From patchwork fixes to peak performance at Lee & Man
Lee & Man’s tissue plant in Chongqing, located in Zhutu Town in the Yongchuan District, has long been recognized for its commitment to high‑quality, eco‑friendly production.
With 12 tissue lines operating around the clock and an annual capacity of 550,000 tons, the mill continues to set industry benchmarks in China. However, two of its machines—TM1 and TM2, faced challenges. Cross‑direction moisture variation, high energy consumption, and speed limitations were affecting productivity and product quality. How to carry out the upgrades within limited downtime became a joint challenge for Lee & Man and Valmet.
TM1 and TM2 Kawanoe production lines at Chongqing Lee & Man Tissue Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
From patchwork fixes to systematic optimization
To address the issues, Lee & Man turned to Valmet for a comprehensive solution. According to Wei Chong, Production Director, previous attempts from various suppliers offered only partial solutions. Valmet’s approach stood out by focusing on system‑wide optimization rather than isolated adjustments.
This retrofit project was highly challenging. The installed tissue machines had virtually no precedent for such upgrades. A cross‑disciplinary Valmet team from forming, pressing and drying section, conducted multiple on‑site studies, analyzed historical performance data, and identified the true root causes behind moisture variation and speed limitations.
The upgrade demanded close cooperation across time zones, departments, and expertise areas. Lee & Man’s production leaders highlighted Valmet’s responsiveness, technical depth, and coordinated teamwork as essential to the project’s success.
The project centered on three key pillars:
- Accurate problem identification: Multiple site surveys, historical data analysis, and equipment records pinpointed the key factors affecting moisture variation.
- Comprehensive process optimization: From headbox alignment and press roll/Yankee crown calculations to press section adjustments, Yankee curve tuning, and hot-air system checks—each step was calculated and optimized.
- Timely follow-up adjustments: After completion, theoretical calculations were combined with real-time operating data to quickly correct deviations, ensuring solutions aligned with production reality.
Aerial view of Chongqing Lee & Man Tissue Manufacturing Co Ltd.
The data tells the story
After the upgrade, TM1 and TM2 delivered remarkable improvements:
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Looking ahead
With its proactive mindset, Lee & Man continues to pursue innovative technological upgrades to enhance efficiency and productivity, improve quality and reduce energy consumption. Valmet will remain a strategic partner, supporting the mill with advanced technology, services over the machine’s lifecycle, and continuous process development.
Together, the two companies are shaping a more efficient, innovative, and environmentally responsible future for the tissue industry.
Mr Huaming, Technology Manager, Valmet and Mr Chong, Production Director, Chongqing Lee & Man.
Text: Silvia Xi
Valmet’s cross-department expert team collaborated closely toward a common goal, ultimately achieving the expected results. In my 20 years of experience, this was the best team performance I’ve seen. Their actions perfectly embodied a customer-centric culture and exemplified the philosophy of partnership—not just supplying equipment, but delivering holistic solutions and value-added services.
In this project, both sides worked seamlessly together, overcoming short downtime and cross-department communication challenges, and ultimately achieving outstanding retrofit results. I give Valmet’s service a full score!
After the retrofit, cross-direction moisture improved significantly, machine speed reached design value, capacity increased, energy consumption decreased, and quality became more stable. We are very satisfied with Valmet’s professionalism and look forward to further cooperation.
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