Team
Introducing FITNIR’s team
Throughout his more than 23 years of experience in the pulp and paper industry, Thanh Trung has amassed a high-level of technical expertise in advanced vibrational spectroscopy as well as garnered extensive knowledge and experience in mill operations. Thanh’s research focus has been on the development of online spectroscopic sensors and process analyzers for industrial applications to address key energy issues of fundamental infrastructure such as recovery boilers, power boilers and lime kilns.
Prior to joining FITNIR, Thanh was a Senior Research Scientist with FPInnovations (formerly Paprican) for 20 years. His pioneering efforts with FPInnovations in developing novel applications for the pulp and paper industry led to numerous inventorships and co-inventorships of U.S. and International patents. Thanh has also authored over 50 papers relating to pulp and paper applications, has been a guest editor of Canadian and international journals, and continues to contribute to the industry in chemical pulping, chemical recovery, and the integration of process measurements to reduce costs and improve product quality.
Thanh obtained a B.Sc., Honours, in chemistry, specializing in analytical chemistry at the University of British Columbia. He is a member of Pulp and Paper Technical Association (PAPTAC), TAPPI, Applied Spectroscopy Society, American Chemical Association (ACS), Chemical Society of Canada, and the Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Society.
Shawn Russell, Project Engineering Manager
Shawn’s background as a chemical engineer includes extensive experience in the kraft pulping industry. After 27 years working as a process engineer, production engineer, operations specialist, and Fibreline Technical Manager, Shawn joined the FITNIR team in 2018. His work in kraft mills gives him a unique perspective in the application of FITNIR technologies in both the Fibreline and Recovery/Recaust areas.
Shawn has a diploma in Pulp and Paper Engineering Technology from Sault College of Applied Arts and Technology and a Bachelor of Engineering-Chemical degree from Lakehead University. He is a long-standing member of TAPPI.
As Manager of Project Engineering at FITNIR Analyzers Inc., Shawn’s goal is to ensure all installations provide desired results efficiently and effectively. He ensures projects are delivered to mills on time and on budget. His role at FITNIR also includes monitoring installed systems and providing technical support and training.
Jack Porter, Application Advisor
Jack Porter has spent 34 years working with recovery boilers, power boilers and evaporators. During the first 20 years of his career, Jack progressed through all operating positions within the recovery department concluding with Superintendent of Recovery and Recaust.
Since then, Jack has worked on many utility projects, the largest being the construction of a new recovery boiler. He has been a session chair for the 1995 and 2007 and 2010 International Recovery Conferences and has authored or co-authored 14 presentations on topics involving recovery boilers and the associated liquor cycle.
Jack has been a participating member of the University of Toronto’s Research Consortium on Recovery Boilers since 1988 and has worked with FPInnovations and Lakehead University on numerous research projects. Jack retired in December 2008 then started his own consulting business in 2009.