In Schwedt, Voith has converted the LEIPA Group’s PM 5 from a newsprint to a packaging paper machine. On 19 April 2018, the acceptance and handover of the machine of the Schwedt PM 5 project was signed early at LEIPA Georg Leinfelder GmbH, with effect on 13 April. As a result, the Voith team on site managed to bring the entire machine, consisting of a BlueLine OCC stock preparation line, DIP stock preparation line and XcelLine paper machine up to handover quality just 19 days after ‘stock on wire’.
Perfectly matched components and an extensive automation system including OnQ quality control system make the machine a new benchmark in the industry. LEIPA can produce approximately 450,000 metric tons of white top testliner (WTTL) on the machine and is therefore the market leader in this segment. After taking over the UPM mill in Schwedt, the new owner, the LEIPA Group, decided to extensively rebuild the existing
PM 11. Under the management of Voith, the conversion of the newsprint paper machine to a machine for the production of white top testliner (WTTL) began in October 2017. LEIPA invested over 160 million euros in the plant. Now known as PM 5, the machine is a new point of reference for packaging paper. Just a few machines worldwide surpass its 9,200- millimeter wire width. It also takes the top spot with its production speed of 1,200 meters per minute. LEIPA plans to produce 1,180 to 1,400 metric tons of white top testliner per day with the best surface properties and basis weights of 100 to 140 grams per square meter. LEIPA wants to manufacture a total of 450,000 metric tons of paper every year and thus expand its market position further.
To ensure the PM 5 can meet the desired output and quality requirements, Voith modified almost every component of the existing machine. A new hybrid former with two headboxes DuoFormer D and TopFormer F replaced the previous former, for example. Voith also developed a comprehensive solution for the transition to the press section and for the press, with a DuoCentri NipcoFlex shoe press in the center. These two components were designed to meet the requirements in high speed machines and enable outstanding product quality. Robust SolarPress roll covers assist in achieving this. The covers do not require any water cooling and help LEIPA to conserve resources. The SpeedSizer AT is also optimized for the uniform and faultless application of starch at high speeds. During the rebuild, Voith separated the existing dryer section into a predryer and after-dryer section. In the process, the pre-dryer section received a completely new TopDuoRun dryer group, while existing components were used for the after-dryer section. Thanks to a new MasterReel reel and the rebuild of the two existing DuoRollers, reel diameters of up to 3.5 meters can now be produced on the PM 5. The existing machine hall ventilation system was also expanded and integrated into the new process and quality control system.
