UMaine researchers envision smart mills, new paper packaging, BDN reports
The Bangor Daily News reported on several initiatives by University of Maine researchers that were presented during the annual Paper Days meeting of Maine’s paper industry, which was held at UMaine. Doug Bousfield, a chemical engineering professor, aims to develop fully recyclable potato chip packaging using cellulose nanomaterials derived from wood pulp, according to the article. Cellulose nanofibers are a big area of research at the university, which also is the largest nanocellulose manufacturer in the United States for use by itself and its industry partners, according to Proserfina Bennett, managing director of the UMaine Process Development Center. Caitlin Howell, an assistant professor of bioengineering, is focusing on patient care using coated paper products that may eventually be more effective in diagnosing and preventing infections. Other UMaine researchers are focusing on artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to make paper mills run more efficiently and automatically, the article states. “In most mills it’s hard to get a coherent picture of what is going on at all times,” said Roy Turner, associate professor of computer science. “Most intelligence still resides in humans. Factories of the future need artificial intelligence to survive and compete.” Fiddlehead Focus also carried the BDN article.