WEPA Group invest in sustainable secure future
Toscotec delivers tissue paper machine for WEPA plant in Poland
• New paper machine for Piechowice creates more than 20 new jobs
• This paper machine with a capacity of 32,000 t/a works highly efficiently, in particular from an energy point of view, and contributes to optimising the ecological footprint of the WEPA Group by reducing CO2 emissions
• Martin Krengel, CEO of the WEPA Group:
“As a family company, we will invest into a new state-of-the-art machine to underline our sustainable and future-oriented position. With the new Toscotec paper machine, we will produce part of our semi-finished tissue goods demand at the Piechowice plant and will, in return, pass on this security of supply to our customers in the consumer and professional sales market.”
WEPA Group, based in the Westphalian city of Arnsberg, will be investing in the expansion and modernisation of existing plants across Europe. This year, the construction of a new tissue paper machine with a total capacity of 32,000 tons annually will start at the Piechowice plant in Poland. In doing so, the family company will optimise the existing logistics structures of all European sites, thus enhancing the competitiveness of the entire group. The number of employees at the site will rise from today’s 380 to more than 400 workers.
Following the collaboration during the construction of the two new paper machines in France and Germany and the on-time startup in 2015, the Italian manufacturer Toscotec has also been chosen to be the supplier for the new plant. After an investment of more than 35 million Euro over the last five years, another approx. 30 million Euro will be spent on the construction of the new plant in order to modernise the site.
The scope of supply for the new paper machine includes a stock preparation system for virgin pulp, an AHEAD 2.0S tissue machine, various auxiliary units, electrification and control system with the best technology currently available in the market.
The machine itself is equipped with an single layer headbox, double press configuration, a steel Yankee cylinder TT SYD-15FT, a Toscotec Milltech hood and a mist and dust removal. Full engineering, construction and construction supervision, as well as training, startup and commissioning complement the Toscotec service package. The construction speed is designed for 2,200 m/min at a working width of 2.8 m. The new plant will, amongst others, produce high quality, super soft toilet paper and will be able to handle virgin pulp as well as recycled fibre as a raw material.
Therewith, the paper machine is state-of-the-art and meets the high quality requirements of the market. “As a family enterprise, we will invest into a new state-of-the-art machine to under- line our sustainable and future-oriented position. With the new Toscotec paper machine, we will produce part of our semi-finished tissue goods demand at the Piechowice plant and will, in return, pass on this security of supply to our customers in the consumer and professional sales market,” says Martin Krengel, CEO of the WEPA Group.
Walter Hirner, WEPA Group Chairman of Engineering, emphasises the advantages of the new paper machines with respect to energy efficiency: “The paper industry is one of the largest energy consumers and can make a significant contribution towards reducing CO2 emissions by using efficient production processes and saving electricity and natural gas for the production of semi-finished goods. This saves resources and optimises the cost structures.” Less purchases of semi-finished goods also helps the WEPA Group to optimise the logistics flows among the European locations and thus compensates increasing shipping costs.
Subject to regulatory permits, the commissioning of the new paper machine is scheduled for the 1st quarter of 2017.
