Panther’s latest MES and quality tracking solutions go live at WestRock in Jacksonville, Florida

Jacksonville, Florida  – 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 Seminole paper mill in Jacksonville, Florida on Thursday, March 23, 2023. Panther MES experts were on-site to support mill personnel before and after systems went live. The upgrade at the Seminole mill follows upgrades at several other WestRock paper mills to Panther’s state-of-the-art MES and quality tracking solutions.

“Panther completed similar upgrades at the Seminole and Hodge mills only two weeks apart,” said Dan Schott, Technical Sales and UI/UX Team Member at Panther Systems. “We concern ourselves with operational excellence and continual improvement as much as our customers in the pulp and paper industry. These upgrades continue at a fast pace and without a lot of fanfare — as a result of proficiency.”

The MES solution at the WestRock’s Seminole mill includes Panther’s signature quality tracking suite known as TestCentral and RoleLineSupervisor, a highly configurable and powerful solution, which automates the mill’s roll line. Panther also upgraded the mill’s other machine and business interfaces.

These and other Panther technologies operate in pulp plants, paper mills, converting facilities, warehouses and corporate centers globally.

Transforming MES forever

Panther’s ambitious project to modernize the MillTools achieves mission-critical objectives:

  • Ensure longevity and planned innovation of MillTools for years to come
  • Retain critical functionality for pulp, paper and nonwoven manufacturers using existing Panther production databases
  • Provide true localization capability to operate mills in nearly any language
  • Create graphic user interfaces that work on touchscreens and mobile devices
  • Enable customers to operate factories of the future using Panther’s manufacturing execution systems, quality control systems and manufacturing intelligence 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’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 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 systems. Visit panthersys.com for information or call 360-750-9783.