Sappi expands testing capabilities with Paper Lab

The Paper Lab replaces the previously used test line in the climate lab, and offers state-of-the-art technology and a broader weight measuring range (18-400g/sq m).

The Paper Lab is being used to test key quality parameters of paper production from all five paper machines at the site, and across the entire drum width. Roughness on the top and screen side are measured in accordance with a number of criteria, including fibre orientation, formation, air permeability according to Bendtsen, burst pressure, shine according to Tappi 75° (top/screen side, lengthwise/crosswise tearing, lengthwise/crosswise breaking load, thickness, weight and smoothness according to Bekk.

In operation around the clock, it is set to test over 30,000 jumbo rolls or drums a year. This corresponds to about 281,000 individual measurements a year.

After every successful check on a jumbo roll or drum, the corresponding production batch is assigned a certificate.

The Paper Lab has been commissioned within Sappi’s Competence Centre for Speciality Papers and Boards at its Alfeld, Germany mill as part of the expansion of its specialty papers division, and follows the multi-million euro rebuild of the PM 2 paper machine which was completed last year.

Kristof Mertens, manager for quality control at Sappi, said: ‘This Paper Lab will enable us to take our consistently high quality paper product to an entirely new level.

‘We will also be using the Paper Lab to conduct field quality testing with the latest in technological capabilities.

‘Even with a wide variety of papers and boards and different weights, absolutely every production batch is subjected to precise measurement to ensure the quality of the batch. This means we guarantee our customers a unique level of continuity in our papers and boards that is unmatched anywhere else in the world.’

‘There is no other mill in the world that has implemented this level of quality control in the manufacturing of specialty paper and boards,’ concluded Mertens. ‘We are extremely proud of this effort and look forward to continuing to raise the bar on the exceptional quality of paper and boards that the market has come to expect from Sappi.’