Andritz, Graz, Austria, will officially open the world’s most modern research and development center for tissue, the PrimeLineTIAC Tissue Innovation and Application Center, at its Graz location in March 2018. Final test runs are currently in progress.

The research center has a complete, state-of-the-art tissue production line, including laboratory facilities for tests and trials to develop new products and processes in the tissue sector. It is available to tissue producers and to suppliers, research and development companies, and universities. 

At the new research center, customers and developers can conduct tests and trials under many different conditions, for example, to optimize fibers and furnish for a specific product, improve product qualities, increase dryness, and reduce energy consumption. The impact of variables such as stock preparation, chemicals, vacuum, machine clothing, pressing, and drying with hot air and steam can all be measured and evaluated accurately. Andritz experts from R&D and from the stock preparation, machine design and engineering, automation, and pumps departments are available for collaboration and discussions if requested. However, customers can also bring along their own team of specialists.

The PrimeLineTIAC has its own complete stock preparation line together with the approach flow system. Many different kinds of pulp can be processed in one production line, which is split into a separate short fiber and long fiber line. In addition, all units are available in small industrial scale, creating an excellent environment for best possible fiber treatment and tests according to the individual needs of customers and products.

 

 

The tissue production line provides flexibility for the production of conventional, textured, and structured (TAD) tissue. It features eight configurations that are also available on the market as single-machine concepts. So customers can run extensive trials with what could potentially be their future machine configurations. With a design speed of 2,500 m/min and a sheet width of 600 mm, the machine can be operated with either a suction press roll or a shoe press, a regular CrescentFormer, or a vertical CrescentFormer, and with a 16 ft. steel yankee dryere or two 14 ft. TAD drums.

The PrimeControl automation hardware and software developed by Andritz provides flexibility in monitoring and controlling the eight machine configurations as well as the stock preparation system, including alarm management, online documentation, and eco-monitoring, for example.

The pumping systems are highly automated and are monitored in such a way as to not only control operations, but also gather and report important process data under different operating conditions.

Andritz collaborated with many key partners on this project, including Albany International Corp., Danfoss Drives, Fibria, IBS Paper Performance Group, Nash, Södra, and Solenis. The PrimeLineTIAC is sponsored by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency FFG as part of its R&D infrastructure promotion.

Andritz Pulp and Paper is a global supplier of complete plants, systems, equipment, and comprehensive services for the production and processing of all types of pulp, paper, tissue, and board. Its technologies cover: the processing of logs, annual fibers, and waste paper; the production of chemical pulp, mechanical pulp, and recycled fibers; the recovery and reuse of chemicals; the preparation of paper machine furnish; the production of paper, tissue, and board; the calendering and coating of paper; and the treatment of reject materials and sludge. The service offering includes system and machine modernization, rebuilds, spare and wear parts, on-site and workshop services, optimization of process performance, maintenance and automation solutions, as well as machine relocation and second-hand equipment. Biomass, steam, and recovery boilers, as well as gasification plants for power generation, flue gas cleaning plants, plants for the production of nonwovens, dissolving pulp, and panelboard (MDF), as well as recycling plants are also part of this business area.