
  • Analyze the chip preparation operation
  • Describe chemical and mechanical pulping processes
  • Describe pulp processing operations
  • Describe the stages and operations of bleaching
  • Discuss the importance of chemical recovery in a pulp mill
  • Discuss waste treatment and environmental regulation
  • Identify the major grades and properties of paper
  • Discuss stock preparation and the approach system
  • Explain the operation of the wet end and dry end of the paper machine
  • Discuss basic converting operations
  • Discuss the recycling of paper

Attend and You Will Receive

Dinner event
Course banquet
  • Course materials–a notebook with course notes (~400 pages), lab manuals, and access to the lecture files via the internet to supplement the presentations made during the course
  • Course banquet on Monday evening
  • Networking social reception on Wednesday
  • Lunch and refreshment breaks on all five days
  • Certificate of Completion
  • Transportation to and from the Embassy Suites, NC State campus, and other workshop functions

CEUs

workshop participants
Recent course participants

TAPPI will award 3.4 continuing education units (CEUs) to participants who attend at least 80% of the education sessions and complete a final program evaluation. The Education Department of TAPPI meets the Criteria for Certification established by the Authorized Provider Commission of the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), 1620 I Street NW, Washington DC 20006.

Registration Fee and Policies

Due to the hands-on training, class size is limited to 42 participants for maximum effectiveness. Registrations will be accepted in the order they are received. The course has historically filled up so do not wait to register.

Registration Fee
$2,000
Expenses for continuing education taken to maintain or improve professional skills may be tax-deductible. Certain restrictions apply. Check with your accountant for details.

Cancellation Policy
If you have to cancel your registration, you must notify Dr. Janice Sitzes at jdsitzes@ncsu.edu. Refunds will be provided according to the following scale:

  • 90% refund if notice is received at least 28 days prior to class start date
  • 50% refund if notice is received between 11 and 27 days prior to class start date
  • No refund will be issued for notice received 10 business days or less prior to class start date
  • There is no refund of fees due to failure to attend without notice
  • Substitutions will be accepted at any time without penalty

Course Cancellation Policy
It is NC State’s intent to avoid cancelling or rescheduling any training course. However, we reserve the right to cancel or change a training course at any time, for reasons including but not limited to, insufficient registration, instructor emergencies, or other issues beyond our control.

General Disclaimer
NC State shall not be liable for damages of any kind resulting from errors or omissions in the training materials, nor shall NC State be liable for any damages resulting from the use of the training materials or other information conveyed at a NC State training course.

If NC State cancels a training course, registered participants will be notified no less than 10 business days before the scheduled start day of the course. In the case of a cancellation by NC State, 100% of registration fees will be refunded to participants, or the participants may elect to substitute the fees for another NC State training course.

Contact Dr. Janice Sitzes at jdsitzes@ncsu.edu with any registration questions or for availability of space less than one week before the course.

Register Now

Preliminary Workshop Schedule

The workshop will include presentations in the morning followed by afternoon sessions of laboratory or pilot plant exercises. Participants will work in small groups on the various lab experiments. The recommended dress code is casual.  

Note: If a group of students from a company is interested in an introductory topic not covered, prior arrangements can be made to conduct an extra teaching session in the evening on the specific topic at an extra charge. The course can also be brought to their place of work.

Hands-on instruction from NC State faculty

The following is a tentative outline of the planned activities:

Day One  8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

  • Introduction to the paper industry
  • Wood structure and chemistry
  • Woodyard operations
  • Kraft pulping
  • Pulping lab: perform a lab-scale kraft pulping experiment
  • Chipping lab: perform and analyze the chipping operation
  • Wood and fiber analysis: identify wood and fiber structures using a microscope and fiber quality analyzer
workshop instructor
Paper properties and testing instruction

Day Two  8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

  • Pulp processing
  • Bleaching of pulp
  • Chemical recovery
  • Environmental aspects of pulp/paper
  • Cleaning lab: calculate the efficiency of a centrifugal cleaner
  • Bleaching lab: perform and analyze a bleaching operation
  • Kappa and viscosity lab: perform kappa and viscosity tests
students

Day Three  8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

  • Introduction to paper grades
  • Paper recycling
  • Stock preparation: blending, consistency control, refining
  • Refining
  • Handsheet lab, refining lab, paper testing lab, paper coatings lab
Workshop

Day Four  8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.

