Canfor - Research Scientist

Introduction

In the global pulp and paper market, product research is an important way for companies to stay competitive. Research leads to the development of new products to meet customer's needs, new processes to enhance efficiency and environmental standards, and new improvements to existing products. The development of these products and processes are part of the work carried out by research scientists at Canfor's Research and Development Centre in Vancouver.

Ron Krzywanski is a Senior Pulp and Paper Research Scientist who specializes in softwood kraft pulping, bleaching processes and kraft papermaking.

Next: The Job

The Job

At Canfor, a pulp and paper research scientist's job includes designing and conducting laboratory experiments, working with the pulp mill and marketing staff to formulate research programs at the mill, and interacting with other research organizations. "Our work helps Canfor stay ahead of the competition and be a leader in environmental protection," says Ron.

To understand Ron's work, one needs a bit of background in the kraft pulping process used in the Canfor pulp mills. This chemical pulping process uses sodium hydroxide and sodium sulphide to remove the lignin that glues the cellulose wood fibres together. Once the fibres are "unglued" they can be used in the manufacture of a large number of products from toothpaste to computer paper. A bleaching process is sometimes used to purify and whiten the brownish pulp so it can be used in products like writing papers. Although bleaching improves the whiteness of the pulp, it also decreases the strength. Canfor produces bleached, semi-bleached and unbleached pulps. Each pulp has a different set of strength and whiteness characteristics and so is used to manufacture different types of products.

A research scientist might work with the mill to find new ways to produce pulps with different characteristics, find methods to produce fewer pollutants or even develop new products using the pulp. This kind of work requires detailed lab analysis, operational testing of new ideas at the mill and staying in touch with new information from other pulp and paper research organizations.

In the laboratory Ron studies the wood fibres used in the mills to make pulp. The northern softwoods that Canfor uses ( spruce, pine and fir) have very long wood fibres which make a very strong, high quality pulp. By experimenting with these fibres, Ron's team searches for the optimum way to process them into pulp. "There is good chemistry within our lab research team," says Ron " We need to work well together as we have several projects going on at any one time. When I am in the lab I check the progress of the various experiments and discuss the developments with my colleagues."

The importance of teamwork becomes even greater when Ron is involved in product development. Scientists, mill and marketing staff all work together to develop new ideas for products to meet customer's needs. In the lab, these ideas are turned into new products made from Canfor pulps. Some of the products Ron is working on include specialty packaging papers like butcher wrap and high performance papers made of extra strong kraft paper from a special refining process. "Along with developing new products we also look at how to maintain the quality of our existing products," explains Ron. "We want to find ways to modify existing processes to improve quality, reduce cost and reduce environmental impact."

At the mill, the new ideas developed in the lab will receive some real world testing. "Our success as a research lab really depends on our relationship with the mills. They support us in running research trials and they trust our advice on process and machinery changes. This is what makes it all work," says Ron. When at the mill, Ron helps set up the mill for the trial run for new products and processes and works at deciphering various operational difficulties. Ron enjoys the intense problem solving that is a major part of scientific research and the brain puzzle of troubleshooting the various problems that frequently occur in running full scale operational experiments.

Pulp and Paper research is carried out in both private labs like Canfor's and in public institutions such as universities. Labs around the world are busy searching for better ways to operate. For example, several years ago the Totally Chlorine Free (TCF) pulp bleaching process, which uses only hydrogen peroxide and oxygen, was thought to be a more environmentally sound process. Research comparing the environmental impact of the entire "life cycle" of several bleaching processes produced unexpected results. A second process, Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) which uses chlorine dioxide, oxygen and hydrogen peroxide, was actually more environmentally friendly than TCF. The research showed that although the TCF process used no chlorine it actually produced less pulp from the same amount of wood, so more trees have to be cut if this process was used. Canfor's work in this has set a standard that will help other mills be more environmentally conscious of the entire process.

Keeping up with results from all this research is an important task. According to Ron, "Keeping our knowledge base current means reading pulp and paper research journals, attending conferences and participating in cooperative projects with the Pulp and Paper Research Institute of Canada (Paprican), a national research group." New ideas from a variety of sources help improve the industry.

Next: The Path

The Path

As a high school student Ron was fascinated by math and chemistry. He wanted to find a field of study at university where he could do both. He chose chemical engineering.

"I obtained my M.Sc. in chemical engineering at the Technical University of Lodz in Poland and worked there for a year. Then I embarked on a Ph.D. project at the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of British Columbia." Ron spent a lot of time doing computer modelling using Cray supercomputers and Bitnet, the pre-cursor of present day Internet.

"Scientific research is like detective work," says Ron. "You need to collect and analyze lots of information, draw conclusions and formulate explanations for the results." Other skills needed for this type of work are problem solving, the ability to work independently, and the capacity to produce results in a tight time line. "The computer modeling expertise that I developed during university is really valuable now in helping us to understand process control strategies employed at the mills," remarks Ron.

