Day 3 – International Paper Madrid and a Visit to Segovia

Day 3 – by Meagan Harrison and Claudia Patterson

Today we drove from Madrid to our first mill site with International Paper. The facility was converted from a newsprint facility to produce linerboard from recycled OCC. When walking onto the site, we were greeted by a large courtyard surrounded by sculptures, flowers, and thoughtful landscape. Our alumnus, Maria Luna, explained how Spanish customs influence work in comparison to the USA. Lunch time, weekends, and time off are considered a sacred period when no one from work can bother you. (We were thinking maybe America could adopt this custom too!)

She then explained that the conversion from newsprint to OCC was finished about a year and a half ago, and the mill is now in their ramp up period. The total capital put into the conversion was over $100 million by International Paper.  The site showcases some unique qualities and equipment not found in many older mills across the US and Europe. They use fiber fractionation to separate long and short fibers, of which strategic ratios are used in a three ply headbox on a gap former. We saw automated shipping and distribution technology that reminded us of our very own BookBot in the Hunt library! It is also the only mill in Europe to use 100% recycled water in addition to recycled OCC. Our International Paper friends in Madrid were incredible hosts who put great care into giving us the most out of our tour, and for that we are extremely thankful!  We also had the opportunity to meet Alfonso Lopez, Technical Product Manager and an alumnus of our PhD program.

After our mill tour in Madrid, we piled back on the big green bus for a sight seeing expedition to the small town of Segovia. The hour and a half drive was full of scenes of quaint towns and distant mountains for those that were able to keep their eyes open. Many people took the break in action as an opportunity to rest their eyes in preparation for our busy afternoon.

If you conjure up an image in your mind of what you feel a typical Spanish village would appear like- that’s Segovia. The buildings were an aesthetic shade of brown with red-orange rooftops. The city covered a sprawling hill with many twisting and winding cobblestone roads. As soon as we arrived, we noticed the enormous Roman Aqueduct that ran through the city. Built only with stones, the enormous infrastructure demanded immediate attention. The structure that once supplied a steady flow of water around the city had become the landmark of Segovia. The trek to the top of the aqueduct winded through town streets full of souvenir shops, delis, and bustling people. The top of the aqueduct held a beautiful view of the entire city of Segovia.

Once the aqueduct had been conquered, a lunch break was seriously needed. We ate at a cute deli with hilarious “Game of Thrones” themed aprons. The sandwiches were as good and authentic as you can get in Spain, (code- ham sandwiches) and left us ready to tackle the rest of Segovia. Our next missions included finding the Segovia castle, Alcazar of Segovia, and cathedral. Both of which were outstanding works of architecture. The cathedral, Catedral de Segovia, was designed as the focal point of the town square, with many people eating, drinking, and enjoying conversation in the shade it provided. The castle looked like it came straight from a Disney movie! A beautiful courtyard led up to the towering castle, with spires stretching to the sky. It was a picturesque destination, with many people purchasing souvenirs to remember Segovia by.

Once back at the hotel, my group decided to go out and cure a sweet tooth with churros and chocolate. We found a chocolatier that was open 24/7 to satisfy our cravings and it did not disappoint! A late dinner consisted of wine, tapas, and authentic seafood paella. After a 30,000 step day, we were all ready to curl up in bed and rest for another busy day tomorrow.

Check out our facebook page for more and regular photos.  Some hotel WiFi’s are very spotty!