Since our last newsletter the following items have made the UK news headlines regarding ABB; Accrol; Arjowiggins; WEPA.

ABB and cybersecurity
ABB process control systems can connect with IBM security platform for digital threat visibility.
ABB and IBM today announced a collaboration focused on connecting cybersecurity and operational technology (OT). As a first result of this collaboration, ABB has developed a new OT Security Event Monitoring Service[1] that combines ABB’s process control system domain expertise with IBM’s security event monitoring portfolio to help improve security for industrial operators.

Industrial control system environments are increasingly targeted in cyber-attacks. In fact, IBM’s latest X-Force Threat Intelligence Index found that attacks on industrial and manufacturing facilities have increased by over 2,000% since 2018.

To better connect OT data with the broader IT security ecosystem, ABB has developed a new offering that allows security events from ABB to be sent to IBM’s security information and event management platform known as QRadar.

The ABB solution was designed according to a reference architecture jointly developed by ABB and IBM. It provides the domain knowledge needed to swiftly react to security incidents related to process control, and is especially suited for complex industrial processes in industries such as oil, gas, chemicals and mining. The new event collection and forwarding software which enables this integration is currently being used by early adopter customers and will be made broadly available by ABB in the coming months.

This collaboration marks the first time that OT data and process industry domain expertise is being brought directly into a Security Information and Event Monitoring (SIEM) system, allowing threats to be managed as part of an organization’s broader cybersecurity operations and strategy.

“ABB’s collaboration with IBM makes it possible to analyze process control events in the context of security and impact to the operational environment, delivering strong improvement in our OT cyber threat visibility across the board,” said Robert Putman, Global Manager of Cyber Security Service for Industrial Automation at ABB.

Disruption of production due to a cyberattack or technical glitches can be costly in terms of lost production and damage to physical assets. Most mature operational monitoring is focused on the performance of the asset, whether it be a gas turbine for electricity, a drive system used to crush ore, or simple monitoring of pollution output from a chemical facility.

The new ABB offering allows ABB’s process control system data collection and forwarding technology to harvest event log detail from ABB process control systems, and share that information with IBM Security QRadar, which uses automation and artificial intelligence to help identify security anomalies and potential threats.

"We see the integration of these solutions as bringing market-leading capabilities together for a singular view of OT security,” said Dr. Andreas Kühmichel, CTO, Chemicals, Petroleum & Industrial Products, IBM. “With more comprehensive OT and IT security visibility, clients can help reduce the risk of production being suddenly interrupted due to a security event, resulting in costly downtime and broader risk to the company.”

The ABB and IBM technologies involved in this solution are designed on open platforms allowing them to operate on the edge and deploy easily across hybrid cloud environments spanning on-premise, private or public clouds. The joint solution is designed so that security processes operate via automation and do not disturb industrial workflows. The security analysis in QRadar operates through a use case library, which automatically flags incidents and triggers corresponding alarms.
The two companies plan continued collaboration in the realm of OT security, in order to develop new capabilities and offerings that address customer challenges in this space.

Separately, ABB is uniting with Forescout, the leading provider of cyber security solutions for enterprise and industrial operations.

The collaboration will integrate Forescout's cyber technology within ABB’s portfolio of industrial expertise and cyber security solutions to enhance operators’ abilities to detect known and unknown control system threats.

“The threats to businesses and infrastructure from network intrusion and data breaches are growing, and the rapid increase in remote operations in 2020 has fueled this further, said Pedro Abreu, Forescout Chief Product and Strategy Officer. “Now more than ever, it is crucial that critical industries have robust, sophisticated cyber security solutions in place. Working with ABB, and its deep domain expertise in the energy and process industries sectors means that customers get the best of both worlds – world-leading industrial knowledge combined with the latest technology, to better protect their control systems.”

Gino Hernandez, Head of Digital for ABB Energy Industries, said, “Cyber security is a real concern across industry, and there is significant value to be gained from better network monitoring. Breaches in network security can cost millions of dollars in repairs and fines, have potential impact from unplanned downtime, and affect a business’s reputation. ABB’s partnership with ForeScout will give customers a high level of network visibility and greater protection across their systems.

Through greater integration of physical technology and software, ABB will help to deliver efficiencies as the need for manual asset inventorying and non-cyber security network monitoring is reduced. Customers will gain comprehensive cyber security visibility into operational technology environments, and receive insights to respond to any incidents, faster and in a highly targeted way.

Hernandez continued: “Ensuring compatibility with legacy control systems and deploying the latest cybersecurity technology is of utmost importance. The collaboration between ABB and Forescout enables this – providing a clear path to securing installed industrial control systems, while future-proofing it through new cybersecurity applications.”

ABB will also provide, through a reseller agreement, Forescout’s industry-leading eyeSight, eyeInspect and eyeSegment security solutions with a focus on addressing the convergence of operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT).

Forescout’s eyeInspect and eyeSight solutions offer customers a means to identify all connected devices on control system networks, and extract information to centrally monitor and protect a complete asset inventory. The solutions also identify and detect vulnerable operational technology devices.

Accrol takes over Leicester Tissue Company
British tissue converter Accrol wants to take over Leicester Tissue Company (LTC) in a move to increase its market share in the UK retail tissue market to approximately 16 per cent.

UK tissue converter Accrol has entered into a conditional agreement to acquire the entire issued share capital of Leicester Tissue Company (LTC) for an enterprise value of up to £41.8m (€46.4m). Founded in 2014, LTC is a fast growing, independent tissue conversion business, supplying private label and branded toilet roll and kitchen towel to UK customers.

