New evolution press walkways improve safety and productivity

Tumut’s old system was not well designed, it meant large pieces of walkways needed to be lifted to the floor with a crane to be able to change their press felts. This procedure not only made it slow to change the felts but dangerous and harnesses had to be used when walking on the platforms.

Valmet’s smart walkways design makes it possible to work on the walkways without having to use harnesses. This is done with the help of opening flaps in the walkways where now parts of walkways need to be lifted out. Handrails are also designed so they can stay in place. This new design not only makes the felt change safer, easier and faster but also will release operators to perform for example machine cleaning which reduces the duration and costs of shutdown and increases the efficiency of the board making line.