Email Jim at jim.thompson@ipulpmedia.com

So far this month, I have written about current possibilities in maintenance--essentially ideas, components, and protocols available off-the-shelf right now. Thought I would wrap up the month with concepts that are just around the corner.

The first one I want to discuss is robots. These are just about to enter the paper machine factory floor. I think the first place they will appear is as a substitute for humans in dryer can internal examination and work. A dangerous and unpleasant job, "hardened" robots could enter shortly after the beginning of a shutdown, increasing safety and reducing the time required to have them opened up.

In the pulp mill, same goes for deckers, washers and digesters. There are many places in the recovery area where these robots will improve safety and maintenance project length, too.

Agentic AI is well covered by Kai Aldinger, Global Lead, Forest Products, Paper and Packaging, SAP, in the January issue of Industree 4.0 (pending until 23 Jan 2026). As Kai says, "Agentic AI refers to systems that don't just talk; they act. They coordinate. They solve problems across departmental silos without waiting for a human to trigger every individual step."

In other words, Agentic AI will know when preventative maintenance needs to be done, order the parts and do it. Agentic AI will monitor the processes and the machinery behind them, notice equipment operating out of specification, plan the shutdown and fix it. No or low human intervention is needed.

What does this do to the human population in our pulp and paper mills?

First, it takes the last of the requirements for human muscles out of the system. This will be a safety improvement.

Second, it will reduce the size of the human maintenance force.

Finally, it will completely redefine the skill set needed by overall pulp and paper machine team. Today, the pulp and paper operators and maintenance staff are performing largely tactical tasks. In the fully Agentic AI implementation world, all tactical tasks will be performed by the software; the humans will largely be doing strategic tasks--those considerations needed in six months, a year or more.

This may lead to a complete turnover of personnel within a couple of years of implementing Agentic AI.

Will all of this happen? I am convinced it will--at this point it is just a matter of speed of adoption.

Be safe and we will talk next week.

For a deeper dive, go here.

Future Maintenance Technologies: Robots and Agentic AI Study Guide

This study guide provides a comprehensive review of the emerging roles of robotics and Agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the pulp and paper industry. Based on the analysis of "NI wo 26 January 2026," the document explores how these technologies are set to transform maintenance protocols, safety standards, and workforce requirements.

Part I: Short-Answer Quiz

Instructions: Provide a 2-3 sentence response for each of the following questions based on the source text.

1. According to the text, where is the first specific location robots are expected to appear on the paper machine factory floor?
2. What are the primary benefits of using "hardened" robots for internal examinations of dryer cans?
3. In the pulp mill, which specific pieces of equipment are identified as primary sites for robotic maintenance?
4. How does Kai Aldinger define the core functionality of "Agentic AI"?
5. How does Agentic AI handle the procurement process for maintenance tasks?
6. What role does Agentic AI play in monitoring equipment specifications and planning shutdowns?
7. In what way does the implementation of these technologies improve human safety in the mills?
8. How is the size of the human maintenance force expected to change with the adoption of Agentic AI?
9. Describe the shift in the human skill set required in a mill that has fully implemented Agentic AI.
10. What is the predicted timeline for personnel turnover following the implementation of Agentic AI?

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Part II: Answer Key

1. According to the text, where is the first specific location robots are expected to appear on the paper machine factory floor? Robots are first expected to appear as substitutes for humans in the internal examination and maintenance of dryer cans. This specific application addresses a job that is currently considered both dangerous and unpleasant for human workers.
2. What are the primary benefits of using "hardened" robots for internal examinations of dryer cans? Using "hardened" robots increases worker safety by removing humans from hazardous environments and reduces the time required for maintenance. Because these robots can enter the equipment shortly after a shutdown begins, they decrease the overall duration needed for the machines to be opened up.
3. In the pulp mill, which specific pieces of equipment are identified as primary sites for robotic maintenance? In the pulp mill, robots are expected to be utilized for maintenance and examination of deckers, washers, and digesters. Additionally, they are identified as tools to improve safety and project efficiency in various areas of the recovery section.
4. How does Kai Aldinger define the core functionality of "Agentic AI"? Kai Aldinger defines Agentic AI as systems that do more than just communicate; they take action and coordinate complex processes. These systems are designed to solve problems across various departmental silos independently, without requiring a human to trigger every individual step.
5. How does Agentic AI handle the procurement process for maintenance tasks? Agentic AI identifies when preventative maintenance is required and automatically orders the necessary parts. This allows the system to facilitate the entire repair process with little to no human intervention.
6. What role does Agentic AI play in monitoring equipment specifications and planning shutdowns? The AI monitors both the industrial processes and the underlying machinery to notice when equipment is operating out of its required specifications. Once an issue is detected, the AI plans the necessary shutdown and executes the fix.
7. In what way does the implementation of these technologies improve human safety in the mills? Safety is improved by using robots for dangerous internal work and by allowing Agentic AI to take over physically demanding tasks. By removing the requirement for "human muscles" from the system, the risk of physical injury to personnel is significantly reduced.
8. How is the size of the human maintenance force expected to change with the adoption of Agentic AI? The adoption of Agentic AI is expected to reduce the overall size of the human maintenance force. As software takes over tactical and physical tasks, fewer human workers will be required to maintain mill operations.
9. Describe the shift in the human skill set required in a mill that has fully implemented Agentic AI. The human skill set will shift from tactical tasks to strategic considerations. While AI handles immediate, day-to-day operations and repairs, humans will focus on long-term planning for the next six months, a year, or even further into the future.
10. What is the predicted timeline for personnel turnover following the implementation of Agentic AI? The text suggests that a complete turnover of personnel may occur within a couple of years of implementing Agentic AI. This is due to the radical redefinition of required skills and the reduction in the total number of employees needed.

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Part III: Essay Questions

Instructions: Use the following prompts to develop long-form arguments or analytical responses.

1. The Tactical-to-Strategic Shift: Analyze the implications of human workers moving from tactical to strategic roles. How does this change the fundamental nature of employment in the pulp and paper industry?
2. Safety and Robotics: Discuss the dual role of robots in improving safety and efficiency. Why is the ability to enter a shutdown environment "shortly after the beginning" a critical factor for both?
3. The Autonomy of Agentic AI: Explore the concept of "silo-less" problem-solving. How does an AI that acts across departmental boundaries change the traditional organizational structure of a mill?
4. Economic and Human Impact: Evaluate the prediction that Agentic AI will lead to a reduction in the workforce and a complete turnover of personnel. What are the potential challenges of such a rapid transition?
5. The Future of Adoption: The author expresses conviction that these changes will happen and that only the "speed of adoption" is in question. Discuss the factors that might influence how quickly a mill integrates these technologies.

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Part IV: Glossary of Key Terms

Term Definition

Agentic AI AI systems that go beyond communication to take action, coordinate tasks, and solve problems across departments without constant human triggers.

Dryer Can A component of a paper machine factory floor where robots are expected to first replace humans for internal examinations and maintenance.

Hardened Robots Specialized robotic units designed to withstand the harsh or dangerous environments found inside industrial machinery during maintenance.

Pulp Mill Recovery Area A section of the mill where robots are expected to improve safety and reduce the length of maintenance projects.

Strategic Tasks Long-term planning and considerations (six months to a year or more) that will become the primary focus of human workers in an AI-driven mill.

Tactical Tasks Routine, immediate, or manual operational tasks that are predicted to be handled entirely by software and AI in the future.

Technological Adoption The rate or speed at which new technologies, such as Agentic AI and robotics, are integrated into existing industrial frameworks.

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