For improved board and paper finishing

Uploaded: 2025-10-29T08:37:38Z
Duration: 2 min 5 s
Description: Watch the video to learn more about Valmet’s novel innovation OptiSizer Curtain. The most recent innovation in surface sizing, hard nip sizing with curtain application, was developed and tested in Valmet’s Paper Technology Center in Järvenpää. The results from the pilot machine have been exciting: the sizer can successfully run up to 1700 m/min.

Pilot trials for finishing technologies: sizing | coating | calendering | reeling | winding

sizing | coating | calendering | reeling | winding

Want to create lighter packaging or improve quality and printability?

Is creating lighter end products that meet strength and durability targets your priority? Or are you aiming for superior surface characteristics for a standout print result?

In either case, Valmet Paper Technology Center in Järvenpää provides the world's most comprehensive offering of finishing testing and piloting services to paper and board manufacturers worldwide.

To ensure that your targets really become a reality, Valmet's pilot testing facilities can run tests on a set-up that mirrors your production process, or alternatively the type of configuration you are looking to set up. We are ready to join efforts with your R&D team in order to create new and innovative board and paper products that sustain your competitive advantage and support the demands of papermaking today and tomorrow.

Watch the video to learn more about Valmet’s novel innovation OptiSizer Curtain. The most recent innovation in surface sizing, hard nip sizing with curtain application, was developed and tested in Valmet’s Paper Technology Center in Järvenpää. The results from the pilot machine have been exciting: the sizer can successfully run up to 1700 m/min.

Experience our Paper Technology Center in Järvenpää, Finland, where you can pilot and test latest finishing technologies. The pilot facility offers extensive pilot trials on finishing technology, covering all grades and different finishing technologies from sizing to reeling, winding, and runnability testing.

Examples of innovations you can test at our finishing pilot facility

OptiSizer Curtain sizing

The new surface sizing method applies the starch as a curtain of size. When combined with hard-covered rolls the results with coated cartonboards are significant: stiffness, quality and production increased, and energy and raw material consumption reduced.

OptiSizer Hard sizing

OptiSizer Hard is uses higher nip loads to improve sheet strength properties by taking advantage of better starch penetration and decreasing fiber to fiber distance.

OptiCalender Metal Belt calendering

The unique OptiCalender Metal Belt features a long-nip calendering: increase profit with very high surface quality and decrease raw material cost with the increased bulk.

OptiCoat Layer curtain coating

The OptiCoat Layer multilayer curtain coater applies extremely thin – or thick - and uniform layers simultaneously all within one, compact coating station. It is equally suitable for both board and paper machines, regardless of their speeds and widths. The multilayer concept offers several advantages over single-layer curtain coating and other conventional coating methods.

Coating drying

Valmet's coating drying selection offers energy efficient drying solutions for all kinds of coating drying needs. Economical and ecological air dryers can fulfill all the requirements for higher paper quality, lower production costs and improved runnability.

OptiReel Linear reeling

OptiReel Linear is a completely new way to reel paper machine parent rolls. Instead of having a high structure reel spool storage and lowering arms, reel spools and parent rolls are moved on solid rails resulting in a continuous and trouble-free reeling process.

Winders

Utmost reliability and capacity that definitely meets paper machine's needs - that's the best way to describe Valmet's OptiWin winder family. From OptiWin winder family, you will find right winder for each winding need for all paper, board and pulp grades.

Interested in pilot trials?

We offer the opportunity to experiment and develop paper and board products and processes without having to put your own production on hold. Pilot trials are very cost-efficient compared to expensive tests in paper and board maker's own production.

Contact our pilot trial experts

Explore customer success stories, where pilot trials have played a significant role

WEIG KM 3: Reliable coating quality with OptiCoat Layer curtain coating station

Jun 16, 2025

In December 2024, WEIG Group’s latest investment in its KM 3 board machine, an OptiCoat Layer coating station, started up in Mayen, Germany. The curtain coating technology replaced an old air knife coater and has enhanced the quality of the board by improving coating coverage and reducing streakiness of the coating.

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.

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.

Sappi Maastricht's rebuild for extremely good quality

Feb 28, 2020

Valmet’s unique three-layer headbox and metal belt calender have helped Sappi Maastricht Mill to produce outstandingly white and bulky board, with excellent printability and surface properties.

Sappi Maastricht: Extremely good quality with new 3-layer headbox and metal belt calender

Feb 11, 2020

Valmet’s unique three-layer headbox and metal belt calender have helped Sappi Maastricht to produce outstandingly white and bulky board, with excellent printability and surface properties.

Joining forces for innovation with SAICA El Burgo's new off-line coating machine

Dec 11, 2018

SAICA was aiming for improved quality, reduced costs, and responsible fiber use, but it found itself with innovative coated white top liner grades with better properties than they bargained for. This was a result of three partners – SAICA, Valmet and pigment supplier Omya – joining forces.

Propapier: Better strength with new hard nip sizer

Nov 30, 2018

With the new and innovative hard nip sizer, Propapier produces recycled liner and fluting grades with better strength properties and improved machine runnability.

High expectations met with Kruger's grade conversion rebuild

Aug 16, 2018

The interest in lightweight linerboard is on the rise in North America. In response, Kruger decided to let Valmet convert their newsprint machine to board machine.

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Reliable coating quality with OptiCoat Layer curtain coating station at WEIG KM 3

Jun 16, 2025

Watch the video and discover how WEIG Group invested in new coating technology and replaced an old air knife coater. In December 2024, their board machine KM 3 started up with new OptiCoat Layer coating station in Mayen, Germany. As a result the quality of the board has enhanced by improving coating coverage and reducing streakiness of the coating.

Pilot trials on finishing technology at Valmet Paper Technology Center in Järvenpää

Feb 25, 2025

Innovation in Järvenpää Paper Technology Center: Hard nip sizing with curtain application

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Sizer pilot trial opportunities at Valmet Paper Technology Center

Sep 12, 2022

Experience our sizer pilot opportunities in Järvenpää, Finland, where you can pilot and test all the size application methods with your paper or board. The sizer pilot facility has been updated some time ago to be even better and to correspond more accurately to the mill environment.

Pilot trials at Valmet Paper Technology Center

Sep 12, 2022

Whether paper and board makers are looking to change their production or improve the efficiency of their existing process, it is a major capital investment decision that should never be taken lightly. To ensure peace of mind and investment security, investing in solutions that are known and tested is vital. This is the key to Valmet pilot trials – provide data to make secure investment decision – whether it is regards the technical concept, for example testing two alternative concepts, or raw m...

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