Lucart fired up an AHEAD-2.0S tissue machine (TM) and a TT WIND-H slitter rewinder supplied by Toscotec at its Porcari mill, (Lucca, Italy) this month (Dec. 2018).

The AHEAD-2.0S TM has a paper width of 2,850 mm, an operating speed of 2,000 m/min, with a production of 125 t/d. It features a shoe press TT NextPress, a second-generation TT SYD Steel Yankee Dryer, gas-fired TT Milltech-DYH hoods, and a new pope reel, which preserves the sheet bulk through the accurate control of the jumbo roll winding pressure. The machine is also equipped with the dust and mist removal systems. In accordance with Lucart’s high standards of bulk and softness, the forming section of the AHEAD-2.0S machine is designed for future integration of TT S-Crescent technology. The TT WIND-H slitter rewinder features a web tensioning control, an automatic tail feeding system and a core winding assist system. The scope of supply also includes the erection supervision, commissioning, start-up assistance and personnel training programs. 

This is a repeat order for Toscotec, which has been awarded a number of contracts by the Lucart Group since 2008, both in Italy and in France.

"Lucart is a strategic partner", said Riccardo Gennai, Toscotec Sales Manager for Europe, "we have been working on gaining and maintaining their trust for over 10 years, on a range of rebuild projects in Italy and in France. The start-up of this first complete tissue line is a significant accomplishment. It strengthens our mutual long-standing cooperation, and Toscotec’s leading position in the Italian market."

Elena Troia, Toscotec’s Tissue Division Project Manager, added, "Lucart’s technical team helped us working out the best solutions tailored to their need. We worked together to achieve this ambitious goal. The shoe press, paired with the new pope reel design and the future integration of the S-Crescent, contribute all together to the increase of the paper bulk and the achievement of excellent paper quality."

Massimo Pasquini, CEO of Lucart, stated, "Our sustained growth is driven by careful investments. We set the highest standards for our suppliers when it comes to environmental protection. We selected Toscotec for the expansion of our Porcari production base, because over the past 10 years we learned from direct experience that their technology gives us a real energy-efficiency advantage. Another important consideration for this choice was tissue quality. This line will be dedicated to premium products, with higher bulk and superior hand feel."

Lucart has voluntarily undergone an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the AHEAD-2.0S project, in order to improve the environmental performance of this new production line that replaced an existing MG paper machine. Toscotec has recently proved a strong commitment to its environmental performance, as in 2018 they renewed their ISO 14001 certificate and EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) registration for the twelfth consecutive year.