Voith Paper Completes System Analysis at German Mill

Heidenheim, Germany, 14 June 2006 -- The formerSteinbeis Temming Papier mill has been re-established as Papierfabrik am Neckar in Gemmrigheim, a new independent company in Germany. The mill produces colored printing papers and uncoated and coated offset papers from 100% recovered paper on two paper machines.

The mill recently selected Voith to audit the stock preparation system with the aim of increasing production from 210 tons to 260 tons/24 hours, while maintaining existing product quality. The project included the preparation of a stock-water balance, technology benchmarking, an analysis of the composition of the rejects, and a process water system analysis.

The actual plant conditions were evaluated and a balance survey carried out as the basis for the capacity expansion. This included precisely defining the capacity of the existing machines and auxiliaries.

A further aim of the analysis was to reduce rejects. The rejects amount in the individual subsystems was established and the usable fiber content was assessed. Recommendations for optimized machine adjustments aand return on investment calculations for the installation of new process equipment were also undertaken.

Comprehensive technological data were collected and compared with the paper mill's own data to check stock reproducibility. Additional benchmarking was carried out with comparable plant data to obtain an overall assessment of technology. The work showed an clear potential for improvement in sticky and dirt speck reduction. A further significant cost saving potential was identified in screening and flotation, amounting to approximately EUR 400,000 per year thanks to savings in raw material and disposal costs. By examining the process water systems, specific fresh water and effluent data were established and the existing process water management evaluated.

Following this extensive technological evaluation of the plant, Voith's engineers carried out a mechanical status analysis of the actual working components (rotors, screen baskets, etc.) in the machines. The mechanical condition of these components has a decisive influence on process technology, in addition to the machine operating parameters.

Over the past 10 years Voith has carried out more than 100 plant analyses in system technology for board and packaging papers, as well as for graphic and sanitary paper grades.

Voith Paper is a division of the Voith Group and one of the leading partners to the paper industry. More than one third of the world's paper production is produced on Voith Paper machines.

Voith sets standards in paper technology, power transmission engineering, power generation, and industrial services. It has a current workforce of about 30,000, sales of EUR 3.5 billion, and more than 200 locations worldwide. It is one of the largest family-owned enterprises in Europe.