After completing his Ph.D., Ron worked for a few years for a small company specializing in making pulp from cereal straws (flax, hemp, and a number of unusual species such as kenaf, abaca, sisal, ramie, bagasse and hesperaloe.) He also participated in designing, building and later operating a small straw pulp mill in the prairies. "The variety of tasks, issues, and subjects provided me with invaluable experience."

There can be quite a bit of travel involved in being an industrial research scientist, if there is a focus on on-site support. Companies that have operations with a wide geographic spread may require a scientist to spend almost half of his or her time travelling. "As well, during the course of your career you might take positions at various research centres and have to move your family around," cautions Ron.

Next: That’s Cool

That’s Cool

The Canfor lab is a pretty amazing place. They even have a constant temperature and humidity room that stays the same regardless of the weather. There is a fascinating mix of machines for testing paper: folding testers, tear testers, brightness testers and even bursting strength testers! In the lab, the scientists make pulp and paper from scratch. Wood logs are chipped, then the chips are cooked and disintegrated, the pulp is bleached and the paper is then formed into circular pieces for testing. The paper can be dyed many different colours. Ron says, "Since this paper is made exclusively from long B.C. softwood fibres, which are best in the world, it is very strong, much stronger than the writing or copy paper."

Next: The Best

The Best

"I like the fact that our work in the lab can be quickly translated into new products and processes at our mills. This is an advantage that an industrial researcher has over researchers working at the universities or big research institutes like Paprican," explains Ron. "It is also very gratifying when we receive a feedback from the mills on our reports and results of our work. The more feedback we receive, the faster we can focus our research in the direction most beneficial to Canfor operations." However, the very best moment for a research scientist is during an experiment when something unexpected is discovered and a new idea is born.

Next: Advice

Advice

Students interested in this kind of research position should pay extra attention to math and science in the elementary school, and math, chemistry and physics in high school. According to Ron the best university program for this type of position would be in chemical engineering. "I may be biased, but the plus of going with chemical engineering is that it leads to many fields, just in case you change your mind."

Ron also suggests developing your people skills. Research scientists have to be able to communicate research results to the technical and production staff at mills.

Next: The Person

The Person

When Ron is not creating new products in the lab, he enjoys playing chess and computer strategy games. However, his favourite thing to do is spending time with his family. "I figure it won't be long before our two boys won't want to hang out with their parents any more, so I enjoy it while I can," smiles Ron.

Next: Questions?

Questions?

If you have any questions about Pulp and Paper Research Scientists e-mail us at info@canfor.ca or check out the following web sites:

