Crecia-Kasuga Co., Ltd has successfully started up a new tissue line, jointly delivered by Valmet (Helsinki, Finland) the group announced publicly on Aug. 28, 2018, and Kawanoe Zoki Co., Ltd., at the company's new production facility in Fuji, Japan. The inauguration ceremony was held during summer and the line is now in full operation producing tissue products for the Japanese consumer market.

The project has been very successful and the cooperation between Valmet, Kawanoe Zoki and Crecia-Kasuga has been smooth and efficient.

"We at Valmet appreciate the fruitful cooperation between the three companies. This is the first tissue machine equipped with an Advantage ViscoNip press in Japan. Just like in all previous installations over the world, the result has been excellent in terms of product quality and energy efficiency," said Ingmar Andersson, VP Asia Pacific Sales, Tissue Mills business unit, Valmet.

"We are very impressed about the new tissue machine which combines the latest technology with joint know-how of three companies. It started successfully on schedule and the performance exceeds our expectations. We appreciate the support from Valmet and Kawanoe Zoki," said Hirofumi Narita, president, Crecia-Kasuga (Japan).

"It is a great pleasure to contribute to the introduction of the latest tissue machine technology in the Japanese market. The Advantage DCT equipped with an Advantage ViscoNip press provides a unique value-adding performance," said Takahiro Shinohara, exec. managing director, Kawanoe Zoki.

Valmet's delivery included an Advantage DCT 135HS machine with Valmet's key technologies OptiFlo Headbox, Advantage ViscoNip press, AirCap hood and steel Yankee dryer. Manufacturing of other equipment, site assembly and installation services were performed by Kawanoe Zoki. The new line has a production capacity of 36,000 metric tpy.

Crecia-Kasuga Co., Ltd. is a joint venture for household paper products established 2017 by Nippon Paper Crecia Co., Ltd and Kasuga Paper Industry Co., Ltd. By effectively utilizing the premises and facilities at Nippon Paper Industrie's Fuji mill they will produce tissue products sold by Nippon Paper Crecia and Kasuga Paper Industry respectively.