Voith and Schumacher Packaging have successfully started up PM 2 in Myszków, Poland. Except for a few existing components, the entire production line was modernized to achieve the highest sustainability and efficiency standards.
"We are very satisfied with the rebuild of our PM 2 by Voith. As a leading full-line supplier, Voith was able to reduce many interfaces and thus reduce significant risks during the rebuild," confirms Björn Schumacher, CEO Schumacher Packaging Group.
Rebuild doubles production capacity with high sustainability, machine availability and process efficiency
The successful rebuild of the PM 2 will significantly increase the production capacity of lightweight containerboard grades. In the interest of the customer, the highest priority was placed on sustainability, machine availability and process efficiency when planning the rebuild.
"The rebuild enabled us to double production capacity from 500 to 1,000 tons per day in a way that minimizes waste and reduces fiber, energy and freshwater consumption. We are glad to have found a long-term partner in Voith, which also pursues ambitious sustainability goals and thus has the right products in its portfolio," says Henryk Drechnowicz, Managing Director at Schumacher Packaging Myszków Paper Mill.
Voith had already modernized the plant’s OCC stock preparation line in 2018. To meet the increased production capacity and further increase plant efficiency, the OCC line has now been expanded with additional technologies from Voith’s BlueLine portfolio; sensor technology from BTG; and technologies for water, reject, and sludge handling from Meri.
"Schumacher Packaging has found in us a long-term partner who shares the same values. This has led to a particularly close cooperation between the project teams," says Philip Schnellinger, Process Technology Manager at Voith Paper. "I am proud that we as a full-line supplier with our comprehensive portfolio were able to meet all requirements and guide the project to this important milestone."
Best production quality through innovative technologies
State-of-the-art machine concepts – including a DuoFormer D, MasterJet Pro headbox and DuoShake DG – ensure the best possible quality for profiles and paper strengths. Other advantages include lower operating costs as well as fast and smooth grade changes. In addition, the press section was renewed and equipped with Voith's NipcoFlex technology for two shoe presses, which significantly increases dry content and capacity and reduces specific steam consumption. A fully automatic VariFlex NG winder with its proven technology rounds off the major rebuild. This features the unique Gecko OneStep system, which enables web separation as well as start and end gluing in just one step. In addition, it ensures stable winding quality at maximum speed thanks to an integrated drive control and the innovative SmoothRun hydro-pneumatic damping system.
About Schumacher Packaging
Based in the Bavarian town of Ebersdorf bei Coburg, the Schumacher Packaging Group is one of the largest manufacturers of tailor-made corrugated and solid board packaging distributing throughout Europe. As an integrated group of companies, Schumacher Packaging has three paper mills for recycled containerboard, two carton board mills, twelve processing plants and various service centres. The company is run by the third generation in the form of brothers Björn and Hendrik Schumacher and has 29 sites in Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Great Britain, the Netherlands and Italy.
For decades, the family-run company has been one of the innovation and technology leaders in the packaging industry and is at the forefront of high-performance digital printing for corrugated board packaging – which is the most environmentally-friendly printing process in the industry. Schumacher Packaging develops, manufactures and prints packaging for all industries. Within this, sustainability plays a key role – the company aims to reach carbon-neutral production by 2035. In the 2022 financial year, Schumacher Packaging had around 4100 employees and posted an annual turnover of around 1.2 billion euros.
About the Voith Group
The Voith Group is a global technology company. With its broad portfolio of systems, products, services and digital applications, Voith sets standards in the markets of energy, paper, raw materials and transport & automotive. Founded in 1867, the company today has around 22,000 employees, sales of € 5.5 billion and locations in over 60 countries worldwide and is thus one of the larger family-owned companies in Europe.
The Group Division Voith Paper is part of the Voith Group. As the full-line supplier to the paper industry, it provides the largest range of technologies, services and products on the market and offers paper manufacturers holistic solutions from one source. The company’s continuous stream of innovations facilitates resource-conserving production and helps customers minimize their carbon footprint. With its leading automation products and digitalization solutions from the Papermaking 4.0 portfolio, Voith offers its customers state-of-the-art digital technologies to improve plant availability and efficiency for all sections of the production process.