ANDRITZ to supply high-speed tissue machine to ST Paper in Duluth, Minnesota, USA

The ANDRITZ tissue machine of the type PrimeLineTM W 2000 has a design speed of 2,000 m/min and a working width of 5.65 m to produce a range of bath, napkin and towel grades. The order includes:
- the approach flow equipment with double dilution capability for excellent fiber preparation
- a fully cantilevered PrimePress XT Evo shoe press for gentle dewatering
- a 16 ft. PrimeDry Steel Yankee with head insulation, steam and condensate systems, and high-performance Yankee hood and process air systems for energy-efficient drying
- mist extraction and dust removal systems for safe operation and
- a PrimeReel standard reel with turn-up equipment for excellent end product quality

The entire production line will be equipped with an ANDRITZ PrimeControl MCS automation system which includes extended features for process automation throughout the tissue line and minimizes the number of subsystems and associated interfaces. Installation advisory services, start-up and commissioning services are also included in the scope of supply.

Sharad Tak, founder and principal partner of ST Paper: "We partnered with ANDRITZ because they offered state-of-the-art tissue machine technologies with a focus on optimized energy consumption and a commitment to achieve our project goals.”

Joseph Guadagno, ANDRITZ Vice President Tissue and Air Systems, North America, adds: “We are very pleased that ST Paper selected ANDRITZ as a trusted partner. The relationship developed with the ST Paper team on past projects contributed to this success”.

ST Paper acquired Verso Corporation’s idled Duluth mill in May, with the intention to convert the mill’s production from specialty paper grades to tissue. ST Paper has already successfully converted two fine paper machines into tissue machines at its Franklin, Virginia facility. ANDRITZ was a key supplier to ST Paper on both PM 5 & PM 6 rebuild projects at the Franklin mill, with the supply of the Yankee hoods and complete air systems for both rebuilds, including one of the widest Yankee hoods in the world at 8.43 m (332”) hood width installed on PM 6.

This order once again confirms ANDRITZ’s strong market position as one of the leading suppliers of machines and systems to the North American tissue industry and ANDRITZ’s expertise specifically in wide tissue machines and energy-saving components.