Fifty Years of Swedish Coating Technology Development, 1999 Coating Conference Proceedings

Rolf Åkesson

ÅF-IPK AB

The development of Swedish coating technology started already in the late 1800’s when German specialists introduced brush coating technology at Swedish paper mills. Traditional puddle type size presses were the most common coating equipment up to the 50’s when improved roll coaters were introduced. A big step forward in quality was taken in the mid 50’s and 60’s when blade coating became common at Swedish mills. The first off machine blade coater in Sweden was installed at Papyrus Hylte Mill in the early 60’s. Production of coated woodcontaining grades started in 1956 with the installation of a Consolidated coater on PM4 at Holmen Paper Norrköping. Only three production units for coated woodcontaing have been installed since then. An off machine coater at Holmen Wargön ,an off machine coater at SCA Ortviken Mill and an on machine coating line at the same mill. A great number of off machine coaters have then been installed for woodfree printing grades. Swedish producers of coated board have been very sucessful in the market with both SBS (Solid Bleached Sulfate) and LPB (Liquid Packaging Board ). The production of coated board started in 1963 with the installation of an off machine coater at Iggesund Mill. A complete rebuilt unit for production of triple coated SBS has recently been started at Iggesund Mill. The most modern unit for production of LPB is KM8 at STORA Skoghall with an annual production of 320,000 tons/year. New coating processes and equipment have been developed in close co-operation between paper mills and the Swedish machine industry. The Billblade was developed at Dals Långed Mill in 1963 and introduced to the market in 1969 by AB Inventing. The company under a new name (BTG) later introduced the Twinblade, Twin HSM , ABC Coater and Twin ABC. During the 70’s KMW (Karlstads Mekaniska Werkstad ) developed and manufactured blade coaters and coating color preparation plants. University level R&D and educational programs in coating have for many years only been available in Finland and at a few locations in southern Europe. The opening of a Coating Centre and a new Professorship in Coating Technology within the Faculty of Forest Industry at the University of Karlstad in 1999 is an important step forward in the creation of good education facilities for Swedish Coating Scientists.