Global Research Group Focuses on Tissue

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Innventia, Stockholm, Sweden, an R&D group involved in development relating to pulp, paper, graphic media, packaging and biorefining, reports that it is starting a new Research Cluster with a focus on tissue. The new cluster will be active from the second trimester of 2010 and will be financed by both tissue manufacturers and by suppliers to the tissue industry. And Innventia notes that making efficient use of available resources such as fibers and energy is an urgent matter in the pulp and paper industry worldwide. In many parts of the world, it points out, the availability of traditional papermaking fibers is scarce, while the standard of living and the demand for hygiene products is rising rapidly. This will require the efficient use of the available fiber for a certain product. Furthermore, as energy continues to become scarce, there will be a need to develop production processes that reduce the over-all energy consumption.

Thermographic images illustrating the absorption of cold water by an embossed tissue.

Both virgin and recycled fibers are used in tissue products. New pulp types, originating mainly from Asia and South America, have been introduced on the market from wood species that are not used traditionally in the industry, Innventia explains. Eucalyptus is supplied in large quantities from plantations in South America, and recently acacia from Asia has been used with some success in tissue products. Information on the "processability," for example the dewatering properties of these pulp types, is scarce. This makes the introduction of this type of fiber in existing production process difficult, according to Innventia.

Furthermore, it adds, the tissue market in the Western World is close to saturation and the competition among producers and retailers is strong. Among branded products, softness is a key property. For many products, absorption is another important quality parameter. In Europe the focus has been put also on products that are not branded, the so called private label products, sold by low-price at large retailer chains. This development has put a strong pressure on prices and production costs and the target is to obtain the same key properties with less fiber or alternative production processes.

The overall objective of activities in this cluster, Innventia explains, is to take steps to improve the competitiveness of the products and processes of the participating companies.

The activities are structured into three projects: low energy fibers and processes (identify fibrous raw material and process conditions that produce high quality tissue at 10% reduction of the specific energy consumption); absorption of tissue products (improve the absorption properties of tissue products); and surface and tactile evaluation (identify novel methods for characterization of the tissue surface and tactile properties of tissue products).