This month, research company Innventia is launching a new project within the field of tissue paper. The participating companies and Innventia have now together decided on the focus for the next two years. Having previously concentrated on energy issues, the new cluster will focus more on product properties and different aspects of this.
The project, known as a cluster, is part of Innventia’s Cluster Research Programme, and follows on from the previous tissue cluster which ended last winter. Pulp manufacturers, their suppliers and tissue manufacturers will all be involved in the project, and have helped to shape the focus and content of the cluster.
“One key aspect of the Cluster Research Programme is that the content is adapted according to the participating companies, so that the results really do meet future needs in terms of problem-solving and development,” explains Innventia’s Mattias Drotz. “Together with suppliers, customers and competitors, we are carrying out research in order to build up knowledge that will move technology forwards.”
During the kick-off, which was held last week, the project participants set important priorities. Mattias is pleased with the results:
“The atmosphere was excellent, and we now have a clear direction for the project’s activities.”
Hannes Vomhoff is the scientific advisor of the tissue research cluster and one of the participants from Innventia at the kick-off session:
“In the previous tissue cluster, we focused on energy efficiency, which is an important aspect of all papermaking, but we will now be focusing on different aspects of product functionality. For example, this will involve investigating the mechanical properties of low grammage products and ways in which the fibres can be modified to make them stronger.”
The fibre properties also affect the conditions for the manufacturing process. For example, problems with dusting can arise in the paper machine during manufacturing, as well as during conversion and post-treatment, or when used by the end-consumer. It is also important for manufacturers to optimise the use of the raw material for cost reasons.
“By finding the right type of fibres, we can reduce the grammage and thus minimise the cost of the raw material,” continues Mattias.