OptiFlo headbox for running at low speeds

Redesigned headbox turbulence generator provides top-notch quality for specialty grades

Decor papers enable surface upgrades for wood-based substrates for use in the production of furniture, laminate flooring and other interior and exterior design panels.

Every specialty paper and board grade has a niche market and its own needs for the production process. High quality of the end product is vital, and the quality targets must be met constantly without deviations.

Good formation and perfect visual appearance

Hydraulic headbox for lower speeds

OptiFlo Fourdrinier headbox for specialty paper producers

To better meet the needs of those specialty paper producers that run at lower speeds, Valmet has developed a new technology for OptiFlo Fourdrinier headboxes. It enables to expand the speed range of the headbox family even lower than before.

The new OptiFlo Fourdrinier headbox technology gives an opportunity to operate at lower machine speeds with hydraulic headboxes instead of using a rectifier headbox, while still providing the needed high quality for the end products. This gives a chance to run at lower headbox flows and lower speeds up to 120m/min.

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Good formation and perfect visual appearance

The key element of the OptiFlo Fourdrinier headbox for low speeds is it's completely redesigned headbox turbulence generator, which will provide a high level of performance in the end products.

The requirements for good formation and perfect visual appearance for the end product can be met, making this headbox an excellent alternative for rectifier roll headbox replacements.

The visual samples from pilot trials show even formation over a wide grammage range from 130 gsm (left) to 200 gsm and 220 gsm. The redesigned turbulence generator has been heavily tested in pilot runs at our Paper Technology Center's pilot paper machine.

Flatter sheet and improved strength at Ahlström Munksjö Dettingen PM34

Watch the video to learn about the Ahlström Munksjö Dettingen PM34 wet end rebuild. Mill manager Thomas Gehring says that "Since the rebuild, we have more constant and flatter grammage variation in both machine and cross direction. After the start-up, the CD deviation improvement was immediately evident from the scanner data. We’re talking about a reduction in deviation of more than 15 percent.”

The PM 34 produces colored decor paper, and the less color deviation the paper has, the better. Since the rebuild, the mill crew has been able to assess the right color level needed for each customer more quickly. The flatter sheet also helps with changes in color constancy: A more constant sheet means a more constant color level.

Watch the video for full reference details.

How to plan a successful headbox rebuild?

Rebuilding a paper or board machine can improve the competitiveness of your business and your processes. But where do you start? Download our e-book to learn how to develop a winning rebuild concept, how to minimize rebuild related risks, and how to ensure smooth ramp up to full production.

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Main features of OptiFlo Fourdrinier Headbox

The key tehcnologies that make OptiFlo Fourdrinier headbox the best choice for specialty paper producers, are explained and displayed in this video. The innovative design of Valmet’s OptiFlo headbox provides the greatest floc breaking ability and flattest profiles available on the market. That ensures that the paper and board products you make is of optimal quality.

All the features of the headbox have been carefully designed to increase machine productivity, while keeping daily operating costs in control.

Watch the video to learn more.

Read more about our technologies and solutions for special paper producers

Technologies for special papers

We pay and get a receipt, eat hamburgers and bake cookies on baking paper. They are in our lives but seldom we stop to think about how special those papers and boards are. Every specialty paper and board grade has its own niche market and its own needs for the production process.

Pilot trials

Valmet Paper Technology Center provides the world's most comprehensive offering of testing and piloting services to paper and board manufacturers worldwide. Our pilot facilities have the entire process covered, from stock preparation to coatings and everything between, providing customers with excellent service and reliable results to support investment decisions.

Rebuilds and improvements

Paper machine rebuilds offer ways to remove production bottlenecks, reduce production costs, improve operating safety, save energy or add new grades with paper machine conversion.

Discover customer success stories with OptiFlo headboxes

Headbox rebuild for Ahlström Munksjö’s Dettingen

Aug 12, 2021

The customers of Ahlström Munksjö’s Dettingen mill in Germany set high expectations of the quality and printability of decor paper used in furniture. The mill’s recent wet end rebuild has further improved paper strength, as well as decreased the grammage deviation.

