Xerium Technologies, Inc., a leading global manufacturer of industrial textiles and rolls used primarily in the paper production process, passed a significant milestone by booking its 200th SmartRoll, the industry’s first continuous pressure-sensing paper machine press roll based on the SMART technology. Xerium’s SMART applications are all based on a proprietary embedded roll cover sensor system that provides constant realtime operating data to help optimize production, reduce energy consumption, and control costs.
“Since that first sale just over two years ago, we estimate that SmartRoll has saved our customers more than $40 million in reduced energy consumption and other cost reductions,” said Stephen R. Light, Chairman, CEO and President of Xerium Technologies. “Reaching this SmartRoll™ milestone in such a short time demonstrates that manufacturers are hungry for technology that produces real performance benefits at lower cost.”
Today’s announcement marks the 200th SmartRoll that has been booked since entering full commercial availability as a single application in mid-2009. Xerium now deploys 14 individual SMART technology applications throughout the paper machine, all of which are based on the Company’s advanced system for measuring nip pressures in realtime, to analyze and optimize the moisture removal in the press section. Since September 2011, Xerium has been marketing its latest SMART 4.0 Technology, which offers the most advanced functionality to help manufacturers reduce operational costs and maximize the output of existing equipment, while enhancing product customization capabilities.