Start-up of the First Microformer - A Dandy Roll-Based Top Wire Former, 1990 TAPPI Conference Proceedings
While the start-up of the first commercial M/K-Plank Microformer on a groundwood based, light-weight coating base sheet produced at 1100 fpm was generally successful, it initially appeared to have a considerably lower dewatering capacity than its pilot unit. The key problem turned out to be the much higher fabric tension under which the commercial unit was started up, 30 vs 12 pli. That is, the wet sheet formed at the higher tension, and hence higher forming pressure had a disproportionately greater drainage resistance. This tension will be reduced, and another drainage-limiting problem it created will have been eliminated by the time of the Annual meeting. Finally, the Dandy Roll of future Microformers will be 72" in diameter instead of 48", thereby reducing the forming pressure close to that generated on the pilot unit.
Start-up of the First Microformer - A Dandy Roll-Based Top Wire Former, 1990 TAPPI Conference Procee