Development of compression refiner

Within the 'Fibre Raw Material Project' the concept for a new type of disk refiner for wood-free pulps has been developed. In disk refining, fibres are developed for strength properties, but dewatering on the paper machine decreases strongly through increased fines production.

Three major advantages of this new compression refiner are:

• Less fines production during refining, causing improved dewatering.

• Decreased use of energy per ton of fibre.

• Increase in the recyclability of fibres, resulting in an increased number of possible recycling steps.

In this project, the new continuous laboratory refiner shall be developed further to a continuous pilot and industrial scale. The project is carried out in co-operation with two Dutch paper mills, a machine builder and the Dutch Centre of Competence Paper and Board. For more information, see also the information leaflet Compression refining (only in Dutch).

Contact: Gülden Yilmaz