Suzano and Libang Paper Co-launch a Pilot R&D Center in Hubei Province

Shanghai, August 12 – Last week, Suzano, the world’s leading market pulp producer and its customer Libang Paper officially inaugurated their joint Pilot R&D Center for household paper in Xiaogan, Hubei Province. The center, located in Libang Paper’s Xiaogan factory, aims to bridge the gap between laboratory research and factory production, further integrating industry resources and advancing the domestic tissue industry.

The pilot R&D center combines Libang Paper’s advanced production equipment with the expertise of the Suzano Asia Innovability Hub. At this stage, its primary focus is on enhancing efficiency and reducing energy consumption of wood pulp pretreatment technology. By collecting and analyzing various data of pulp property, the center monitors wood pulp performance, production process parameters, and end product quality in real-time. This data integration helps build an intelligent production prediction and optimization model, providing valuable insights when introducing new raw materials, developing new products, or applying new processes, thus enabling optimized product quality and cost-effectiveness.

Zhang Zhanhao, President of Libang Paper, commented: “We are delighted to collaborate with Suzano in establishing this pilot R&D center for tissue paper. This initiative aligns with Libang Paper’s development strategy. The Suzano Asia Innovability Hub has been supporting Libang Paper in optimizing pretreatment processes, helping us achieve energy savings, reduce consumption, and improve product quality. Looking forward, we will continue to invest in R&D and strengthen our cooperation with partners like Suzano for further development.”

Pablo Machado, President of Asia (Business Management) at Suzano added, “Over the years, Suzano and Libang Paper have forged a strong partnership, overcoming challenges and exploring new opportunities. With this joint pilot R&D center, we reaffirm our commitment to each other. Moreover, Suzano will spare no efforts in continuing to support Libang in its continuous innovation journey and business growth.”

The pilot center has also received strong support from universities, industry associations, raw material and equipment suppliers, and technical service companies specializing in process automation and big data processing.

Dun Zhiqiang, Secretary General of Hubei Paper Association emphasized, “The pilot R&D center is not only the industry’s first pilot production platform facilitating direct connections between raw material suppliers and product manufacturers, but also a testament to our shared commitment to innovation, growth, and sustainable development.”

Suzano Asia Innovability Hub is the first R&D and innovation center established by Suzano in Asia, located in Shanghai since 2023. The center adheres to Suzano’s concept of “innovation,” or the pursuit of sustainable solutions through innovation. It is committed to supporting customers in the efficient application of virgin wood pulp and promoting the green and high-quality development of the pulp and paper industry. Additionally, the hub actively collaborates with industry associations, universities, institutes, and key enterprises across the value-chain to address common industry challenges.