Valmet, in its recent report, confirmed that the Group partnered with Yueyang Forest & Paper to invest in a new papermaking line, PM 11, to take advantage of a changing market demand and national legislation. With an annual production capacity of 450,000 tonnes of uncoated woodfree paper, this groundbreaking machine line comprises a whole paper machine, from headbox to reel and winders, as well as a complete stock preparation line.
The 11.15-meter-wide paper machine PM 11 has been a reliable machine from the start, accomplishing a number of noteworthy feats. In December 2024, the machine reached one of the best start-up curves to date, starting up 80 days ahead of schedule. Liu Lixin, General Manager of Yueyang Forest & Paper, claims that since PM 11’s launch, there hasn’t been a single serious injury, demonstrating the high level of equipment safety and offering a solid basis for Yueyang Forest & Paper’s output.
Successful cooperation is based on long-term partnerships
It should come as no surprise that Yueyang Forest & Paper and Valmet worked well together during PM 11’s startup: They began working together decades ago. In this endeavor as well, the collaboration has remained strong. “The collaboration was a huge success! According to He Ganghui, Project Consultant at PM 11, Yueyang Forest & Paper, “The entire process exceeded expectations, and the goals of each stage of the project were successfully achieved,” from project negotiation to start-up and production optimisation.
A papermaker can maintain technological leadership and differentiate itself in the market by selecting a reputable technology supplier. “The key is to establish deep cooperation with high-end technology suppliers like Valmet. We can thus obtain cutting-edge technology, improve the automation and intelligence level of the equipment, and maintain a leading position in the fierce market competition,” explains Zhu Hongwei, Chief Engineer, Yueyang Forest & Paper.
Yueyang Forest & Paper was able to effectively address all of the upcoming issues with the assistance of both Valmet’s local project team and international experts, thanks to their active participation throughout the project. “Valmet’s technical team had a comprehensive understanding of the project and technology, and precise control of the details,” explains Zhou Shenshu, Mill Manager at PM 11, Yueyang Forest & Paper.
A full stock preparation line improves quality and efficiency
A Valmet cleaner plant featuring Valmet Twister Hydrocyclone and Valmet Hydrocyclone Cleanpac 700MCD cleaners, a Valmet Disc Filter, and Valmet Conical Refiner Conflo units is part of PM 11’s comprehensive stock preparation line and approach flow system. The paper machine’s performance and operability have been improved by a stock preparation line, which has resulted in increased productivity and higher-quality output. “When we chose the stock preparation line, we considered the entire production line’s overall efficiency. A single supplier has a better understanding of their equipment, and this can lead to better quality and operational efficiency, Chen Liqun, Process Manager at PM 11, explains.
Mechanical pulp, bleached hardwood kraft pulp (LBKP), and bleached softwood kraft pulp (NBKP) are all treated with fibre using ten Valmet Conical Refiner Conflo machines. Strong performance from the low-consistency refiners has greatly enhanced pulp quality and refining efficiency. Valmet Conical Refiner Conflo units improve fibre treatment, boost the refining rate, and offer superior overall efficiency than previous refiners. Additionally, the technology has made it possible to significantly lower the freeness levels from the initial design value of about 300 to about 230, which has further improved the quality of the final product.
Wet-end technologies for the creation of superior paper
The wet end of PM 11 has an OptiFlo Gap headbox and an OptiFormer Gap forming section with shoe and blade technology, which helps to guarantee the consistent quality of the paper and increase the machine’s energy efficiency. For the machine’s energy efficiency, the new forming section has been particularly crucial. “OptiFormer Gap forming technology can accommodate good formation levels with higher headbox consistency, which means significant pumping energy savings,” explains Zhu Hongwei.
Efficiency gains with finishing and drying technologies
By utilising the Hirun Runnability System, the OptiRun Hybrid dryer section significantly reduces paper breaks and ensures great drying efficiency. “Thanks to the advanced Hirun runnability components, increased Vac Roll suction hole diameter, and the Vac Roll’s design with arc-shaped grooves, there are no issues with paper lint clogging. Downtime has also been reduced significantly,” says Wang Jie. Two modern OptiWin Drum two-drum winders, which have met Yueyang Forest & Paper’s safety and quality standards, were used to guarantee PM 11’s winding capacity.
Supply scope
The papermaking line PM 11 received a complete stock preparation line and approach flow system from Valmet, which included two new OptiWin Drum two-drum winders, an OptiFlo Gap headbox, an OptiFormer Gap forming section with shoe blade technology, an OptiPress Linear press section, an OptiRun Hybrid dryer section with Valmet Hirun System, an OptiCalender Hard calender, an OptiReel Center reel, process ventilation systems (including an OptiAir Hood high-humidity hood and OptiAir Recovery heat recovery), an OptiCart Stream parent roll cart, and horizontal transfer rails.
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