Lee & Man orders Voith EcoProcess for new PM in Hongmei, China

HEIDENHEIM, Germany, June 3, 2008 (Press Release) - Lee & Man Paper relies on a stock preparation system from Voith Paper for its new PM 17 in Hongmei (China). The machine will start producing more than 440,000 tons of liner made of 100% recycled paper in mid-2009.

Voith Paper won the contract primarily because the operating costs can be lowered considerably with the system and hence the investment will be amortized in a minimum time. Thus, on one hand, energy costs are lower than for a conventional stock preparation system and, on the other hand, the paper machine can be operated at maximum efficiency due to the higher stock quality.

To achieve this quality while keeping energy requirements at a minimum, Voith Paper developed the Intensa Pulper IP with an associated disposal system. Compared with a conventional pulper, this dissolving system represents a quantum leap in terms of energy savings. In other sections of the machine, too, the energy requirements are much lower than for a conventional machine.

The EcoProcess significantly reduces total project cost through elimination of several vats, resulting in lower space requirements, fewer pipes and pumps, and less electrical equipment. In addition, the energy requirements of the machine are lowered by the EcoProcess.

Through the improved quality in the stock preparation section, Voith Paper was also able to achieve an indirect reduction in energy consumption, since dispersion of short fibers is thereby eliminated - and that simultaneously lowers investment costs. With the EcoProcess and the Intensa Pulper IP, the Voith Paper solution can keep overall maintenance costs low.