The new Tunisie Ouate Paper Mill, located in the northeastern Tunisian town of Enfidha, has started up.  Tunisie Ouate is Tunisia’s largest tissue producer, and this latest development resulted from close collaboration between Tunisie Ouate and GapCon, Germany. The introduction of GapCon’s state-of-the-art production process ensured that saleable, high quality jumbo rolls were continuously produced from the start, with 96% of design capacity being attained within the first few days, while maintaining required quality levels. 

 

At the heart of this new venture is the GapCon EconSOFTTM tissue machine. This market leading machine was supplied by GapCon on a turn-key basis, whereby the installation, commissioning, running assessment, and site integration of the machine were carried out and supervised by GapCon’s team of specialized, experienced engineers and technicians. This comprehensive and integrated package meant that the seamless and efficient startup was readily achievable. The GapCon EconSOFT is at the cutting edge of tissue production technology, displaying a substantial step forward in terms of energy efficiency while setting new quality standards for the tissue industry.

 

Tunisie Ouate was founded in 1982 by Abdelaziz Kooli, making a pioneering decision to strive to be the leading producer of paper in Tunisia and the Maghreb. To meet the growing market demand for high quality tissue paper, Tunisie Ouate currently has an annual capacity of 45 000 metric tons, produced by three advanced technology machines, the latest of which is the GAPCON EconSOFT tissue machine. Additionally, two deinking plants contribute to the conversion of wastepaper into commercial tissue of superior quality. Tunisie Ouate is a major supplier for several markets all over the world, though especially in Africa and Europe.

 

The entire integrated project includes a tissue machine with a 70 metric tpd capacity, boasting an operating speed of 1,500 m/min., paper trim width of 2,750 mm, with a crescent former (EconFORMERTM), a 12 ft. dia. steel yankee (EconDRYTM), a fully automated reel (EconREELTM), and high efficiency gas hood, steam, condensate, and vacuum systems. A fully automated three-ply winder (EconWINTM), with a wrapping machine for finished jumbo rolls was also supplied as part of the project. The scope of supply also included the stock preparation system, a fresh water treatment system with reverse osmosis, the installation of a steam boiler house, and adequate overhead cranes. In addition, the compressed air system was devised, installed, and commissioned.

The project concluded with a comprehensive mill electrification program covering not only the key areas such as MV cabinets, transformers, PCC, MCC, variable speed drives, AC motors, cables, and trays, but also the DCS and QCS.

Kooli noted that "it was a challenge for us, but the result is a successful collaboration between the team of Tunisie Ouate and the team of GapCon. We are satisfied, we trusted the technology and the engineering of GapCon, the machine was delivered on time, the startup was a success, and the tissue quality is superior."