Ecofibras Starts up Tissue Machine No. 5 after Major Rebuilding in Zalla, Spain

The Ecofibras Aranguren SL, Zalla, Spain, tissue manufacturing facility of the CEL group, has successfully completed and started up in cooperation with Toscotec, Marlia, Italy, a major rebuild of its tissue machine TM 5 at the Aranguren – Zalla Bizkaia site. 

Formerly the K-C Aranguren plant, Ecofibras initiated a new phase as an independent company in 2012. 

The TM 5 rebuild project was part of a new development plan designed to increase the company’s production capacity and improve product quality, all with the aim to supply current parent reel markets, both in virgin and in deinked pulp reels. 

The project’s scope was to rebuild the existing machine into a crescent former. TM 5 was originally equipped with a suction breast former and sloped wire configuration, to produce lower tissue grades, improve the machine’s speed, and improve overall runnability and maintenance. 

Toscotec supplied to Ecofibras a stock preparation upgrading, a fully hydraulic step diffuser headbox TT Headbox- SLT, and replacement of the wet-end section with a crescent former. Erection supervision, startup assistance, and training services completed Toscotec’s scope of supply. 

The new configuration, besides reaching energy savings and high product quality targets, allowed the TM 5 machine to increase operating speed from 1,370 m/min. up to 1,500 m/min., with the possibility of reaching a speed of 1,800 m/min. after the dry end section is upgraded.