Tissue Machines Division

Profile

The Tissue Machines Division provides all modern types of tissue machines, including CrescentFormers, Through-Air Drying (TAD) technology, and machines with the patented TissueFlex™*) shoe press. Ventilation and drying for tissue and other paper and board grades complement the product portfolio.

Andritz and Voith are parties in a cooperation agreement for tissue machines.  The parties share know-how and conduct joint research and development.  Andritz is responsible for the production and sale of tissue machines in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Voith Andritz Tissue LLC in the USA, a 50:50 joint venture of Andritz and Voith, serves the NAFTA markets.

The Tissue Machines Division is headquartered in Graz, Austria, and has sites in Växjö, Sweden; Lachine, Quebec, Canada; and Janesville, WI, USA (Voith Andritz Tissue LLC).

Business Development

In international tissue markets, there is a continuing trend towards improved tissue paper quality.  In Europe, supersoft tissue is increasingly important, which is reflected in numerous inquiries for the TissueFlex™ shoe press.  Dust handling in tissue machines is still very important in Europe, due to concern about employee health and process safety.

In North America, tissue manufacturing is dominated by TAD machines, producing high-bulk and high-absorbency papers.  The Asian market is rather stagnant, except China, which is showing quite strong project activities, also in the high-quality tissue sector.

A 50,000 t/a Andritz CrescentFormer tissue machine was started up successfully at Kriepa Hygienepapier, Kriebstein, Saxony, Germany, a subsidiary of the German tissue manufacturer WEPA.  The machine reflects Andritz’s PrimeLine™ concept, and is the most-advanced CrescentFormer tissue production line today and produces supersoft tissue.  It comprises a two-layer headbox, equipped with dilution water control to achieve best sheet profile, a TissueFlex™ shoe press and the first 700°C EquiDry S high-efficiency hood.  Andritz also supplied the new two-line stock preparation.

Andritz's commitment to the Through-Air Drying technology was recognized through an order to upgrade a TAD machine at Procter & Gamble, Orléans, France.  The result of this modernization, completed in late 2003, is an increase of machine speed by nearly 15%.  

The integration of the new Andritz Fiber Drying group (former ABB Drying, with global Yankee hood experience) into the Division was finalized in the course of the year. Besides the organizational integration, the biggest task was to combine the technologies of both Andritz and the former ABB Drying organization.  Optimized products and equipment emerged from taking the best from the combined global experience.

*) Trademark of Voith, cooperation partner of Andritz in the field of tissue

Major Orders

• The Division received a pre-engineering order for the supply of a CrescentFormer tissue machine to Swedish Tissue, Kisa, Sweden, owned by leading British tissue manufacturer LPC Group. The new Andritz PrimeLine™ machine is similar to the proven concept of LPC's PM2 machine in Leicester, UK, delivered by Andritz in 2001. It has been especially designed for the production of supersoft tissue products. This project is another confirmation of the proven TissueFlex™ shoe press technology.  

• Andritz’s Tissue Joint Venture with Voith in the USA received several orders for recently developed tissue machine components, such as the centerwind reel and multi-layer headbox.

Research and Development

Based on the combined air technology knowledge, of Andritz and Andritz Fiber Drying, the main focus of the Tissue Machines Division's R&D efforts was to fully exploit the potential of the Andritz Through-Air Drying technology. It includes the new high-performance PrimeTAD™ drum, the EquiDry TAD hood and air system for most uniform air flows, and other specific TAD components.

One very important wet-end component in the PrimeTAD™ machine is the three-layer headbox with integrated dilution profiling system.  It was developed based on the operational experience with PrimeFlow™ two-layer headboxes in conventional tissue machines.  The new headbox generates an excellent base paper quality.

In addition, the Division focused on the development of engineered service products.  A Speed and Runnability Package for tissue machines was developed.  This package comprises several upgrade components, as well as machine and plant surveys to define bottlenecks.  Special instruments, such as PrimeDry TCS (a tool to gain knowledge about the Yankee dryer surface during operation) are part of the package.