Technologies for specialty papers

We pay and get a receipt, eat hamburgers and bake cookies on baking paper. They are in our lives but seldom we stop to think about how special those papers and boards are. Every specialty paper and board grade has its own niche market and its own needs for the production process.

High-quality specialty papers with special process knowhow

High quality of the end product is vital, and the quality targets must be met constantly without deviations. The critical quality targets can be reached by building a reliable production line that relies on strong process understanding.

To keep up with the competition, a reliable and cost-efficient process is a must. Processes need to be energy efficient and flexible to meet the changing customer needs. It is not just about having the right machinery, it is also about thoroughly understanding them. Valmet has comprehensive knowhow about the special papermaking processes and a vast offering with the right equipment.

Whether you are an experienced specialty paper maker in need of a process upgrade or just starting your career in specialty papers we can find the perfect solution for you together. Valmet Technology Centers offer excellent piloting services to find the optimal concept for your needs.

Our offering for specialty board and paper producers includes everything you need when producing paper cost-efficiently. We cover the entire life cycle of processes: new installations, rebuilds and services as well as automation solutions to guarantee that your paper machine runs smoothly, energy-efficiently and uses raw materials economically while being safe to use.

Valmet Technology Centers offer excellent piloting services to find the optimal concept and technological solution for your needs.

Wet end rebuild improved paper strength and decreased grammage deviation for specialty paper producer

Ahlström Munksjö Dettingen PM34 produces colored decor paper for some of the biggest printers in the decor paper market. These customers set high expectations of the quality and printability of decor paper used in furniture.

The mill’s recent wet end rebuild has further improved paper strength, as well as decreased the grammage deviation. See the video for full reference on how they manage to answer their customers high expectations after the PM34 wet end rebuild.

Watch our specialty papers and boards related videos

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Pilot trials at Valmet Paper Technology Center

Sep 12, 2022

Whether paper and board makers are looking to change their production or improve the efficiency of their existing process, it is a major capital investment decision that should never be taken lightly. To ensure peace of mind and investment security, investing in solutions that are known and tested is vital. This is the key to Valmet pilot trials – provide data to make secure investment decision – whether it is regards the technical concept, for example testing two alternative concepts, or raw m...

Board and Paper Pilot Trials at Valmet Paper Technology Center in Jyväskylä

Sep 12, 2022

Experience our Board and Paper pilot facility in Jyväskylä, Finland, where you can pilot and test latest paper machine technologies. The board and paper pilot facility has two pilot machines, machine sections from headbox to drying and it covers all paper and board grades.

Customer's voice: Dilution control headbox reduced grammage deviation and improved paper strength

Oct 17, 2021

"Just plug and play, start the systems, and get extraordinary good quality out of the PM34." , said Thomas Gehring, Mill manager at Ahlstrom-Munksjö Dettingen Mill after successfull wet end rebuild of their PM34.

Sappi Maastricht: new 3-layer headbox and metal belt calender for extremely good board quality

Mar 7, 2020

Sappi Maastricht mill in the Netherlands got a new future for its board machine with Valmet’s innovative three-layer headbox and metal belt calender. They are now in the specialty boards business producing extremely high-quality SBS and FBB with superior smoothness and printability.

Basics of papermaking process from fiber to paper

Jan 3, 2020

Have you ever wondered how paper or board is being made on an industrial scale? Papermaking process from wood to fibers and to ready paper and board products, like containerboard or kitchen tissue is a complex process with several different steps. This video explains in a simple way the basics of papermaking and the main process steps to produce recyclable fiber-based printing and packaging products in a sustainable way.

Forming with shoe and blade technology

Oct 3, 2018

See the shoe and blade technology in action. The video displays the shoe and blade technology in Valmet forming sections with both paper and packaging grade applications. In addition, we show multiple different forming section layout options where shoe and blade technology has been used.

Lightweighting by Valmet

Nov 10, 2016

Valmet offers several technologies that enable the production of lighter board products without compromising quality or visual properties. This is achieved with lightweighting. Lightweighting allows board and packaging producers to optimize raw material usage, board quality and production capacity.

Valmet OptiConcept M video

May 24, 2016

Valmet’s focus is on supplying smart papermaking lines with sustainable solutions. OptiConcept M is a modular concept that makes a difference. OptiConcept M family, launched in 2011, suits coantainerboard, cartonboard and fine paper production – simple, well-functioning solutions that meet customers’ needs.

Read our latest articles relating to special paper and board technologies

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4-steps to resource efficiency: Quantify and discover the improvement potential for optimizing your production process

Apr 16, 2024

In our previous article about energy efficiency, we determined four steps with which, with our customers, we can improve their production line’s energy use. After completing benchmarking, the first of the four steps (see Figure 1 below), we have determined with the customer where their mill currently sits in terms of resource efficiency compared to the customer’s other mills or competitors. Let’s broaden those 4-steps to cover other resources besides just energy, as savings in water and raw mate...

Valmet’s selection of calender roll covers: A result of extensive expertise

Dec 19, 2023

Few roll cover manufacturers can offer as wide a range of calender covers as Valmet can today. Most attention is paid to high-performance covers addressing difficult conditions in the calender, such as vibration and barring in high-speed online calenders. But many calenders also run without vibration issues, and when such “anti-barring” covers are not required, other properties become more important.

Valmet’s new premium calender covers – the ultimate high performers

Dec 18, 2023

Wear and impact resistance, as well as reliability, are entering another level with two newcomers to the Valmet Calender Roll Cover CL product family. In addition to graphical papers, they are suitable for specialty papers, as well as container and packaging boards.

Asia Paper Manufacturing uses OptiSizer Hard to improve board strength

Jan 2, 2023

Asia Paper Manufacturing in the Republic of Korea had an ambitious target to improve the board strength values. They invested in OptiSizer Hard. Compared to conventional sizers, it pushes starch deeper into the board web improving the overall strength values.

Ranheim Paper & Board invested in an efficient heat recovery system leading to 14% savings in energy consumption

Nov 30, 2022

Cold working environment and quality issues led Ranheim Paper & Board to invest in Valmet’s heat recovery system OptiAir Recovery. As a result, the mill achieved savings in energy and a significant increase in production.

Enduring release paper calendering: A difficult cover life

Oct 25, 2022

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Calendering release paper is one of the toughest jobs a calender cover can encounter. Valmet Calender Roll Cover CL-EC has proven it is up for it.

Projects with success

Oct 19, 2022

In every paper and board machine project, it is important to remember you are investing in results, not just equipment. That is why expert project management is essential – it provides the structure that guides everyone toward these results, ensuring the project is delivered safely, successfully, and on schedule. 

Headbox rebuild for Ahlström Munksjö’s Dettingen

Aug 12, 2021

The customers of Ahlström Munksjö’s Dettingen mill in Germany set high expectations of the quality and printability of decor paper used in furniture. The mill’s recent wet end rebuild has further improved paper strength, as well as decreased the grammage deviation.