Features Research & Innovation
Voith Paper Technology Centre formally opened

With an investment of over $100 million, the Voith Paper Technology Centre was constructed in just one and a half years in Heidenheim/Brenz, Germany. The PTC makes it possible to perform advance testing and optimization of the entire paper manufacturing process under realistic conditions — from the raw material, the machine configuration, the automation and the paper clothings right through to the final product.

The core of the Paper Technology Center is the 75-metre (246 ft) long experimental paper machine, which is designed for speeds of up to 3000 m/min (9842 ft/min). The fastest paper machines in the world currently run at speeds just over 1900 m/min (6233 ft/min). The modular design of this system makes it possible to test different production concepts and compare them directly to each other. Where necessary, entire machine components weighing up to 600 tons can be removed and replaced as one. In addition, the Paper Technology Centre is equipped with a fibre design system, which can be used to systematically adapt the raw material for paper production to the requirements of the paper to be produced.

Executive Chairman Voith Paper, Dr. Hans-Peter Sollinger expressed his enthusiasm at the opening ceremony: “Together with our customers, we will be able to turn futuristic ideas into reality on this site.”