Voith reports successful newsprint PM startup for Palm Paper in the UK

HEIDENHEIM, Germany, Oct. 19, 2009 (Press Release) - PM 7 of Palm Paper started up successfully on 21st August 2009 in King's Lynn, England, and has since been producing high-quality newsprint. The paper machine produced the first roll of paper at a basis weight of 45 g/m² and a starting speed of 1,580 m/min. Through the excellent co-operation of all the teams involved, the machine was able to start producing three weeks earlier than planned. Just one week after start-up, the paper of PM 7 was printed in a number of printing shops and both the quality of the paper and the print result proved highly satisfactory to all those involved. Immediately afterwards, regular deliveries began to national and regional newspaper companies.

The objective of the new machine is to produce newsprint for the U.K. market and therefore to supply all major printing shops. The primary printing processes are coldest, heatset and flexographic. With this in mind, Voith developed a cost-effective, tailor-made overall concept for a seamless, intermeshing process responsibility from recovered paper preparation to finishing.

The production line, including stock preparation and approach flow system, was designed on the basis of the One Platform Concept. An automation package as well as initial machine clothing, installation supervision and start-up also formed part of the scope of supply of the production line ordered from Voith in July 2007.

PM 7 has a wire width of 11,400 mm and is designed for a maximum production speed of 2,200 m/min. At a production capacity of 400,000 tonnes/year, the machine produces high-quality newsprint from 100 per cent recovered paper in the basis weight range of 42-48.8 g/m2.