Toscotec, Lucca, Italy, has started up two AHEAD-1.5M tissue machines at Vinda Sichuan and Vinda Shandong Paper in China. The two tissue lines came on stream according to schedule at Vinda’s tissue mills in Deyang, Sichuan, and Laiwu, Shandong. The tissue machines are already running at the maximum operating speed of 1,500 m/min., with fully satisfactory tissue quality and machine performance. 

After four years of strategic partnership, Toscotec and Vinda are working closely together at six of Vinda’s production sites. "Toscotec’s solutions represent the best available technology in tissue machinery nowadays. We are particularly satisfied with their superior energy efficiency. Our Toscotec machines run with the lowest possible consumption figures and offer a crucial advantage in terms of cost-effective production." said Dong Yi Ping, Vinda Group’s executive director and CTO. 

With a design speed of 1,700 m/min. and a net web width of 3,400 mm, the two machines are equipped with Toscotec’s second generation Steel Yankee Dryer TT SYD, Toscotec’s jumbo suction press roll for improved dryness and softness, and feature different energy saving solutions for yankee hood design, with gas and steam. As a result, Vinda’s production capacity has overall increased by 60,000 t/y. 

Another unit identical to this one at the Shandong paper mill is scheduled for start-up in the second half of 2016. Vinda’s mill in Laiwu already hosts PM 1 and PM 2, both supplied by Toscotec, running steadily at 1,500 m/min, producing a combined capacity of 50,000 metric tpy.