Panther’s latest MES and quality tracking solutions go live at WestRock in Hopewell, Virginia
Hopewell, Virginia – WestRock Company upgraded the existing Panther Systems MillTools manufacturing execution system (MES) and TestCentral quality tracking suite to MillTools 2.0 and TestCentral 2.0 at the manufacturer’s integrated paper mill in Hopewell, Virginia on Thursday, June 16, 2022. Panther MES experts were on-site to support mill personnel before and after systems went live. The upgrade at the Hopewell mill was the first of many projects to upgrade 12 WestRock paper mills to Panther’s state-of-the-art MES and quality tracking solutions.
EverFresh software
Historically, upgrades from one system to a new technology require significant capital expenditures, but this major upgrade required no new capital. Panther’s master service agreement with WestRock includes more than around-the-clock support and the ability to enhance Panther software whenever new functionality is needed. Supported pulp and paper manufacturers like WestRock receive a Panther benefit called EverFresh. This unusual benefit includes unlimited software updates at no cost to customers.
Panther Systems provided an on-site presence to assist their teams during the transition at WestRock’s request. Panther personnel finalized preparation for go live at the mill and remained on-site to support the mill’s core team and provide on-the-job support for users after cutting over to the new systems.
“Panther Systems and WestRock personnel were dedicated to completing this upgrade,” said Ryan Nashif, Panther Systems Manager of Account Services. “Being on-site to respond to immediate needs was essential to this upgrade. I am grateful to my team, the mill and our IT counterparts at WestRock. Everybody did their part.”
Panther’s greatest investment
MillTools 2.0 and TestCentral 2.0 represent several years of unflagging development and innovation to carry pulp and paper manufacturers into the future, where Industry 4.0 principles and practices depend on people, machines and data working together in new ways. The value of these Panther software releases is priceless to pulp, paper and converting manufacturers seeking to leverage innovation. Panther invested countless human hours to preserve vital functionality, incorporate valuable new enhancements and significantly improve the user experience.
Development of MillTools 2.0 and TestCentral 2.0 marks Panther’s greatest R&D effort in the company’s 30-year history. However, the company views this milestone as just the beginning of Panther’s next generation of technologies to support an ever-growing list of requirements from continuous manufacturers.
Panther Systems continues to partner with WestRock and other pulp, paper and converting manufacturers to development new software technologies for data, automation and advanced process controls. Panther’s experience in North America, Australia and Eastern Europe fuels the company’s ambition to develop technologies that benefit the world.
About Panther Systems
Established in 1993, Panther Systems is acknowledged by pulp and paper experts as the leading provider of manufacturing execution, quality control, process analysis and other manufacturing intelligence solutions. Visit panthersys.com for information or call 360-750-9783.
