INTRODUCTION Modern paper manufacturing machines are evolving towards ever greater automation and control in order to obtain ever better performance in terms of productivity, flexibility and cost reduction, as well as controlling quality. Furthermore, to face the challenges presented by today’s demanding and difficult market, the most advanced paper mills are focusing on other increasingly important factors: these include reducing the environmental impact of operations and optimising the use of energy in this highly energy intensive process. WORLD PULP&PAPER 82 To optimise these aspects, paper mills are becoming increasingly complex and the number of parameters that have to be constantly controlled and compared is growing exponentially to the point where operator experience is no longer sufficient to manage the process to the degree required. In addition to these manufacturing considerations, there is one other aspect that is gaining ever greater significance: employee safety. Regulations on employee safety require access to hazardous zones to be increasingly restricted. Put another way, hazardous zones, including those close to machinery in movement, are being closed off from operators in order to avoid risk. By definition, these regulations make it impossible to take manual measurements of parameters during operations – a practice which used to be commonplace and entrusted to specialised operators. Regulations are pushing paper mills towards automated sensors, integrated with machinery which then require no manual intervention whilst the plant is in operation. In conclusion, the new control requirements, together with ever there is one… aspect that is gaining ever greater significance: employee safety. By Eng. Claudio Salvador, President, Advanced Microwave Engineering S.r.l. Active microwave moisture sensors – advanced solutions for the pulp and paper industry AMS – an integrated system of sensors – installed in various phases of the pulp and paper manufacturing process to measure moisture levels in real time and make data available online. Figure 1. Active Microwave Sensors – Use in paper manufacturing. MOISTURE MONITORING SENSORS