On December 12, 2012, Liansheng Paper Industry (Longhai) Co., Ltd. started up their new Metso-supplied containerboard production line, PM 6, at their Longhai site in Fujian Province in China.  This is the first start-up of Metso’s novel OptiConcept M production line that represents a new way to design, build and operate a paper machine.

The PM 6 start-up was successful with record-breaking results. “The whole start-up was perfect. It took less than 3 hours in total from having stock on the machine to get the web on the reel, and we had a very good start-up speed of 800 min/min. No paper tails were seen on the hall floor during the start-up period,” Xue Rong Jun, Project Manager of Fujian Liansheng, proudly says.

The new 7.25-m-wide PM 6 production line has an annual production capacity of approximately 300,000 tonnes of recycled fluting in the basis weight range of 65 to 100 g/m². The design speed is 1,200 m/min.

Metso’s delivery included a complete OptiConcept M boardmaking line from headbox to reel with air systems, a machine control system, a quality control system, two winders and Metso clothing.

The PM 6 OptiConcept M production line is designed for high productivity with low operating costs. Industrial design and new engineering innovations provide for simple assembly of the production line. “The installation required 30 to 40% less working hours compared with a conventional project,” comments Xue Rong Jun.

Also usability and safety aspects are at a new level. For instance, the design allows for easy, fast and safe changing of wear parts, which reduces the duration and costs of maintenance shutdowns.  “The design of walkways is very ergonomic, spacious. Walkways are on one level, no running  up and down stairs, so the machine is very safe and convenient to operate and maintain. Since there are no cantilevering beams at the wet end, the drive side and tending side are symmetric, and the machine drive side is very spacious compared to a traditional machine construction,” says Xue Rong Jun.

Liansheng Paper Industry (Longhai) Co., Ltd. is a subsidiary of Fujian Liansheng Paper Co., Ltd. The company was founded in 1999 and is based in Zhangzhou, China. PM 6 is the third Metso-supplied production line for Fujian Liansheng.