Support and materials will help develop skillsets of employees at Sappi’s Project Vulindlela and the local community.
Technology leader ABB is donating software solutions and pulp and paper automation expertise to the Sappi Skills Centre, based in Umkomaas, South Africa near Sappi’s Saiccor Mill—the largest single site dedicated to dissolving wood pulp. The donation supports the Skills Centre, which was established by Sappi in 2018 to equip local youth with the basic technical skills needed to prepare them for meaningful employment.
The automation training system at the Sappi Skills Centre will be comprised of an Ability™ System 800xA distributed control system (DCS), which will enable employees and members of the local community to receive training on a simulated version of the production control system. It will include a fully functional 800xA DCS, as well as field instruments, I/O cabinets and I.T. equipment.
“We are honored to help Sappi address skills gaps in the community and work together to train the next generation of South African pulp and paper technicians,” said John Manuell, Local Business Line Manager for South Africa, ABB Process Industries. “Skills development will lead to safer operations and higher productivity as well as providing the local community with greater employment opportunities.”
“Our goal with the Sappi Skills Centre is to develop a learning campus that empowers the Umkomaas community with skills that will enable them to find meaningful employment or build their own enterprises,” said Krish Naidu, Saiccor Mill General Manager, Sappi. “ABB’s donation enables us to expand our training offer to encompass the digital skills required for the modern pulp and paper industry and helps us fulfill our vision of sustainable community development.”
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