Valmet paper machine at Norske Skog Golbey, France, sets new world speed record of 1902 m/min

Published June 26, 2001 20.50.00 +2 GMT

The Metso Paper-supplied newsprint paper machine PM 2 at Norske Skog Golbey S.A. in Golbey, France, set a new paper machine world speed record of 1902 m/min (6,239 fpm) on 20-21 June. Also the former record 1833 m/min from September 2000 was Golbey's. The preconditions for the speed record were created in the maintenance shutdown the previous week. The machine's runnability was improved in the first dryer section group by the new HiRun blow box installation. With the new technique, the target of increasing the speed to the level of 1900 m/min, was achieved in five days from the shutdown.

The world record was achieved in normal production during 24 hours on 20-21 June. The basis weights of the paper were 45 and 42 gpm and the speed was not changed during the 24 hour period.

Golbey PM 2 has contributed to papermaking history since its start-up in January 1999, being the first machine to be started up at a speed higher than 1500 m/min (1509 m/min). Currently the line is clearly No. 1 in the world in terms of both production and speed. Last year the machine's average speed was 1724 m/min as the first printing paper machine in the world. The best month achieved is currently 1767 m/min. However the new target set for the monthly average speed is now over 1800 m/min.

Golbey PM 2 has a wire width of 10.3 m and trims at 9.6 m.

The world speed records for all major grades - newsprint, lwc, sc and woodfree fine paper, and base paper - are held by Valmet paper machines. The world speed records and other positions currently held by Valmet machines are:

Newsprint (Valmet holding 1st, 3rd and 4th positions): Norske Skog Golbey PM 2, France - 1,902 m/min (6,239 fpm)

SC (1st, 2nd, 3rd): Stora Port Hawkesbury PM 2, Canada - 1,703 m/min (5,587 fpm)

LWC (1st, 2nd, 3rd): UPM-Kymmene, Rauma PM 4, Finland - 1,751 m/min (5,743 fpm)

Wood free fine paper and base paper (1st, 3rd, 4th): Shinmoorim Paper, Chinju PM 3, South Korea - 1,472 m/min (4,829 fpm)

For further information: Jukka Antikainen, Senior Paper Technology Manager, tel. +358 20 482 6007, mobile +358 40 5117 092.