Papierfabrik August Koehler SE, Germany, has awarded Voith, Germany, an order for a new production line for machine-glazed specialty papers. Line 8 is to be installed at the company's Kehl, Germany, facility and consists of a BlueLine stock preparation unit, wet end process, XcelLine paper machine, offline coating machine, and VariPlus winder. 

Designed for up to 120,000 metric tpy, Line 8 will produce a wide range of thermal papers and flexible packaging papers and will therefore be one of the most efficient specialty paper machines in the world when it starts up in the summer of 2019. 

August Koehler’s priorities were the flexible production of various qualities of thermal and packaging papers combined with high machine efficiency and quality over the entire basis weight range. In addition, the machine needed to be particularly energy efficient, i.e. use less power, water, and steam. XcelLine,Voith notes, meets both of these criteria due to its "perfectly matched components."

The chosen paper machine concept combines the latest Voith technology for headbox, former, and press section to guarantee optimum CD profiles, excellent fiber orientation with ideal dewatering capacity, and high efficiency.

The centerpiece of the dryer section will be a welded yankee cylinder with a diameter of more than 7,000 mm. According to Voith, this equipment does a great deal to achieve the premium qualities necessary to satisfy the stringent quality requirements of August Koehler.

The multi-layer coating for differentiating the premium paper qualities is realized with the offline coating machine, SM 8, which is fitted with ultra-modern coating equipment and offers non-contacting, gentle drying with high thermal efficiency. The final smoothing of the specialty papers is done using an innovative calendaring concept followed by a Sirius reel. In addition, Voith will supply the basic and detail engineering for Line 8.

With this project, Koehler and Voith are continuing their longstanding successful collaboration. Koehler and Voith have effectively pooled their extensive technological expertise to make this one of the most efficient specialty paper machines in the world.

The name Koehler is a "byword for high-quality specialty papers" in the segments thermal papers, carbonless papers, fine papers, technical specialty papers, colored papers, decor papers, and mechanical pulp board. With a consolidated turnover of around EUR 800 million and sales of 500,000 metric tpy of paper, Koehler is one of the few independent family-owned German companies in the paper industry with a history stretching back 210 years. At four locations, the company's head office in Oberkirch and paper mills in Kehl, Greiz, and Weisenbach, a highly motivated workforce of more than 1,800 people produces paper using state-of-the-art technology.

Alongside its core business of paper, the Koehler Group, which includes Koehler Renewable Energy GmbH, is consolidating its focus on the renewable energy segment. Throughout Germany and in other countries, it develops and operates several biomass co-generation plants, hydropower and wind power plants, and produces regenerative electricity, steam, and heat for customers in various industries.

 

The newest member of the Group, Koehler Innovative Solutions, develops and manufactures micro-capsules for a wide range of applications and industries.