SAPPI Maastricht Improves Non-Contact Drying, Achieves 50% Gas Savings

Since the autumn of 2012, SAPPI Maastricht, The Netherlands, has been using an energy-efficient Voith qDry Pro concept for non-contact drying. Peter Pijpers, manager of Process Technology and Engineering at Sappi Maastricht, reports that he is "delighted" with the increase of energy efficiency. "Almost directly after startup, the savings were visible, and after only a few weeks, the savings exceeded our expectations." The gas savings amount to approximately 50%.
 

To avoid deposits on the turning rolls after the last applicator unit and thus color defects on the paper, the turning rolls were replaced with an HCB-Turn. The HCB-Turn allows contactless web turning, while ensuring energy-efficient hot air drying of the coated web at the same time.
 

Broke has been reduced thanks to this rebuild. Also, the HCB-Turn allows higher final moisture while maintaining coating quality. 

At the same time, the energy savings mentioned above were made possible by the qDry Pro concept, a combination of the HCB-Turn with the existing Voith InfraAir infrared dryers. The infrared dryers were modified and thermically connected to the HCB dryer. Thus, the HCB-Turn is now heated completely by the waste heat of the infrared dryers. 

SAPPI Fine Paper Europe has a production capacity of 3.7 million metric tpy of fine paper and 1.1 million metric tpy of pulp. PM 6 at SAPPI Maastricht produces woodfree coated paper and board in a basis range of 180–400 gsm. The working width of PM 6 is 4,300 mm. Its operating speed is 850 m/min.