The acquisition will increase Accrol's share of the total UK retail tissue market to approximately 16 per cent and consolidate its position in the private label retail tissue market. Accrol estimates annualised run rate cost synergies in excess of £1.0m (€1.1m) from procurement and operational efficiencies.

Accrol intends to finance the consideration for the acquisition and associated costs via a conditional placing of new ordinary shares.
(Euwid 3 Nov 2020)

Arjowiggins launches ttranslucent barrier material
Arjowiggins has launched a new “revolutionary” translucent paper-based barrier material that outperforms the preservation properties of plastic in food packaging and is fully recyclable. The new substrate, Sylvicta, has been in development for the past two-and-a-half years, according to Christophe Jordan, managing director of the Translucent Papers division at Arjowiggins.

He said that the highly engineered Sylvicta material was fully food safe and was already in use by many, predominantly smaller brands at the moment, but added that the firm is working with major brands, partners and converters on development projects that should come to market in the future.

Jordan, who was part of the MBO team that acquired the Arjowiggins business just over a year ago, estimated that there are around a dozen products in the market already using Sylvicta, with current applications includes frozen and snack foods.

It is suitable for a wide range of food packaging applications, with the only notable exception being liquids – due to the hydrophilic nature of cellulose materials like paper.

“To make it hydrophobic is quite a challenge, so we are working with converters to develop coatings and metallisations to create a very good barrier for water vapour, which is a must for many brands,” said Jordan.

However, Jordan said the mill was working with a number of converters and ‘massive brand names” to use a thin plastic coating on Sylvicta to massively reduce their reliance on plastics.

The highly printable material can be foil-stamped, glued, embossed and printed offset, gravure, with pre-testing, and flexo and, where needed, metallised or coated with heat- or cold-sealable materials.

The material can also be printed digitally, but Arjo “strongly recommends” pre-testing.

It is available in weights from 42 to 180gsm, or 35 to around 150 microns, in reels or sheets.
It is manufactured at Arjo’s Chartham Mill in Kent, which was founded in the 18th century and has produced high-quality translucent papers since 1938.

The new product’s moniker was derived from the latin word for forest, silva, and the emblem from Kent, invicta.

To manufacture translucent papers the fibres are cut into strands small enough that they can be seen through, essentially becoming micro-fibrillated cellulose (MFC) – a material that is increasingly being used to replace petroleum derived products by material scientists.

“We have taken this approach and then introduced some proprietary material, all of which is natural, meaning mechanical, with no chemical treatment, and that’s how we end up with a super high content of MFC which forms a very dense film, because the fibres are bonded to such a way that it becomes a film that doesn’t allow aroma, oxygen, or grease to go through.”

In fact, in terms of oxygen transmission, according to Arjo, Sylvicta outperforms all materials including plastics, with the only exception being aluminium.

While one of the key opportunities for Sylvicta is replacing plastics, Jordan said for now there will always be some applications where only plastic will do.

“We would be lying to people if we said we were going to kick all plastic out, but now at least we can kick it out where [Sylvicta] paper can reasonably have exactly the same USPs and values. And when it can’t it makes sense to combine the two to reduce the amount of plastic to the absolute minimum.”

He also acknowledged that a “small German mill” is manufacturing a competitor product, but said that the “world is vast enough for us to co-exist”. He highlighted that are only six mills in the world capable of producing translucent products, two of which are owned by Arjo, Chartham and its mill in China.

“This is not a commoditised product, this is a high end product that is very technically challenging to produce. So, we are already looking ahead at how we can scale up, because customers are already asking us to so we need to be ready to produce very large quantities in the next two to three years,” said Jordan.
(From PrintWeek 28 Oct 2020)

WEPA orders Valmet Machine for Bridgend
Valmet will supply a complete tissue line, including full automation package, to WEPA’s mill in Bridgend, the United Kingdom. The investment is a strategic step for the company to strengthen its presence in the United Kingdom.

“Our willingness to invest in state-of-the-art technology is an important part of our future-oriented Group strategy and the United Kingdom remains an important growth market for us in Europe. We are convinced that with Valmet we have the right partner at our side to successfully implement this project,” says Martin Krengel, CEO of the WEPA Group.

“We are excited to collaborate with WEPA and to be selected as partner for their expansion in the United Kingdom. We are convinced that the new Valmet Advantage DCT line will provide the best performance and tissue quality to meet WEPA’s high expectations for this project,” says Jan Erikson, Vice President Sales, Tissue Mills business unit, Paper business line, Valmet.

The new tissue machine will have a width of 5.6 m, a design speed of 2,200 m/min and will increase WEPA’s existing tissue production by approximately 65,000 tons per year. The raw material to be used in the tissue production will be recycled and virgin fiber. The new production line is optimized to save energy and to enhance the quality of the final product.

Valmet’s scope of delivery will comprise a complete tissue production line featuring stock preparation systems and a Valmet Advantage DCT 200 HS tissue machine. The machine will be equipped with an OptiFlo headbox and a steel Yankee cylinder. It will also be featured with advantage tissue technology including ViscoNip press, an AirCap Heli hood and air system prepared for co-generation, WetDust dust system, sheet transfer system and a SoftReel L reel. The stock preparation line will consist of OptiSlush pulpers, OptiFiner conical refiners and OptiScreen machine screens.

Furthermore, the delivery will include an extensive Valmet automation package with Valmet DNA machine controls, process controls and Valmet IQ quality controls. Complete engineering, installation, training, start-up and commissioning are also included in the delivery.