Return to Introduction

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	Introduction The Job The Path That’s Cool The Best Advice The Person Questions?	Introduction In the global pulp and paper market, product research is an important way for companies to stay competitive. Research leads to the development of new products to meet customer's needs, new processes to enhance efficiency and environmental standards, and new improvements to existing products. The development of these products and processes are part of the work carried out by research scientists at Canfor's Research and Development Centre in Vancouver. Ron Krzywanski is a Senior Pulp and Paper Research Scientist who specializes in softwood kraft pulping, bleaching processes and kraft papermaking. Next: The Job The Job At Canfor, a pulp and paper research scientist's job includes designing and conducting laboratory experiments, working with the pulp mill and marketing staff to formulate research programs at the mill, and interacting with other research organizations. "Our work helps Canfor stay ahead of the competition and be a leader in environmental protection," says Ron. To understand Ron's work, one needs a bit of background in the kraft pulping process used in the Canfor pulp mills. This chemical pulping process uses sodium hydroxide and sodium sulphide to remove the lignin that glues the cellulose wood fibres together. Once the fibres are "unglued" they can be used in the manufacture of a large number of products from toothpaste to computer paper. A bleaching process is sometimes used to purify and whiten the brownish pulp so it can be used in products like writing papers. Although bleaching improves the whiteness of the pulp, it also decreases the strength. Canfor produces bleached, semi-bleached and unbleached pulps. Each pulp has a different set of strength and whiteness characteristics and so is used to manufacture different types of products. A research scientist might work with the mill to find new ways to produce pulps with different characteristics, find methods to produce fewer pollutants or even develop new products using the pulp. This kind of work requires detailed lab analysis, operational testing of new ideas at the mill and staying in touch with new information from other pulp and paper research organizations. In the laboratory Ron studies the wood fibres used in the mills to make pulp. The northern softwoods that Canfor uses ( spruce, pine and fir) have very long wood fibres which make a very strong, high quality pulp. By experimenting with these fibres, Ron's team searches for the optimum way to process them into pulp. "There is good chemistry within our lab research team," says Ron " We need to work well together as we have several projects going on at any one time. When I am in the lab I check the progress of the various experiments and discuss the developments with my colleagues." The importance of teamwork becomes even greater when Ron is involved in product development. Scientists, mill and marketing staff all work together to develop new ideas for products to meet customer's needs. In the lab, these ideas are turned into new products made from Canfor pulps. Some of the products Ron is working on include specialty packaging papers like butcher wrap and high performance papers made of extra strong kraft paper from a special refining process. "Along with developing new products we also look at how to maintain the quality of our existing products," explains Ron. "We want to find ways to modify existing processes to improve quality, reduce cost and reduce environmental impact." At the mill, the new ideas developed in the lab will receive some real world testing. "Our success as a research lab really depends on our relationship with the mills. They support us in running research trials and they trust our advice on process and machinery changes. This is what makes it all work," says Ron. When at the mill, Ron helps set up the mill for the trial run for new products and processes and works at deciphering various operational difficulties. Ron enjoys the intense problem solving that is a major part of scientific research and the brain puzzle of troubleshooting the various problems that frequently occur in running full scale operational experiments. Pulp and Paper research is carried out in both private labs like Canfor's and in public institutions such as universities. Labs around the world are busy searching for better ways to operate. For example, several years ago the Totally Chlorine Free (TCF) pulp bleaching process, which uses only hydrogen peroxide and oxygen, was thought to be a more environmentally sound process. Research comparing the environmental impact of the entire "life cycle" of several bleaching processes produced unexpected results. A second process, Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) which uses chlorine dioxide, oxygen and hydrogen peroxide, was actually more environmentally friendly than TCF. The research showed that although the TCF process used no chlorine it actually produced less pulp from the same amount of wood, so more trees have to be cut if this process was used. Canfor's work in this has set a standard that will help other mills be more environmentally conscious of the entire process. Keeping up with results from all this research is an important task. According to Ron, "Keeping our knowledge base current means reading pulp and paper research journals, attending conferences and participating in cooperative projects with the Pulp and Paper Research Institute of Canada (Paprican), a national research group." New ideas from a variety of sources help improve the industry. Next: The Path The Path As a high school student Ron was fascinated by math and chemistry. He wanted to find a field of study at university where he could do both. He chose chemical engineering. "I obtained my M.Sc. in chemical engineering at the Technical University of Lodz in Poland and worked there for a year. Then I embarked on a Ph.D. project at the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of British Columbia." Ron spent a lot of time doing computer modelling using Cray supercomputers and Bitnet, the pre-cursor of present day Internet. "Scientific research is like detective work," says Ron. "You need to collect and analyze lots of information, draw conclusions and formulate explanations for the results." Other skills needed for this type of work are problem solving, the ability to work independently, and the capacity to produce results in a tight time line. "The computer modeling expertise that I developed during university is really valuable now in helping us to understand process control strategies employed at the mills," remarks Ron. After completing his Ph.D., Ron worked for a few years for a small company specializing in making pulp from cereal straws (flax, hemp, and a number of unusual species such as kenaf, abaca, sisal, ramie, bagasse and hesperaloe.) He also participated in designing, building and later operating a small straw pulp mill in the prairies. "The variety of tasks, issues, and subjects provided me with invaluable experience." There can be quite a bit of travel involved in being an industrial research scientist, if there is a focus on on-site support. Companies that have operations with a wide geographic spread may require a scientist to spend almost half of his or her time travelling. "As well, during the course of your career you might take positions at various research centres and have to move your family around," cautions Ron. Next: That’s Cool That’s Cool The Canfor lab is a pretty amazing place. They even have a constant temperature and humidity room that stays the same regardless of the weather. There is a fascinating mix of machines for testing paper: folding testers, tear testers, brightness testers and even bursting strength testers! In the lab, the scientists make pulp and paper from scratch. Wood logs are chipped, then the chips are cooked and disintegrated, the pulp is bleached and the paper is then formed into circular pieces for testing. The paper can be dyed many different colours. Ron says, "Since this paper is made exclusively from long B.C. softwood fibres, which are best in the world, it is very strong, much stronger than the writing or copy paper." Next: The Best The Best "I like the fact that our work in the lab can be quickly translated into new products and processes at our mills. This is an advantage that an industrial researcher has over researchers working at the universities or big research institutes like Paprican," explains Ron. "It is also very gratifying when we receive a feedback from the mills on our reports and results of our work. The more feedback we receive, the faster we can focus our research in the direction most beneficial to Canfor operations." However, the very best moment for a research scientist is during an experiment when something unexpected is discovered and a new idea is born. Next: Advice Advice Students interested in this kind of research position should pay extra attention to math and science in the elementary school, and math, chemistry and physics in high school. According to Ron the best university program for this type of position would be in chemical engineering. "I may be biased, but the plus of going with chemical engineering is that it leads to many fields, just in case you change your mind." Ron also suggests developing your people skills. Research scientists have to be able to communicate research results to the technical and production staff at mills. Next: The Person The Person When Ron is not creating new products in the lab, he enjoys playing chess and computer strategy games. However, his favourite thing to do is spending time with his family. "I figure it won't be long before our two boys won't want to hang out with their parents any more, so I enjoy it while I can," smiles Ron. Next: Questions? Questions? If you have any questions about Pulp and Paper Research Scientists e-mail us at info@canfor.ca or check out the following web sites: Pulp and Paper Technical Association of Canada AIChE Forest Products OCC Return to Introduction