Voith Transitions Navigator Setúbal Mill's PM 1 and PM 3 to Seamed Press Felts

Using seamed press felts makes changing felts faster with less workforce and without the need to cantilever the press section.

Aug. 13, 2024 - Voith announced that Navigator Paper Setúbal's PM 1 and PM 3 are now operating with seamed press felts in all press positions for the first time. The successful transition resulted from a three-year-long collaborative development between the Setúbal and Voith teams with the common goal of transitioning all press felt positions to seamed felt designs.

"The challenge is to ensure that seam-marking meets satisfactory standards," explained Ricardo Silva, Sales & Service Engineer at Voith Paper. "With dedication and persistence from both the Setúbal and Voith teams, we have made this important step forward. We are very proud of this result and the benefits they deliver."

According to Orlando Ferreira, Superintendent PM 1 and PM 3, using seamed press felts makes changing felts faster with less workforce and without the need to cantilever the press section. In addition, the seamed press felts significantly improve occupational safety in paper production and increase time efficiency.

"The installation of endless felts almost required the disassembly of the press section, with the seam felts, we have significantly reduced the risk associated with this activity and improved working conditions," Ferreira pointed out. "This project is another example of our continuous desire to innovate, our enormous capacity for adaptation and, above all, our strong concern for people and their safety."

Setúbal Industrial Complex

The Navigator Company's Setúbal Industrial Complex (paper mill), which is located on the Mitrena peninsula, near the city of Setúbal, Portugal, includes a pulp mill and two paper machines. The machines' combined production capacity is about 775,000 tons per year of uncoated woodfree paper (UWF).

Voith Paper, part of the Voith Group, is the full-line supplier to the paper industry, providing a wide range of technologies, services, components and products, and offers paper manufacturers solutions from a single source.

SOURCE: Voith and The Navigator Company