Sappi Maastricht: Extremely good quality with new 3-layer headbox and metal belt calender

Feb 11, 2020

Valmet’s unique three-layer headbox and metal belt calender have helped Sappi Maastricht to produce outstandingly white and bulky board, with excellent printability and surface properties.

Mondi Steti: three times better 2-sigma values with headbox rebuild

Dec 12, 2019

The Mondi Steti Mill is passionate about performance. They aim for optimal printability that enables their customers to grab attention while offering the right packaging characteristics, like strength for the end user.

Yinzhou Paper's rebuild for better quality test liner

Oct 18, 2016

Frequent customer complaints regarding the evenness and CD profiles of Dongguan’s linerboard led Yinzhou Paper to replace the headboxes and invest in modern quality control system.

Alfeld PM 2: A special star is born

Nov 19, 2014

Sappi Alfeld Mill in Germany completed an ambitious project to convert its one remaining graphic paper machine - PM 2 - into what is probably the largest, most innovative, automated and versatile speciality paper machine on the planet.

Planning a grade conversion?

The world is changing fast; the consumption of newsprint and printing paper is decreasing and the consumption of containerboards or cartonboards are increasing. An old paper machine can be updated with a grade conversion rebuild to produce more profitable products. Turn a new page for your paper machine with the help from Valmet.

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Board and paper news

Explore our customer success stories and learn more about our full-scope offering for the board and paper industries.

Dunafin enhances refining and fiber analysis with Valmet

Nov 14, 2024

Dunafin, member of delfortgroup, has always focused on producing high-quality grades while keeping operations efficient and sustainable. Recently, Dunafin took a significant step to modernize its refining process by implementing the Valmet Conical Refiner Pro and MAP Q Analyzer. Read the full article to learn how Dunafin achieved both the operational efficiency and the product quality with Valmet.

MM Neuss BM 5: Machine Diagnostics helped reduce web breaks

Nov 6, 2024

Valmet Performance Center supported MM Neuss remotely in a calender related on-demand expert support case that was alerted by Machine Diagnostics.

Automation upgrade accelerates sustainable growth at Melitta

Nov 1, 2024

Melitta Group is a family-owned global leader in coffee and household products. It recently completed a major upgrade in its coffee filter paper production by replacing the previous automation system with Valmet DNA.

Innovation in Järvenpää Paper Technology Center: Hard nip sizing with curtain application

Oct 30, 2024

Watch the video to learn more about Valmet’s novel innovation OptiSizer Curtain. The most recent innovation in surface sizing, hard nip sizing with curtain application, was developed and tested in Valmet’s Paper Technology Center in Järvenpää. The results from the pilot machine have been exciting: the sizer can successfully run up to 1700 m/min.

Increased sizer roll cover running time with Valmet support

Oct 25, 2024

PT. Tjiwi Kimia PM11 in Indonesia is a high speed coated fine paper line with significant annual production, where uninterrupted reliable running time is of the utmost importance. Cover change interval can be one limiting factor. The mill chose the Valmet service experts from Cikarang to aid in taking a step forward in sizer cover running time, forming a winning team together.

An innovative supercalender retrofit empowers diverse paper production at Shandong Sun Paper Co

Oct 23, 2024

This upgrade has enhanced the supercalender with a broader paper production capability. It allows for precise control of paper gloss, smoothness, and bulk.

Ceramic coating technology significantly enhances production efficiency: A case study from a mill in Central China

Oct 9, 2024

In the paper industry, equipment stability and production efficiency are crucial for the sustainable development of mills. A paper mill in Central China specializing in machines producing low-basis weight products recently encountered a series of challenges, including frequent web breaks, sticky pulp accumulation on the center roll surface, and a short doctor blade life. The mill partnered with Valmet to address these issues and enhance both production efficiency and equipment stability. This co...

MM Količevo BM 3: Investing for the future with OptiSizer Curtain

Oct 8, 2024

Watch the video to learn more about MM Količevo's OptiSizer Curtain investment. In October 2023 MM Board & Paper's rebuilt BM 3 board machine and the first-ever hard nip sizer with a curtain application were successfully started up at the MM Količevo mill in Slovenia. Prior to the rebuild, board machine BM 3 did not have a sizer. A prototype technology in sizing was chosen because it was the only technology flexible enough to fulfill all requirements of the product portfolio.