  • Stock prep II
  • Approach systems
  • Wet end of the paper machine
  • Dry end of the paper machine
  • Image analysis lab, flotation deinking lab, optical properties lab
Workshop
Paper recycling laboratory activities

Day 5  8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

  • Coating operations
  • Converting operations
  • Pilot paper machine activities: wet end operations; charge demand and retention; dry end operations and energy balance; finished paper analysis

Hotel

Lodging is not included in the registration fee. Participants are responsible for their own hotel arrangements.

Suites have been set aside at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Raleigh Crabtree, 4700 Creedmoor Road, Raleigh, NC 27612, phone: 919.881.0000.

The suites have a bedroom, living room and kitchenette area. The hotel has an exercise room/indoor pool and is walking distance away from a major regional shopping mall. Breakfast and a social hour are included with the suite rate. The hotel provides transportation to and from the airport; NC State will provide transportation to and from the hotel and the workshop. 
The hotel guarantees room availability up to THREE WEEKS before the course. To reserve a room call 1.800.EMBASSY or 919.881.0000 and mention that you are part of the Hands-on Workshop for Pulp and Paper room block and provide the group code (group code 511 for June; group code 566 for October) OR click below on the automated hotel room reservation with the discounted rate:

June 2024 reservation click here — only available for reservations made before May 13, 2024.
October 2024 reservation click here — only available for reservations made before Sept. 16, 2024.

Sponsorships Available

Sponsorships are available for the short course and its social events. This short course has an extremely high reputation and level of recognition in the paper and related industries. Your company could benefit from the recognition of the sponsorship on the cover of the short course notebook and highly visible signs of recognition/appreciation at the course banquet, networking social reception, or the course lunches.  

The cost of sponsorship for the entire course is $4,000 (includes signage at all lectures, lunches, reception, and banquet); course banquet is $2,000; networking social reception is $500; course lunches are $1,000 each. Sponsorships can be purchased through the course registration page. Any questions can be directed to Janice Sitzes at jdsitzes@ncsu.edu.

Additional Information

For answers to questions related to course content, please contact Dr. Richard Venditti (919.515.6185).

For questions related to registration, payment and sponsorships, please contact Dr. Janice Sitzes at jdsitzes@ncsu.edu.

workshop event

What Past Participants Have Said…

  • The information was detailed and easily understood by both engineers and non-engineers. I will definitely suggest the course to others!
  • The experiments that were conducted were very supportive of the lecture component of the class and made a big difference in my level of understanding.
  • The lab experiments were great. It really helps to understand the system when you can work with it “hands-on”. The course material and information were excellent.
  • Instructors were very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about their presentation and lab topics.
  • It is an excellent course. The paper machine demonstration is very helpful.
  • I enjoyed the course very much. I wish my machine operators and other technicians could take it.
  • This is a very good course. The course tied a lot of things together for me.
  • This is an excellent course; providing an intense overview of the entire papermaking process.
  • Highly recommended for anyone interested in increasing their knowledge in the process of pulp and paper making.
Group of workshop students
March 2022 workshop group

Comments from recent students:

“Professors Venditti, Byrd, Jameel, and Pawlak:   Thank you all for a wonderful experience last week.  I appreciated the immersion we received in Pulp and Paper, from the market, chemistry, machines, processing, production and regulations to the hands on time in the labs and the pilot plant.  I can’t think of anything you could have added.  I finished the week with a much stronger understanding of our industry and the processes which support it. Your enthusiasm for the business is contagious. The opportunity to meet other similarly minded, yet geographically and occupationally diverse student professionals was appreciated greatly, also.  The food was a bonus!  Thank you for expanding our minds and interests and ability to communicate with other professionals within and beyond our industry.”

“Hasan, Med, Rich, Joel: I just wanted to reiterate how much I enjoyed the short course. Having known almost nothing upon my arrival, I am amazed at how much I was able to learn. As you have probably heard many times over, this was due to the hands-on nature of the course. It was also very useful for me to meet and talk with people working in various aspects of the industry. I am now completely impressed by the engineering and processes involved in pulp and paper production. The other reason the course is so engaging, is because the four of you teach it directly, so we get to directly benefit from your combined accumulated knowledge and are exposed to your passion for the topic.”