Valmet and Georgia-Pacific Enter Agreement on eTAD™ Technology

Valmet and Georgia-Pacific have entered into a licensing agreement covering the eTAD™ tissue making technology. Under the license agreement, Valmet will market, manufacture and install Advantage eTAD machines for tissue customers outside North America.

The eTAD technology was developed by Georgia-Pacific. The company has three eTAD machines operating in North America; the latest two rebuilt by Valmet in 2012. The machines are running in full eTAD configuration and producing structured tissue and towel with high quality and absorbency. The eTAD concept provides an ultra-premium product with high bulk to fiber ratio in combination with low energy and water consumption. The concept is also capital efficient.

"We are very excited about this agreement that will support our strategy to provide tissue making solutions that offer top quality tissue with sustainable production. Valmet and its customers will have the possibility to make trial runs on Georgia-Pacific's pilot eTAD machine, and also bring customers to reference visits at mills with operating eTAD machines. This agreement will further strengthen our product portfolio and ensure that we are able to provide tissue machine concepts covering the whole product range," says Jan Erikson, VP Sales, Tissue Mills Business Unit, Valmet.

"This technology meets consumer needs for premium qualities in tissue products, including softness and absorbency," says Kurt Adams, Vice President, R&D, Georgia-Pacific. "We are pleased to license eTAD technology to Valmet as we recognize the value-creating potential of offering this technology more broadly."