High efficiency and excellent runnability for all forming concepts

Valmet forming sections for board and paper machines

Valmet forming section for paper forming

Valmet provides a comprehensive range of paper machine forming section applications for the varying requirements of different board and paper grades and speed ranges. The forming section concepts include solutions for gap forming, hybrid forming and Fourdrinier applications which can be used for new line installations and rebuilds alike.

Discover Valmet forming section solutions

Get to know our forming section product family OptiFormer forming sections. Click on the link below to read and find out more.

Wet end pilot trials for forming sections

We offer the opportunity to experiment and develop paper and board products and processes at Valmet Paper Technology Center without having to put your own production on hold. This is very cost-efficient compared to expensive tests in your own production. You can follow the activities in the trials on site or remotely through live streaming cameras.

Valmet Paper Technology Center provides the world's most comprehensive offering of testing and piloting services to paper and board manufacturers worldwide. Our pilot facilities have the entire process covered, from stock preparation to coatings and everything between, providing customers with excellent service and reliable results to support investment decisions.

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Wet end forming section rebuilds

Rebuilding a paper or board machine, or a section of it, can improve the competitiveness of your business and your processes. But where do you start? Over the years, we have gathered plenty of experience and expertise in rebuilding all kinds of machines. We asked our experts to provide tips, advice and industry insight to help you demystify the rebuild process and created a practical guide book.

Download our e-book to learn how to develop a winning rebuild concept, how to minimize rebuild related risks, and how to ensure smooth ramp up to full production.

Download rebuild guide

Valmet downloadable Rebuild guide cover and spread

Want to talk to our experts?

If you wish to get further information like technical specifications, need a quotation, or wish to discuss different solutions, fill in the contact form and our experts will contact you shortly.

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Learn more about OptiFormer forming sections

OptiFormer product family provides flexible forming solutions for all board and paper grades and a broad range of machine speeds, widths and capacities. OptiFormer forming sections provide the end product quality you need with highly efficient water removal, excellent runnability, and cleanliness.

OptiFormer forming section concepts include solutions for gap forming, hybrid forming and Fourdrinier applications, which can be used for new line installations and rebuilds alike.

Gap for board

OptiFormer Gap forming section with roll and blade technology is an optimal concept for lightweight recycled fiber-based fluting and linerboard for high-speed applications.

Gap with shoe blade

Novel gap forming technology OptiFormer Gap utilizes innovative shoe and blade technology to gain superior paper or board quality. The formation has beaten all other references.

Hybrid with shoe blade

A proven solution for hybrid forming is OptiFormer Hybrid, a former equipped with a top forming unit that uses shoe and blade technology. OptiFormer Hybrid utilizes unique VacuShoe technology to boost the output quality and capacity.

Multifourdrinier

Fourdrinier ensures high efficiency and output. The flexibility to make products across a broad range of grades is also often desired, and white lined chipboard, folding boxboard and coated SBS can all be produced on the same multi-Fourdrinier machine.

Sleeve roll technology

The journey to innovate board and paper machine technology has led to the breakthrough known as Sleeve roll technology. This innovative technology redefines dewatering by harnessing the power of compression already in the forming section, reducing the need for energy-intensive vacuum methods that conventional forming technologies rely on.

Watch our forming section related reference and product videos

See all forming section related videos

Sleeve roll on board gap former - vacuum reduction test run

May 19, 2025

What happens on a board gap former if initial forming section vacuums are turned off? The answer is groundbreaking results, if the forming section is equipped with innovative Sleeve roll technology. Watch this video to learn more.

VPK Group’s grade conversion in Alizay

Sep 24, 2024

Watch the video to find out more on how VPK Group successfully transformed their Alizay mill in France. Originally producing fine paper grades, the mill’s paper machine has been rebuilt to produce recycled lightweight containerboard grades with less emissions. Cooperation has been the key to success.

Mondi Ružomberok PM19 - From OCC to board

Jun 7, 2023

Join us on an exciting journey at Mondi Ružomberok's state-of-the-art paper machine PM19! Discover how they turn recycled fibers into high-quality containerboard with Valmet's innovative technology.

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.

Read our latest customer success stories about Valmet forming section deliveries

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Optimized for high efficiency and low consumption

Jun 30, 2025

PM 1 at Sun Paper’s Beihai mill is a fine paper production line and a showcase for Sun Paper’s pulp and paper integration strategy.

Yueyang Forest & Paper’s papermaking line PM 11: World record start-up through great cooperation

Jun 11, 2025

In response to evolving market demand and national policies, Yueyang Forest & Paper decided to seize an opportunity by investing in a new papermaking line, PM 11. This state-of-the-art machine line, with an annual production capacity of 450,000 tonnes of uncoated woodfree paper, includes a complete stock preparation line and a full paper machine, from headbox to reel and winders.

