Customer: Smurfit Kappa
Production: Packaging and paper products
Supplier: Voith
Description: New shoe-blade gap former DuoFormer CBh with excellent first results at Smurfit Kappa. After undergoing extensive testing at Voith pilot facilities in Heidenheim, the new former concept has already proven itself in actual use. «We chose Voith to supply this shoe-blade gap former for Roermond PM 1 because of the high quality and technology level of their equipment and their people. Based on our past experiences with Voith delivering successful projects, we felt good about investing in their technology, because it pays off in the long term» says Wouter Lap, managing director of Netherlands-based manufacturer Smurfit Kappa Roermond Papier.
«Once again, the decision for Voith proved to be the right one. We had a great ramp-up curve from stock on wire to saleable quality within only one day after the rebuild that changed the entire forming section into an innovative DuoFormer CBh concept. We have seen a significant increase in the quality of our packaging papers and a production boost up 20% since the startup. Overall, we are very pleased with the results» Lap concludes.
Details: Voith expands its portfolio in the forming section with the DuoFormer CBh, a cost and space-efficient shoe-blade gap former solution for the fabrication of packaging papers at high production rates, providing paper producers with the utmost flexibility and a fast return on investment.
Papermakers who are either looking for a new former with a very good quality-performance ratio or are faced with the challenge of having to replace their existing former to gain productivity benefit from the DuoFormer CBh. Due to its compact design, it is ideal for rebuilds where space is at a premium.
Its dewatering elements are designed to achieve the best possible combination of dewatering capacity and paper strength with minimum effort. Using a full ceramic slotted impingement shoe cover design and a high vacuum suction box (HiVac) instead of a suction couch roll, the DuoFormer CBh ensures the highest dry content and lower maintenance costs compared to market standard solutions.
Voith’s DuoFormer CBh can be applied in a wide operation window, allowing for sustainable and reliable papermaking. It operates up to a maximum speed of 1,600 m/min. The drainage section’s capacity is exactly designed for desired production rates. Well-devised design enables a steep ramp-up curve.