Portuguese tissue manufacturer Fortissue and Toscotec have started up PM1 after a groundbreaking upgrade at their Viana do Castelo production base in Portugal. This Toscotec-supplied AHEAD 2.0 line, which first began production in 2015, is now the first tissue machine in the world to operate entirely on electricity at 2,000 m/min.
After ten years of efficient operations, this high-performance machine has been fully upgraded to achieve the target of more sustainable tissue production. Toscotec has installed a fully electrical air system including e-powered TT Hood with multiple stages of heat recovery. Based on the specific production needs, TT Swing ensures maximum flexibility by offering different operation modes from full cascading to hybrid (with heated air only in the wet section).
TT Turbodryer harnesses the heat recovered from the air system to improve the shoe press de-watering effect and increase post-press dryness. Finally, the new e-powered TT SteamBooster generates 100% of the steam necessary for the TT SYD Steel Yankee Dryer by recovering the heat present in the hoods exhaust air together with high-efficiency electric steam generation.
The energy needed for PM1’s operation comes entirely from electricity. The mill has the option of getting power from the Portuguese grid or using 100% renewable energy coming from its solar and wind systems. The associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions amount to minus 20% in case the tissue line operates from the grid, and net zero GHG emissions when it runs on renewable energy both for its electric and thermal needs.
Established in 2015 in Alvarães, Northern Portugal, Fortissue is a tissue producer with an annual production capacity of approximately 35,000 tons of paper.
Founded in 1948, Toscotec specializes in the design and manufacture of turnkey projects, complete machines, rebuilds and stand-alone systems for the tissue and paper and board industries.
