Fabrica De Papel San Francisco Starting up World’s First Advantage NTT Tissue Line

Print this article | Send to Colleague

Fabrica De Papel San Francisco, Mexico, is preparing to start up its third Metso (Finland) tissue production line. It will be the world’s first tissue line based on the Advantage NTT concept, which enables high bulk and softness properties at the same time as it provides energy savings compared with conventional or structured tissue grades, Metso notes.

"After operating two Metso Advantage DCT tissue machines with good experience, we are now prepared to take the next step for quality to produce tissue products with higher bulk and softness, aiming towards the top end products. The Advantage NTT concept will also bring us a higher production capacity compared with the dry crepe tissue concept," says Dario Palma y Meza Espinoza, director of operations, Fabrica De Papel San Francisco.

The project is proceeding according to plan and the new tissue production line will start up in Mexicali, Mexico, at the end of the second quarter.

Metso’s scope of supply included a complete 2.6-meter-wide Advantage NTT tissue machine equipped with an OptiFlo II TIS headbox, a Metso yankee cylinder, an Advantage AirCap yankee hood, sheet control, tail threading equipment, an Advantage WetDust dust management system, and an Advantage SoftReel reel.

The new tissue line will add another 30,000 metric tpy of bathroom tissue, napkin, and towel grades to Fabrica De Papel San Francisco’s existing production. Fabrica De Papel San Francisco already operates two Advantage tissue machines at its Mexicali facility, one of which started up in 2006 and the other in 2009. The company’s PM 4 set a then world speed record of 2,160 m/min in 2009 and its PM 5 achieved a record-breaking rapid startup in 2009, reaching a production speed of 2,100 m/min only 12 days after startup. Fabrica De Papel San Francisco now operates four tissue production lines and converting facilities, delivering tissue products for the Mexican and U.S. markets.