Expanded Testing Capabilities in the Tissue Sector Through Successful Collaboration.
Press | May 22, 2023
SAUERESSIG Surfaces, Gambini and WEKO are driving forward the latest developments in tissue product processing.
In one of our previous journal articles, we reported on the capabilities of our pilot line for the tissue sector and explained the advantages of being able to test your developments and designs thoroughly in advance under realistic production conditions. The successful collaboration between three leading companies in the industry is now setting new standards by further advancing the wet embossing process.
The respective core competencies of SAUERESSIG Surfaces, Gambini and WEKO complement one another perfectly within this collaboration, enabling the innovative wet embossing process for the tissue sector. The process can be experienced live at the SAUERESSIG site in Mönchengladbach. Alongside Tissue World 2023 in Düsseldorf, customers were invited for the first time to gain first-hand insights into the latest technology during a three-day open house event and discover exciting opportunities for their market segment.
Expanded Capabilities of the Pilot Line for Wet Embossing
With a production speed of up to 650 m/min and equipped with three unwinders, the pilot line delivers a high level of efficiency. It supports all common embossing technologies, including nested and top-to-top embossing, as well as pre-embossing. The bonding of the top and back layers, or top sheet and back sheet, can also be carried out easily using the two integrated adhesive application units.
The patented AirMill© technology developed by Gambini has also been added. AirMill© enables wet embossing of the material. In this efficient and resource-saving process, the paper is first moistened so that the cellulose fibres swell, based on the principle of hydrogen bonding. While the material is in this more easily formable state, it is then embossed using heated embossing rollers from SAUERESSIG Surfaces.
The result is structured tissue paper with a clearly defined pattern, greater volume and improved absorbency, while maintaining a consistently high level of tear strength – to name just one of the many advantages of the technology.
Since both heat and liquid are used to improve the properties of the tissue paper while subjecting it to significantly less stress during embossing than would be the case with a conventional embossing process, water is supplied to the converting system. For this purpose, a special WEKO unit in the form of a non-contact liquid application system was installed. High-speed rotating spray discs generate a uniform flow of extremely fine microdroplets, giving the material its individual properties with pinpoint precision.
Combined with SAUERESSIG Surfaces’ expertise in surface finishing, the heated embossing rollers enable a wide variety of patterns – the ideal combination of creative designs and outstanding product properties.
In Focus: The Open House Event During Tissue World Düsseldorf
During the three-day Open House event, which took place alongside Tissue World 2023 in Düsseldorf, customers had the opportunity to inspect SAUERESSIG’s in-house pilot line on site, including the newly installed Gambini AirMill© technology and WEKO spray application system. They were also able to speak with experts from the participating companies and obtain further information, particularly about the benefits of the process for their own production.
Samples were produced both before and during the event, allowing the feel and appearance of the product to be assessed. The pilot line operates under realistic production conditions at speeds of up to 650 m/min, meaning that the results achieved during testing can be transferred directly to the production machine. At the same time, the smaller dimensions of the test rollers, both in width and diameter, make the process cost-effective, which in turn makes the testing opportunities even more attractive.
At Your Disposal: Comprehensive Testing Capabilities for Tissue Products
The testing opportunities are, of course, not limited to the three days of the Open House event. “We are delighted to provide the tissue industry with an extremely valuable resource through our newly expanded pilot line,” explains Andreas Greving, Sales Manager Tissue at SAUERESSIG Surfaces. “Thanks to the successful cooperation with our partners, we can now offer our customers an even wider and more attractive range of testing opportunities.”
Together with his team, he is highly confident that the pilot line and its expanded capabilities will be used extensively in the future to test new prototypes with a wide variety of technical properties and outstanding designs for the tissue sector. This will help to further optimise the production process and ultimately meet all the individual requirements placed on the finished tissue product.
Learn more about our solutions for the tissue industry.
Would you like to use the pilot line’s comprehensive testing capabilities for your product? Andreas Greving looks forward to receiving your enquiry at andreas.greving@saueressig.com.
