Today, consumers expect quite a bit from the tissue products offered on the market. Almost every person needs toilet paper and kitchen towels every day. The European market volume in the tissue sector is at approx. 8.8 million tons per year (2016). For consumers, it is not only the cleaning aspect that is of decisive importance: the number of layers, tearing strength and yield are also relevant decision-making factors.

The product developer must already bear these important properties in mind with the initial product idea. Here, for instance, the embossing and ply adhesion has a significant influence on the absorption capacity and tear resistance. Regardless of whether with a micro-honeycomb structure or a particular point embossing, there are a myriad of possibilities.

Especially so as to do justice to these sophisticated demands, Saueressig, with its pilot facility, offers tissue manufacturers the possibility of running prior embossing tests and creating hand samples. New material properties can be tested under real conditions, and the interaction of embossing, design and glue can be optimised. Customers can already take along hand samples for product tests or market research from Vreden after a few days.

This testing facility offers tissue manufacturers the major benefit that no internal resources and facilities are blocked. A customised solution can be elaborated hand in hand with the Saueressig experts. Generally speaking, this simplifies a successful production start. What is more, thanks to the exchange among one another, new ideas and approaches can be developed.

The tissue pilot plant offers users seven different embossing possibilities. It can be processed in the web width layer up to 700 mm with a roll diameter of up to 1,200 mm. The production speed is 150 m/min. It has three unwind units as a standard feature, of which each one has an own electric drive and, in each case, a mechanic pressure control. Thanks to this comprehensive equipment, numerous variations can be tested quickly and in an uncomplicated manner.