Improve your paper machine with well planned rebuild

Board and paper machine rebuilds

Paper machine rebuilds offer ways to remove production bottlenecks, reduce production costs, improve operating safety, save energy, or add new grades with paper machine conversion. A rebuild involves rebuilding parts of a paper or board machine using different components with the aim of improving the process or end products. Valmet has the right tools for paper machine rebuilds, including experience and expertise so you can meet your targets for the rebuild.

New machines vs Rebuilds

If you have the choice between buying and rebuilding an old paper machine to your specifications or building a brand new machine, what should you consider?

The basic rule of thumb is that a rebuild will always be much more demanding than new installation. An old machine, even if it’s only 10 years old, comes with limitations. It will take more time, money and engineering to ensure that the old and new components work well together. Meeting the start-up curve will take longer time. Conversely, a new machine is a pre-tested whole that is designed to work in unison.

A rebuild involves rebuilding parts of a paper or board machine using different components with the aim of improving the process or end products. Rebuilds can improve productivity, quality and efficiency, and they can enable you to produce different grades. They can also help your company reach strategic business goals, including measures to improve market position, to meet new market needs or to match a competitor’s capacity and/or quality. In the current market, common rebuilds are grade conversions of printing and writing paper machines.

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Why consider a Rebuild?

Rebuilds can improve productivity, quality and efficiency, and they can enable you to produce different grades. They can also help your company reach strategic business goals, including measures to improve market position, to meet new market needs or to match a competitor’s capacity and/or quality. In the current market, common rebuilds are conversions of printing and writing paper machines.

It is worth ensuring that the technical and process goals of a proposed rebuild will also meet the business goals. The good news is that whatever the requirement, there are many options and possibilities to improve both your machine and your business.

How do you plan a successful rebuild?

Rebuilding a paper or board machine can improve the competitiveness of your business and your processes. But where do you start? 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.

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Watch our rebuild reference and product videos

See all rebuild related videos

Umka Board Mill rebuilds - 70% more capacity and enhanced quality

Apr 14, 2025

Watch the video to learn more about how Umka Board Mill transformed its operations with three major rebuild projects by Valmet. These rebuilds increased Umka’s production capacity by nearly 70% and significantly improved board quality, enabling them to meet market demands and attract new customers.

Successful market expansion through grade conversion rebuild – Cascades Containerboard Packaging – Bear Island

Dec 10, 2024

Video: Valmet was chosen as the selected partner by Cascades for their strategic market expansion project in southeastern U.S. They acquired an old newsprint machine that was converted to produce lightweight, high-quality, 100% recycled linerboard and corrugating medium for the North American market.

MM Količevo BM 3: Investing for the future with OptiSizer Curtain

Oct 8, 2024

Watch the video to learn more about MM Količevo's OptiSizer Curtain investment. In October 2023 MM Board & Paper's rebuilt BM 3 board machine and the first-ever hard nip sizer with a curtain application were successfully started up at the MM Količevo mill in Slovenia. Prior to the rebuild, board machine BM 3 did not have a sizer. A prototype technology in sizing was chosen because it was the only technology flexible enough to fulfill all requirements of the product portfolio.

Rebuilding with state-of-the-art technology in MM Količevo BM 3

Oct 8, 2024

Watch the video to find out more about the latest collaboration between MM Board & Paper and Valmet. In October 2023 MM Board & Paper started-up the rebuilt board machine BM 3 at the MM Količevo mill in Slovenia. The investment for the board machine consisted of state-of-the-art technology and included three main updates: the dryer section rebuild; new sizing technology; and a new winder.

Metsä Board Simpele: Valmet Fold-up Wall for closed hood

Oct 2, 2024

Watch the video to learn how Metsä Board Simpele rebuilt the hood of the BM 3 board machine and installed the Valmet Fold-up Wall to enhance the mill’s working environment and safety. Unlike traditional hoods, the Fold-up Wall can be adjusted to any desired height during web breaks and fully opened during shutdowns, providing excellent access to the dryer section. Its design enables faster cooling of the hood, making tasks like roll changes easier to perform.

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.

Nippon Dynawave: sustainable board with less CO2 emissions and fibers

Oct 10, 2022

Nippon Dynawave wanted to go towards a more sustainable board production. They succeeded in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and using less fibers for the same amount of board with the Valmet-supplied metal belt calender.

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.

Read our latest customer success stories about Valmet delivered rebuilds

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Umka Board Mill increases capacity by 70 percent with three rebuilds

Apr 14, 2025

Umka Board Mill invested in three large rebuild projects, selecting Valmet as the main supplier. The rebuilds increased their capacity by nearly 70 percent and significantly improved board quality. As a result, Umka now meets the market’s demanding expectations and is attracting new business and customers.

Flexibility and stable quality for specialty paper production with new headbox

Mar 31, 2025

Specialty paper manufacturer Papelera de Brandia, S.A. was facing declining market shares. They invested in a new OptiFlo Fourdrinier headbox that has enabled them to improve and stabilize product quality as well as improve productivity. This has resulted in better competitiveness and in increased market shares.

Winder dust control system enhances paper roll quality in Zhejiang Shanying PM 13

Mar 11, 2025

To improve the paper roll quality, Zhejiang Shanying wanted to optimize and transform the dust removal equipment of the winder. However, the original equipment could no longer meet the higher production requirements through simple retrofitting. After an on-site investigation, Valmet delivered a high-efficiency WCM OnSheet winder dust control system for PM 13.

Successful market expansion through grade conversion rebuild – Cascades Containerboard Packaging – Bear Island

Dec 10, 2024

Article: Cascades selected Valmet as their partner for a strategic market expansion project in southeastern U.S. An old newsprint machine was acquired and converted to produce lightweight, high-quality, 100% recycled linerboard and corrugating medium for the North American market.

MM Količevo BM 3: Investing for the future with OptiSizer Curtain

Oct 7, 2024

MM Board & Paper’s collaboration with Valmet reached a milestone in October 2023 when their rebuilt BM 3 board machine and the first-ever hard nip sizer with a curtain application were successfully started up at the MM Količevo mill in Slovenia.

Enhancing safety with the Valmet Fold-up Wall

Sep 26, 2024

Metsä Board Simpele installed the Valmet Fold-up Wall to improve the mill’s working environment and safety. It gives maintenance personnel full access to the dryer section, enhances visibility, and provides a safer working environment.

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.

Layering headbox increased production and reduced costs at PT. Aspex Kumbong PM 3

Aug 13, 2024

PT. Aspex Kumbong mill successfully completed a grade conversion rebuild for their PM 3 from newsprint to light fluting and liner grades in 2023. The Valmet supplied rebuild consisted of a new OptiFlo Layering Gap headbox and improvements in the press section, which allowed the mill to increase production and upgrade quality to improve profitability.

What do you want to achieve with your rebuild?

There are many options and possibilities on how to improve both your machine and your business through a rebuild. Read more about these options below.