Voith rebuilds complete PM 5 of customer PAPRESA for the optimized production of packaging paper

PAPRESA, the leading southern European manufacturer of newsprint, commissioned Voith in March to completely rebuild PM 5 at the Rentería mill in Spain. The start-up of the ambitious project is scheduled for the first quarter of 2022. Subsequently, the extensive rebuild will enable significantly more efficient and sustainable production of packaging paper. The capacity will then be around 205,000 tons of testliner and corrugating medium per year, with a PM design speed of 1,200 m/min. The focus of the new PM is on lightweight containerboard grades with 65 to 140 gsm, the wire width is 5,900 mm and the paper will have a web width of 5,400 mm at the reel. The production of newsprint will be maintained at PM 6.

Cutting-edge technology for the PM 5
In addition to modifications in the approach flow system, the wire section will be upgraded with the DuoFormer D including new dewatering elements. Voith will also supply the DuoShake shaking unit and a MasterJetPro F/B headbox with ModuleJet I dilution water technology. Furthermore, to ensure the capacity increase of the paper machine, the existing press section will be extended with a NipcoFlex shoe press and converted to a DuoCentri NipcoFlex press. New EvoSteel steel cylinders with higher steam pressure in the last two dryer groups of the pre-dryer section are also part of the scope of supply. A film press with a subsequent new after-dryer section also increases the quality of the final paper. In addition, the existing reel is extended by the EcoChange W turn-up system for more efficient reel spool changes. Finally, the scope of delivery includes a comprehensive fabric package for the start-up of the PM 5.

Newest digitalization solutions for maximum plant efficiency
In addition, the order includes extensive services and digitization solutions from Voith's Papermaking 4.0 portfolio. The digitization package contains the IIoT platform OnCumulus, the advanced process visualization OnView.MassBalance and process control OnEfficiency.Strength as well as remote maintenance solutions with OnPerformance.Lab. With the individual and extensive package, PAPRESA will benefit from better paper quality and maximum plant efficiency in the future.

Strong growth potential for packaging paper
In times of e-commerce, packaging papers are becoming increasingly important. As a full-line supplier, Voith delivers PAPRESA efficient and at the same time resource-saving solutions with the PM 5 conversion:

"This transformation is our answer to the declining demand in the newsprint market and the steady growth of the packaging paper sector, which is growing at 9 to 10 percent per year thanks to the tremendous upswing in e-commerce. The pandemic situation further accelerates the surge in demand, which creates good prospects for our post-investment results. On the other hand, we will continue to be the leading southern European supplier of newsprint. We are glad to have found the perfect partner for this change in the full-line supplier Voith," says Miguel Sánchez, President and CEO of PAPRESA.

Extensive investment and development for highest plant efficiency
With this order, PAPRESA is pursuing an ambitious investment and development plan. Earlier this year, the customer already awarded the full-line supplier Voith to deliver an entire BlueLine OCC stock preparation plant for the Rentería mill in Spain. Also here, PAPRESA benefits from a service and digitalization package.