OptiFormer for board
Modern high-speed containerboard machines typically have gap formers as their forming sections. With an OptiFormer gap former and an OptiFlo Ii headbox, a well-defined and homogeneous headbox jet is fed into a gap between two fabrics, and water is removed efficiently in order to maintain the uniformity of the sheet.
Metso OptiFormer makes it possible to produce lightweight containerboard economically. OptiFormer maintains good runnability and creates a stronger and more homogeneous paper web with good visual appearance despite the often challenging raw material.
Primary OptiFormer is a gap former with a dilution-controlled OptiFlo Ii headbox for a 1 or 2-layer sheet. It is the most common gap former type and has compact layout. Primary OptiFormer is especially suitable for the production of lightweight containerboard grades made of recycled pulp.
OptiFormer with a primary and secondary gap former for multi-ply products is supplied with two OptiFlo II headboxes. Two gap former units are needed for high production rates, and for excellent strength and formation. To ensure good profiles, one of the OptiFlo II headboxes is provided with dilution control.
This concept ensures proper layer purity for white top testliner in particular, with excellent coverage and formation, and clearly better planar strength properties than single gap formers. It also offers the potential for very high speeds.
A gap former and Fourdrinier forming section combination provides an interesting alternative in rebuild cases. This solution eliminates runnability bottlenecks and yields higher speeds and improved quality.
OptiFormer benefits for containerboard
- High speed potential
- Superior drainage capacity
- Excellent formation
- Good strength properties and uniform CD profiles
- Uniform visual appearance of the end product
