Bekaert Solaronics supplied Ahlstrom-Munksjö Arches with two 2-rows UniDryer V3 hoods for drying of abrasive paper base after size press on its PM4. Ahlstrom-Munksjö Arches (formerly known as Arjowiggings Arches) is the oldest customer of Bekaert Solaronics. The first IR drying system was installed in 1966 on the PM5. Since then, Ahlstrom-Munksjö Arches continued to count on Bekaert Solaronics for all its projects as seven infrared drying systems have been installed in the paper mill.
The main objectives of the new UniDryer® V3 are to dry efficiently the paper coats and achieve guaranteed moisture at the inlet of sizer 2.
The UniDryer® V3 is a very compact system in which high performance gas infrared emitters are alternated with high temperature and velocity air nozzles without requiring a heat exchanger or an external gas burner. These features result in a fast heat-up, a high evaporation rate and ultimately in better product quality.
The Arches mill was founded in 1492. Acquired by the international paper group Munksjö in 2011, the Arches paper mill employs today 470 people and possesses a wide range of machinery, including 7 paper-making machines and three rotary presses. Ahlstrom-Munksjö Arches produces decor papers, abrasive backing papers, fine art papers and papers for art publishing.