PAPER making! FROM THE PUBLISHERS OF PAPER TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL ® FROM THE PUBLISHERS OF PAPER TEC Volume 11, Number 3, 2025
Digital Transformation in the Paper Industry: Assessing Maturity, Challenges, and Opportunities ROSARIO OTHEN 1 , JÖRG PADBERG 2 , CHRISTIAN MÖBITZ 1 & THOMAS GRIES 1 The paper industry is undergoing a critical phase of digital transformation, driven by the need for increased efficiency and sustainability. This study offers an initial insight into the industry’s digitalisation status based on a survey conducted at the ZELLCHEMING Expo 2024 by ZELLCHEMING’s technical committee DATA. The survey assessed the digital maturity of various companies and the industry, uncovering data management practices and key challenges. The findings reveal a discrepancy between the companies’ self-assessed digital maturity and their views on the industry’s overall digitalisation, with the companies generally rating the industry as being on a rather low maturity whilst rating their own maturity more favourably. Challenges, such as legacy systems, data quality issues, and inconsistent digitalisation efforts, persist, although there is a notable awareness of the importance of data. The study highlights the potential of frameworks, like the Industrie 4.0 Maturity Index and the VDI Guideline for Industrie 4.0, in guiding digital transformation. To enhance digital maturity, companies must advance through the stages of digital integration, address key obstacles, and align digital initiatives with strategic goals. This paper offers practical recommendations for advancing digital capabilities and achieving long-term sustainability and competitiveness not only in the paper industry but also generally for manufacturing enterprises. Ultimately, this research emphasises the need for a cohesive approach to digitalisation, which involves all stakeholders—from management to operational staff—in fostering resilience and adaptability in an ever-evolving industrial landscape. Contact Details: 1. Institut für Textiltechnik, RWTH Aachen University, Otto-Blumenthal-Straße 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany. 2. Koehler Innovative Solutions, Hauptstraße 2, 77704 Oberkirch, Germany.
Sustainability 2025, 17, 770 https://doi.org/10.3390/su17020770 Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License 4.0,
The Paper Industry Technical Association (PITA) is an independent organisation which operates for the general benefit of its members – both individual and corporate – dedicated to promoting and improving the technical and scientific knowledge of those working in the UK pulp and paper industry. Formed in 1960, it serves the Industry, both manufacturers and suppliers, by providing a forum for members to meet and network; it organises visits, conferences and training seminars that cover all aspects of papermaking science. It also publishes the prestigious journal Paper Technology International ® and the PITA Annual Review , both sent free to members, and a range of other technical publications which include conference proceedings and the acclaimed Essential Guide to Aqueous Coating .
Article 9 – Digital Transformation
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