ITC commissions Voith with rebuild of specialty paper machine PM 1 in Chandrahati near Kolkata

India's largest paper manufacturer ITC Limited PSPD has commissioned Voith to rebuild PM 1, including stock preparation, at its Chandrahati site, about 60 kilometers north of Kolkata. With the rebuilt décor paper machine, the company will increase its production capacity for high-quality décor paper with basis weights of 40 - 90 gsm and thus further expand its market leadership.

ITC has more than 50 years of experience in producing a wide range of paper grades. Voith has already completed a number of projects for ITC. Among others, the full-line supplier delivered the PM 4 in 2017, with which the Indian company has been successfully producing décor paper since startup. The decisive factor for awarding the contract was Voith's many years of extensive experience in the areas of process technology, design, installation and service. In addition, with its offices in Kolkata and Faridabad, Voith has proven experts on the ground in India and can thus work quickly and efficiently with ITC to develop optimal solutions.

Production lines for décor paper have to meet special requirements. For example, excellent print quality and very high opacity must be ensured, which is why up to 40 percent high-quality filler is used in the production process. The PM 1 will be equipped with the Voith IntensaPulper concept in stock preparation and the advanced wet end process with Voith's HydroMix, ComMix and latest BlueLine products such as IntegraGuard screens. In addition, the system is designed for efficient use of short fibers and minimization of filler losses.

Voith's MasterJet Pro headbox, equipped with ModuleJet technology for cross-profile control, has been optimized for the production of décor paper and ensures best formation results, excellent basis weight profile and optimum fiber orientation. In addition, MasterJet Pro meets all requirements for frequent color and grade changes and provides optimum accessibility for cleaning purposes. The wire section is equipped with the reliable high-performance shaking unit DuoShake DG. Beneficial for high runability is the high dryness of the paper web at the first free draw thanks to the new state-of-the-art press section.

At the end of the dryer section there is a high-temperature drying group for curing of the wet strength agent, followed by two high-performance cooling cylinders for web cooling. ModulePro and ModuleCal system together EcoSoft calender will help achieve the desired smoothness and are designed to meet the requirements of décor paper.