Tissue manufacturer Fripa relies on integrated solutions from Voith

Highest product quality for papers and their packaging has always been the top priority for the German tissue manufacturer. Voith's overall concept of innovative technology and optimal operating costs was one of the decisive factors that led Fripa to award the contract for delivery of the new TM 7 in July 2013. A key point was the optimal complementation of quality and technology and the mutual understanding of these values in a sustainable partnership. Today, we can look back on many years of trusting and successful cooperation.

"Our success is the result of hard work and a long-standing cooperation based on partnership," explains Verena Queck-Glimm, Executive Partner at Fripa. "With the innovative and energy-efficient technology of the TM 7, we ensure the best quality standard of our products in a highly competitive environment."

The TM 7 bundles decades of manufacturing experience of the Heidenheim-based paper machine manufacturer across the entire tissue production process. Voith supplied the complete production line – stock preparation, approach flow system, tissue machine including auxiliaries, electrification, automation and engineering of the entire plant. The scope was rounded off with all installation and commissioning services, as well as a clothing package covering several years.

The result of the complete package was a highly efficient tissue machine that produced the first toilet paper in November 2014 after 16 months of project duration and achieved a maximum speed of 2,100 m/min only a few months after startup. The TM 7 is thus one of the most efficient and fastest machines in the world, reliably ensuring the high quality of Fripa products.

Today, the TM 7, with working width of 2,700 mm, produces a sophisticated range of hygiene papers – from absorbent cleaning and kitchen towels to soft toilet papers based on 100% chlorine-free pulp.

The NipcoFlex T shoe press and Yankee cylinder EvoDry Y enable high speeds with reduced energy consumption. Even after the press section, an increased dry content is achieved, which reduces the need for thermal energy by up to 20%.

Innovative solutions also offer advantages in the area of spray mist minimization. "With the Voith LowMist Former, we succeed in producing high-quality tissue products in a dry and clean environment," says Christoph Maaß, Production Manager of the TM 7. "Compared with active vapor extraction systems, the LowMist Former is a very smart solution. Without using any additional energy, the steam is removed from the crescent former. The TM 7 operators appreciate the user friendliness and dry ambient conditions."

"Fripa is a very important partner in the field of tissue. We are available to the industry as a solution provider to jointly implement innovative and sustainable concepts that give our customers the decisive competitive advantage," says Martin Jauch, Senior Vice President Tissue at Voith.

The signs point to partnership in the future as well. The new Managing Director, Jan Wohlbold, assumed responsibility at the Miltenberg location in October 2019. "We look forward to shaping the future together and to having Voith at our side as the competent partner in the paper industry," confirms Jan Wohlbold. "The digital solutions can also reveal interesting potential for our tissue production process."