Metso Paper's pilot machine rebuild speeds up development of innovative solutions

Published June 16, 2006 12.00.00 +2 GMT

Metso Paper is rebuilding its PM 2 pilot paper machine at Rautpohja in Jyväskylä, Finland. The installation work begins on 17 June and the start-up of the renewed machine is scheduled for September 2006. The rebuild will further strengthen the OptiConcept PM 2's position as the most advanced pilot paper machine in the world.

The scope of the rebuild includes a new press section, modernization of the dryer section and several other improvements throughout the whole process line. The rebuild will also introduce a totally new way of building a paper machine for high usability, reliability and productivity. In addition, the speed potential of the line will be increased to 3,000 m/min.

The Rautpohja pilot PM 2 was originally started up in 1996. The machine has been the main tool for developing and proving such industry benchmark innovations as the OptiFormer forming section and OptiFlo headbox for gap forming applications, the OptiPress closed draw press section, OptiDry impingement drying units and HiRun blow boxes. The machine has been constantly modernized through a series of investments. The latest addition, conducted less than two years ago, was the installation of the OptiDry Twin impingement drying unit, which eliminates the runnability bottleneck between press and dryer sections. Thanks to this development and the trials carried out at the pilot facility, a majority of the world's most productive paper and board machine lines today are supplied by Metso.

In total, Metso Paper has 12 technology centers covering paper, board and tissuemaking as well as all commercial pulping processes. The Rautpohja pilot PM 2 is one of the three pilot paper machines. In addition, Metso Paper has a pilot board machine and two pilot tissue machines, as well as an extensive range of surface treatment pilot equipment for paper finishing. With these pilot facilities, any kind of raw material can be tested from fiber to print.

Metso is a global engineering and technology corporation with 2005 net sales of approximately EUR 4.2 billion. Its 22,000 employees in more than 50 countries serve customers in the pulp and paper industry, rock and minerals processing, the energy industry and selected other industries. www.metso.com

For more information, please contact: Heikki Ilvespää Vice President, Research and Development Paper and Board Business Line, Metso Paper Tel. +358 40 841 5472 E-mail: heikki.ilvespaa@metso.com