Former improvements for board and paper making

Customized solutions to ensure better operational reliability and provide a good return on your investment

FormerBoost for improving forming process

Former improvement solutions help you to ensure that your  forming section is performing at the highest possible level. With the customized solutions you will improve paper quality, solve runnability problems, improve dewatering, and ensure better operational reliability. You can also expect measurable results, a good return on your investment and cost-effectiveness. 

Paper quality improvements

Runnability improvements

Former dewatering improvements and optimization

What are the benefits from improved paper quality?

Paper quality improvements help to improve formation, optimize running parameters, and solve other paper quality issues. You can revieve one or more of the following benefits:

Improved formation, strength properties, profiles, and machine cleanliness for optimal end product quality
Savings in raw materials by reducing the use of chemicals and improving the furnish mix
Improvements in production efficiency through better runnability and fewer breaks
Energy savings with optimized running parameters

What are the benefits from improved runnability?

Runnability improvements are aimed at raising the stability of forming section runnability to a new level. You can achieve one or more of the following benefits:

Improved machine cleanliness, edge area control and fabric control for stable runnability
Energy savings through reduced break energy waste and optimized dewatering
Improved efficiency through better runnability and reduced break times
Savings in fresh water consumption
Longer lifetimes of fabrics and ceramics

What are the benefits of improved former dewatering?

Former dewatering management targets maximal dryness with minimal effort. You can achieve one or more of the following benefits:

Higher sheet dry content for improved production efficiency
Energy savings through optimized water removal and vacuums
Raw materials savings with improved retention and savings in chemicals
Maintenance efficiency through longer lifetimes of fabrics and ceramics and improved cleanliness

Condition management for former improvements

Condition management is designed to ensure trouble-free operation and cost-effective maintenance of your forming section.

Taking the right actions at the right time reduces maintenance costs
Improved mechanical condition of the forming section ensures peak performance
Better runnability and minimal downtime boost production efficiency
A well-maintained forming section facilitates good profiles and optimal use of raw materials

Forming section configuration optimization

Flexible Forming System optimizes the forming section configuration for each specific paper grade, while gaining quick, automated positioning during grade changes. Upgrade existing fourdrinier equipment with an adjustable table setup that is customized to your wet end process.

Cost savings with Breast Roll shaker 120

Formation is one of the most important structural properties of paper and paperboard. It affects several of the properties important for final uses, such as strength and visual properties. Valmet Breast Roll Shaker is an effective solution to improve the sheet forming process. It improves formation by creating shear forces in the web to break up large flocs.

How to optimize your forming table

The Valmet FFS® is custom designed to enhance your forming table performance. It consists of a combination of Flexible™ Forming Board, HydroFlex™ and VacuFlex™ units. This system, engineered to fit on your existing fourdrinier structure, offers adjustability to provide your papermakers with the ability to optimize the forming section configuration for each grade. The system can also be complemented with a Microwave Consistency Meter to give instant process feedback to further enhance the table optimization. The entire system is operated through our Valmet FFS controls package.

Do you want to know more about process upgrades?

If you wish to get further information like technical specifications, need a quotation, or wish to discuss different solutions, fill in the contact form and our experts will contact you shortly.

References and articles

Successful forming section upgrade leads to improved performance at Sappi’s Tugela mill

A few years ago, Sappi launched a multi-year modernisation plan to improve both production and paper quality of its Tugela mill, based in Mandeni in KwaZulu-Natal. In the first phase, the forming section of the mill’s PM2 was upgraded successfully with Valmet’s support.

Solving problems with a service attitude

Ji’an Group’s coated white-top liner machine PM 3 opted for a Valmet Breast Roll Shaker to improve the formation. "Valmet’s service attitude was superb, and the end result is excellent", says Young Lu, Vice President of Production of Ji’an Group.

Targeting 22% increase in capacity

Pondercel’s PM 1 in Mexico was rebuilt in 2011. The modifications in forming, press and dryer sections, as well as sizer, reel, and winder aimed to increase capacity, reduce production costs and helped to serve their customers better.

The 3rd life of a paper machine at Blue Paper after grade conversion

In big grade conversion rebuilds, customers always want to be on the safe side as far as risks are concerned. Because the designed forming section was first of its kind, the prototype was tested at the Paper Technology Center in Jyväskylä. With the promising results of the pilot tests, Blue Paper was willing to implement the rebuild with Valmet.