Voith (Hedenheim, Germany) announced earlier this month (Sept. 6, 2018) that construction is well under way of Pratt Industries (Conyers, Ga., USA) new Wapakoneta, Ohio, corrugated packaging mill, which includes a customized BlueLine stock preparation system from Voith. The stock preparation system is designed to handle approximately 425,000 short tons of recycled fiber each year when the mill begins operation, planned for the second half of 2019.

As the stock preparation supplier, Voith will provide Pratt Industries with all elements of the system, including reliable material handling with automatic wire cutting, reject compactors, sludge handling, water clarification and effluent treatment. These elements are similar to a previous stock preparation system installation by Voith at the Pratt Industries mill in Valparaiso, Indiana. 

 

 

"Pratt was very pleased with the Valparaiso installation and the equipment performance there. With those successes, as well as the service and aftermarket support we provide, Pratt was interested in working with us again at Wapakoneta," said Michael Hmielewski, VP of Project Sales, Stock Preparation, Voith Paper North America. "Now we are working beside them to continuously enhance our services based on the raw material quality fluctuations."