New online measurements and analyses for more stable, productive tissue machine operation

Metso's comprehensive tissue machine automation solution is complemented with newly updated products: furnish analysis and control, machinery condition and process stability diagnosis and high speed web break analysis capabilities.

These newly updated products, together with Metso's integrated quality control, process control and machinery control help tissue makers to achieve high speed process operation and the much sought after stability required for optimum productivity, energy efficiency and product quality. Since Metso's offering is flexible and scalable, cost-effective and grade-specific configurations can be made for each customer's needs

The new capabilities include:

* Metso Pulp Analyzer (Metso MAP) includes a new online microscopic scale fiber fibrillation measurement. With the additional online measurement of freeness and other fiber properties, the analyzer is invaluable for achieving optimum drainage and sheet quality properties. More precise furnish preparation and low consistency refining management provides better sheet runnability and higher machine efficiency. Both Metso MAP and a brand new off-line Metso Fiber Image Analyzer (Metso FS5) use the same HD technology for imaging analysis, thus these two products fullfill nicely Metso's portfolio for fiber furnish measurement solutions.

* Metso DNA Machine Monitoring, embedded within the Metso DNA control system platform, continuously measures and analyzes the mechanical condition of tissue making machinery and processes. Mechanical vibrations, process pulsations and creping blade chatter are detected promptly so corrective action can be taken to ensure stable sheet quality and runnability. In addition, maintenance actions can be made proactively and cost-effectively.

* Metso Process and Quality Vision (Metso PQV), with its new high speed and high resolution cameras, can isolate and define the causes of sheet flaws and breaks, thereby allowing machine operators to avoid their re-occurrence. With the system's high resolution capability, very small flaws and sheet instabilities can be resolved at a web speeds over 2000 m/min.


These new analytical products complement responsive online sheet quality measurements and controls by the Metso IQ quality control system. MD and CD controls of fiber weight and moisture are based on Metso IQ Fiber Weight Measurement - a single infrared sensor which replaces traditional nuclear sensors. Metso was the first automation supplier to introduce this single sensor to the tissue market. In the past year alone 33 have been sold and delivered, joining many others commissioned on new and previously installed quality control systems. The system's measurement and control capabilities include online tissue shade using IQ Web Color Measurement, specially developed for tissue applications.

Metso IQ Dilution Profiler and Metso IQ Steam Profiler provide uniform CD sheet quality. In addition to reducing Yankee air cap drying energy requirements the high heat steam profiler allows significant production increases. To date 30 of these profilers have been installed on tissue machines

Also, as part of a comprehensive automation solution Metso's consistency, retention and furnish charge analyzers and controls stabilize the wet end operation. The charge analyzer, Metso Wet End Analyzer, is particularly valuable for precisely controlling wet end functional additives and ensuring retention and white water fines levels are in balance.