Juthor Paper Manufacturing, part of MEPCO Group, has started up a complete tissue line including an AHEAD 2.2L tissue machine and two OPTIMA slitter rewinders supplied by Toscotec on a turnkey basis at its new tissue mill in KAEC, Saudi Arabia. With this start-up, MEPCO, a leading containerboard manufacturer, effectively enters the tissue market.
The turnkey supply
The scope includes the entire tissue production line from cellulose bale handling to the wrapping and labelling of the finished wound jumbo rolls. The double-width AHEAD 2.2L line features a maximum design speed of 2,200 m/min and an annual production capacity of over 60,000 tons. It is equipped with a shoe press TT NextPress of upgraded design, a third-generation TT SYD Steel Yankee Dryer, and high efficiency TT Hood-Multigen with integrated cogeneration air system. The two OPTIMA 2600L slitter rewinders ensure the preservation of superior bulk and softness.
Efficient tissuemaking with a Combined Heat and Power production (CHP)
The AHEAD machine is perfectly integrated with the mill’s CHP system, in order to tap on its secondary heat production to meet the thermal energy needs of the tissue production line. The drying section of the machine uses the CHP-produced thermal energy to both generate steam to use in the Steel Yankee Dryer and to achieve the correct drying temperature of hot air circulating in the Yankee hoods air system. As a result, the tissue machine will rely entirely on the CHP system for paper drying and will not require any additional gas consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions.
Adel Alfar, Operations Director at Juthor, says, “Our partnership with Toscotec has been marvellously successful. Even though we faced some challenges during the pandemic, we have successfully managed to deliver the test run and the commercial launch according to the scheduled timeline very smoothly and efficiently, producing premium quality tissue products.”
Stefano Raffaelli, Project Manager at Toscotec, says, “We are extremely happy of the positive outcome of this project. With a strong commitment to the project’s targets, we have overcome the global logistical challenges encountered during the pandemic and kept our focus on our shared goal of putting this state-of-the-art tissue line into operation. We are confident that the mill will benefit from its superior efficiency and paper quality right away.”
About MEPCO
MEPCO is the leading vertically integrated paper manufacturer in the Middle East, offering a diverse range of containerboard and specialty paper products serving the packaging, construction, furniture, and paper core industries around the world. MEPCO supplies its products to the local Saudi market, as well as the GCC, Middle East and Africa. The Company’s innovative approach to doing business enables it to deliver significant environmental and economic benefits to Saudi Arabia. MEPCO is listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) under symbol ‘1202’.