Klingele Paper Mill Relies on New Voith Paper Technology

Vintaa, Finland, 24 April 2006 -- Klingele Papierwerke GmbH & Co. KG placed an order with Voith Paper for the extension of the predrying group of PM 2 at its Weener mill in East Friesland, Germany. The machine produces 220,000 tons/year of high-quality corrugated board base papers partly converted into tailor-made packaging solutions in Klingele's converting mills.

Klingele will be the first to use the new BoostDryer drying technology commercially. The basic idea for the PM 2 extension was to overcome the drying capacity limits. The BoostDryer will increase the drying capacity by up to 15%, while enhancing the paper properties, in particular surface smoothness.

Jan Klingele, owner of Klingele Papierwerke GmbH, said "We set large hopes into the BoostDryer and expect a clearly better paper quality connected with an increase of production, as well as savings with specific steam and strength consumption."

The BoostDryer unit comprises an innovative steam-heated dryer cylinder that enables higher heat flows due to its special design. A water-cooled pressure hood presses the web against the dryer cylinder, producing a better contact and increasing the drying efficiency. Drying rates three to four times higher, compared to a conventional dryer, are achieved. In addition, pressing during drying results in high strength values and a smooth surface of the dried paper.

PM 2, with a wire width of 5490 mm, was put into operation in 1980. It produces testliner and corrugating medium in a 90-180 g/m² basis weight range. Its design speed is 1200 m/min.

With six production locations in Germany, one in the Netherlands and four participations in Spain, Klingele is one of Europe's large and innovative producers of corrugated board solutions.

Voith Paper is a Division of the Voith Group and a leading partner to the paper industry. More than one third of the world's paper production is produced on Voith Paper equipment.

Voith has annual sales of EUR 3.5 billion and employs about 30,000 people. It is one of the large family-owned companies in Europe, with more than 200 locations worldwide.