Features Tissue
Andritz to open “world’s most modern” tissue R&D centre in 2018

The research centre boasts a state-of-the-art tissue production line, including laboratory facilities for tests and trials to develop new products and processes in the tissue sector. It is available to tissue producers and to suppliers, research and development companies, and universities.

As well, customers and developers can conduct tests and trials under different conditions, for example to optimize fibres and furnish for a specific product, improve product qualities, increase dryness, and reduce energy consumption. The impact of variables such as stock preparation, chemicals, vacuum, machine clothing, pressing, and drying with hot air and steam can all be measured and evaluated accurately, says the company. Customers can bring along their own team of specialists, or discuss and collaborate with Andritz experts from the R&D, stock preparation, machine design and engineering, automation and pumps departments.

According to the company, final test runs for the centre are currently in progress.

The various partners for this project include Albany International Corp., Danfoss Drives, Fibria, IBS Paper Performance Group, Nash, Södra, and Solenis. The PrimeLineTIAC is sponsored by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency FFG as part of its R&D infrastructure promotion.

Andritz says the PrimeLineTIAC has its own complete stock preparation line together with the approach flow system, and that many different kinds of pulp can be processed in one production line, which is split into a separate short fibre and long fibre line. All units are available in small industrial scale, “creating an excellent environment for best possible fibre treatment and tests according to the individual needs of customers and products,” notes the technology company.

Meanwhile, the tissue production line promises to offer “utmost flexibility” for the production of conventional, textured, and structured (TAD) tissue, featuring eight configurations that are also available on the market as single-machine concepts. Flexible monitoring and controlling of the configurations as well as the stock preparation system, including alarm management, online documentation, and eco-monitoring, are made possible by PrimeControl automation hardware and software, says Andritz.  

As a result, customers can run trials with what could potentially be their future machine configurations. With a design speed of 2,500 m/min and a sheet width of 600 mm, the machine can be operated with either a suction press roll or a shoe press, a regular CrescentFormer or a vertical CrescentFormer, and with a 16 ft. steel Yankee or two 14 ft. TAD drums.

The pumping systems are highly automated and are monitored to not only control operations, but also gather and report important process data under different operating conditions, it adds.