How CVG makes paper
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The production process: step-by-step

1. Material preparation
In the material preparation phase the pulp (cellulose fibres in water) receives a preliminary treatment and all necessary fillers and additives for the production process are prepared. The pulp fibres are shortened and crushed in a refining process. This is essential in order to give the end product the correct strength. After the refining the pulp is mixed to a homogeneous slurry and then diluted. On the way to the paper machine additives and fillers are added to the slurry. In the last section of the route to the machine the diluted slurry is carefully cleaned with centrifugal cleaners and strainers.

Animations of the material preparation:
(real player)

Pulp refining
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Addition of fillers
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Cyclone cleaning
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2. Web section
After cleaning the diluted pulp is pumped to the web section where the paper sheet is formed. Via the headbox the pulp is sprayed evenly on a rapidly revolving wire. Water is removed via the wire and the upper wire through the effects of gravity and vacuum. After the wire section the formed sheet enters the press. At this point it still contains 80 percent moisture.

3. The press
The press, with rolls and felts, removes even more water from the paper sheet through strong pressure. With a moisture content still at 55 percent the paper sheet then enters the dryer, where the rest of the water is removed through heating.

4. The dryer
The dryer forms the greater part of the entire machine length (100 m). The paper is passed over steam-heated cylinders, and after passing about two-thirds of the drying section the paper is almost completely dry. At this point the paper passes through the filmpress which applies starch, other additives or a coating to the paper to obtain the surface properties required for the various paper types. Following this the paper is dried once more until it finally reaches the desired moisture content.

5. The calender rollers
The final processing phase takes place between the calender rollers, where the paper sheet achieves the desired smoothness. The smoothness can be determined separately for the two paper sides. The calender unit consists of two separate pairs of rolls for which line pressure and temperature can be set separately. After the calendering process the paper is wound onto a jumbo reel. The paper sheet is continually monitored by scanners. The process computer uses the information thus obtained to make on-line adjustments to the production process. The length of the paper sheet in the machine is some 350 metres and the entire production process takes around 25 seconds.

Animations of the calendering process:
(Real Player)
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6. Cutting
The jumbo reel is cut on the reel cutter and wound on cores to customer reels, to dimensions specified by the client. These reels are immediately assigned a unique reel number so that no mix-ups can occur. Then the reels are packed in moisture-proof paper and stored in the warehouse, ready for dispatch to the customer.