Wesley Vale Paper Mill

The Wesley Vale Contract encompasses all aspects of on site asset management and maintenance, including electrical, mechanical and civil engineering, condition monitoring, stores and procurement, provision of trade and support labour, budgeting and cost control, specialist services management, scheduling and planning and the introduction of improved maintenance technologies.  Silcar provides the total asset management and maintenance of plant and equipment at the Wesley Vale Mill, including all civil, mechanical, electrical and instrumentation activity for the Pulp Mill, Paper Machine, Coater, Powerhouse, Effluent Plant, Finishing area, and all facility maintenance activities for buildings and associated infrastructure.  The scope of work includes the management execution and reporting of all:

Preventative and predictive maintenance routines

Breakdown / defect maintenance activityShut (Outage) activity and minor capital work, including design engineering

Maintenance planning and scheduling

Commercial activity, including stores and procurement functions

Maintenance analysis and improvements.

Achievements

Reductions in maintenance spend in real terms whilst production output has increased.

Introduction of Maintenance Business Review (audit regime) leading to systematic improvements in overall maintenance provision. 

Planned maintenance activity significantly improved (from 20% to 85 – 90%).

Machine availabilities and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) in the high 90%.

Overtime reduced by over 70%.  No lost time due to industrial disputation in the last 15 years.

Substantial material savings via rationalised supplier agreements and a focused inventory reduction program.     

Silcar commenced with the Wesley Vale Mill operation in 1994; during the ensuing years both the Paper and Coating Machines' production output have improved, whilst the ‘maintenance spend’ has been optimised.