Innovating for sustainability – Valmet introduces new Bioneer press roll covers with reduced carbon footprint

Valmet's Bioneer products provide a more sustainable alternative to conventional products by incorporating recycled, renewable or bio-based materials. Building on the successful launch of the Bioneer press felt last year, Valmet now expands the portfolio with a renewed range of press roll covers.

“For decades, we have focused on developing products that enhance the resource and energy efficiency of our customers’ processes – whether through a long lifetime, improved dewatering, or energy savings. At the same time, we always believed we could go further. That’s why we continued to pursue more sustainable material choices without compromising the excellent quality our customers rely on and are now ready to introduce the new Bioneer press roll cover family with reduced carbon footprint,” says Ulla Kanerva, Global Technology Manager, Roll Covers and Maintenance at Valmet.

Quality always comes first

The new Bioneer roll covers are designed for a wide range of press and suction roll applications on board, paper, tissue and pulp drying machines. The innovative roll covers incorporate recycled, renewable or biobased materials without compromising durability, wear resistance or dewatering performance.

The Bioneer press roll cover family includes four polyurethane covers and two composite covers.

“The polyurethane covers Valmet Press Roll Cover PF/PF-V Bioneer and PL/PL-V Bioneer have the same consistent quality as our traditional PF and PL press roll covers, and they are available in same hardness range and surface topography options offering excellent wear resistance and dewatering capabilities. A mass balance approach is used for applying recycled, renewable and biobased materials in its production, offering a means to reduce the overall share of fossil materials in products,” says Sanna Junttonen, Global Product Manager, Roll Covers and Maintenance at Valmet.

“The composite covers Valmet Press Roll Cover VT-W Bioneer and VT-W-V Bioneer are designed for grooved and blind-drilled press roll applications. They are tough, impact and crack resistant cover solutions that hold their properties in demanding process conditions. The new composite solution utilizes bio-based epoxy and incorporates recycled PET polyester fibers sourced from used plastic bottles as well as recycled glass powder, adding up to 56% of biobased and recycled materials and thereby reducing virgin material dependency and supporting circularity,” Sanna Junttonen continues.

Customers have already shown strong interest in the next generation of press roll covers. In line with Valmet’s standard product development practices, the Bioneer roll covers have been trialed at several customer mills ahead of the official launch – demonstrating excellent performance and long lifetime in real operating conditions.

Life cycle assessment provides transparent climate impact data

Valmet’s Bioneer roll covers are accompanied by product-specific life cycle assessment (LCA), providing customers with transparent and credible climate impact data. For example, the new Valmet Press Roll Cover PF Bioneer offers up to 12.2% lower cradle-to-gate CO₂ emissions compared to traditional products.

“With the transparent LCA data, we can help our customers compare the climate impact of different products, make informed decisions, and demonstrate measurable progress towards their climate targets,” Sanna Junttonen says.

Valmet’s customers are increasingly looking for solutions that help them improve their machines’ performance while meeting their sustainability targets.

“With the Bioneer roll cover family, we can offer both high-performance technology and verified climate impact data. This combination strengthens our role as a global roll cover technology leader and as a trusted partner in sustainability – something we are truly proud of,” Ulla Kanerva concludes.