Built to last – Advantage ViscoNip pressing element running for nine years at Fine Hygienic Holding
Nine years, over 450,000 tons of tissue – all with the same pressing element. At Fine Hygienic Holding’s Al Nakheel mill in Abu Dhabi, the Valmet Advantage™ ViscoNip® press has shown what long-term performance looks like in everyday production.
A press that adapts to the Yankee
With more than 100 installations around the world, the Advantage ViscoNip press has become a trusted pressing solution for tissue makers. Its flexible, liquid-filled press body adapts to the shape of the Yankee dryer shell and creates a uniform nip load across the full machine width. For tissue makers, this means flat moisture and dryness profiles, the flexibility to adjust the nip load to each product – from maximum bulk and softness to maximum energy efficiency – and drying energy savings of more than 20%. The result is high tissue quality, produced efficiently.
A mill used to set records
Fine Hygienic Holding (FHH) and Valmet have worked together since early 90’ties when Valmet delivered a tissue machine to FHH’s Al Bardi mill in Egypt. Since then, the partnership has grown to four Valmet tissue machines. The most recent, an Advantage DCT 200 tissue line known as PM5, started up at the Al Nakheel mill in Abu Dhabi in 2017.
Nine years of reliable pressing
The ViscoNip pressing element was installed when PM5 started up in October 2017. It then stayed in continuous service until August 2026 – more than 3,200 days. Throughout this period, it has been supporting the production of more than 450,000 tons of tissue.
For a tissue maker, a pressing element that lasts this long makes a real difference: fewer element changes, more predictable maintenance planning and consistent performance year after year – while the machine keeps running at high speed.
Technology and people
An achievement like this is never down to one factor alone. At Al Nakheel, three things came together:
- Robust technology: The soft, liquid-filled press body follows the Yankee shell and distributes the load evenly across the machine width, even at high speeds and high nip loads.
- Disciplined operations and maintenance: FHH’s team works systematically with preventive maintenance and continuous improvement – the same practices behind the world speed record.
- Close collaboration: A long-standing partnership and ongoing support from the Valmet team have helped keep PM5 running at its best throughout its lifecycle.
A great reflection of quality and reliability
For Samir Masoud, UAE Supply Chain and Operation Director at Fine Hygienic Holding, the result speaks for itself.
“I’d like to highlight the exceptional performance and remarkable service life of the ViscoNip element at PM5. More than 3,200 days in continuous service and over 450,000 tons of production demonstrate outstanding durability, reliability and performance,” says Masoud.
“I would also like to extend our sincere appreciation to the Valmet team for their valuable support and cooperation throughout the years. This exceptional lifetime is a great reflection of the quality and reliability of the ViscoNip technology and the strong support behind it.”
Performance that lasts
From a world speed record to nearly nine years with the same pressing element, PM5 at Al Nakheel shows what is possible when a dedicated team, proven technology and a strong partnership work towards the same goal. For Valmet, it is a clear example of performance for life – in daily production, not just on paper.