Toscotec successfully completed a hood rebuild on PM 1 at WEPA Mainz in Germany. After a tight shutdown timeframe, PM 1 started up on schedule last year. Following a period of stable running conditions, it successfully completed the performance test, and outperformed the technical guarantees of the rebuild by having excellent results for drying capacity and gas consumption. 

The rebuild was a turnkey operation, including gas-fired TT Hood, an air system fitted with low-emission burners, several stages of energy recovery, and the complete electrification system for the scope. Toscotec’s high efficiency TT Hoods deliver an even distribution of air on the paper sheet, ensuring a perfectly uniform moisture profile in cross direction. 
WEPA also ordered a complete service package including dismantling operations, erection, commissioning, and start-up assistance. 

Since 2006, Toscotec supplied seven hood rebuilds to WEPA at five different mills in Germany and Italy. The successful outcome of these projects has been consistently a reduction of gas and power consumption higher than the contract guarantees and a significant increase in the run-ability of the machine, both in terms of overall efficiency and cross direction moisture profile. 

Per Thorneman, technical manager and project manager at WEPA Mainz says: “The preparation, the processing, the commissioning and the follow-up were always cooperative and professional. Even if the time frame for the shutdown of the plant was very challenging and could only be kept in two shifts over 24 hours.”

Rene Martin production manager PM 1 at WEPA Mainz, says: “The new hoods and the new air system work efficiently and deliver good results in terms of the uniformity of the profile as well as the gas and electricity consumption. We have significantly reduced our operating costs.”

Elena Troia, Toscotec Energy sales manager, says, “From a technical point of view, this rebuild was very interesting for the size of TT Hoods – for an 18 foot Yankee, double width – and for its turnkey scope. Toscotec evaluated the running conditions of the existing equipment and developed a tailor-made solution to improve PM 1’s performance and energy consumptions. WEPA set a very tight shutdown period, but we met their targets and we are happy to see that the new TT Hoods have been running efficiently since start-up.” 

About WEPA  
The WEPA Group is a family business operating throughout Europe and offers sustainable and innovative hygiene solutions that provide a safe feeling of hygiene and contribute to the well-being of millions of consumers all over Europe every day. With 3,800 employees, the WEPA Group produces hygiene paper products such as toilet paper, towel paper, handkerchiefs, and napkins at 13 production sites in Europe. WEPA is one of the three largest European manufacturers and is market leader in the production of hygiene paper made of recycled fibres. The annual turnover amounts to approximately 1.3 billion euros. In the consumer business unit, WEPA is the specialist for the private label of European retailers. The Professional business unit, with the brands BlackSatino and Satino by WEPA, stands for sustainable and professional hygiene solutions, which are used in public washrooms, the industry, offices or health care for example. The headquarters of the WEPA Group is in Arnsberg, North Rhine-Westphalia. The WEPA site in Mainz is specialised in the production of recycled toilet paper and has 210 employees. 

For further information, please contact:
Marco Dalle Piagge, Sales Director, Toscotec Tissue division, marco.dallepiagge@toscotec.com
Riccardo Gennai, Sales Manager, Toscotec Tissue division, riccardo.gennai@toscotec.com