Practical collaboration and efficient production for high quality

Apr 22, 2025

Shandong Bohui Paper’s huge new flagship papermaking line PM 8 produces premium-quality product with new levels of efficiency. Valmet delivered the entire papermaking line, including all automation and flow control solutions.

Aiming for net-zero with every decision – VPK Group’s grade conversion in Alizay, France

Sep 23, 2024

After successful collaboration in converting their Strasbourg mill in 2013, VPK again trusted Valmet with their grade conversion project in Alizay. Their paper machine now produces recycled lightweight containerboard grades with less emissions.

Valmet Forming Fabric OP

Apr 26, 2024

Valmet Forming Fabric OP is optimized for machines producing packaging paper such as liner and fluting. Over the years, it has proven its high performance by improving machine efficiency and paper quality, also contributing to numerous production records at Valmet’s customer mills around the world.

Mondi Ružomberok PM 19 – A complete delivery from OCC to board

Jun 7, 2023

Want to know the secret behind Mondi Ružomberok PM19's successful paper production? Check out this fascinating reference story that takes you behind the scenes of their new containerboard machine.

Innovative paper technology meets digital solutions

Nov 4, 2022

Combining innovative paper technology with advanced Valmet Industrial Internet solutions and services when making capital investments in the board and paper industry brings significant benefits. It ensures a rapid ramp-up, optimizes paper quality, boosts sustainability and saves total costs of ownership.

Palm Aalen PM 5 – a sustainable investment for the next 50 years

Oct 19, 2022

PM 5 at the Papierfabrik Palm Aalen-Neukochen site in Germany is the world’s widest high-capacity containerboard line. It is an investment for the next 50 years and has been producing high-quality and sellable board since the start-up in July, 2021.

Planning a grade conversion?

The world is changing fast; the consumption of newsprint and printing paper is decreasing and the consumption of containerboards or cartonboards are increasing. An old paper machine can be updated with a grade conversion rebuild to produce more profitable products. Turn a new page for your paper machine with the help from Valmet.

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Services and automation solutions for forming sections

Doctoring products

Doctoring affects machine runnability, paper and board quality, production costs, and production efficiency. Runnability can be improved by optimizing doctoring parameters and blade materials. Cleaner rolls result in better end-product quality. The blades can be selected to meet customers shutdown schedule which will lead to fewer blade changes resulting in lower blade costs. The reduction of unplanned shutdowns and costly downtime periods can be avoided by reliable and trouble-free doctoring....

Forming fabrics

Valmet's forming fabrics comprise a wide range of excellent forming fabrics to fulfill all customer expectations. Valmet has constantly improved their forming fabric technology and created fabrics providing excellent runnability, high wear resistance, long running time, good paper profiles and good retention. Specialized forming fabric designs for packaging grades continue to improve drainage. Development work is done closely with Valmet's forming section specialists.

Forming roll covers

Valmet has a wide range of protective lead and drive roll covers for the forming section rolls of your board or paper machine. We have developed unsurpassed polymeric covers and hard coatings for different needs.

Roll maintenance

Valmet’s modular maintenance service solutions consists of roll maintenance, roll reconditioning, and roll upgrade services. These solutions help board and papermakers achieve maximum performance with transparent and consistently high-quality maintenance services.

Rolls

With over 50 years of roll manufacturing experience, innovative R&D, and the process know-how of a paper-machine builder, Valmet offers highly reliable roll solutions that provide maximum performance and extend maintenance intervals.

Former improvements

Former improvement solutions help you to ensure that your  forming section is performing at the highest possible level. With the customized solutions you will improve paper quality, solve runnability problems, improve dewatering, and ensure better operational reliability. You can also expect measurable results, a good return on your investment and cost-effectiveness. 

Cleaning

If your target is to produce a uniform, high-quality web, having a clean machine is essential. Our family of cleaning devices helps you to keep your fabrics and rolls clean during production. The benefits of effective cleaning are reduced break and a more stable process. Our cleaning solutions are easy to operate and maintain, and they are adjustable for a variety of cleaning needs. They are also environmentally friendly as there is no need to use cleaning chemicals.

State-of-the-art software for ultimate quality control

The most important task of the controls and optimizations is to provide the capability to produce stable quality efficiently at economical optimum. Valmet IQ Applications are the core of the system with clear user interface and intelligent control applications which allow you to manage the machine line performance. Efficient user experience gives a clear view of process performance and product quality, at all times.

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