Toscotec will supply a technological upgrade of Paper Prime’s PM1 at their Vila Velha de Rodão mill in Portugal. Planned for mid-2024, the project aims to achieve substantial energy savings and production increase.  

Turnkey Technological upgrade 
Toscotec will rebuild the press section of the AHEAD 2.0 tissue line it supplied on a turnkey basis to Paper Prime in 2017. Originally equipped with a suction press roll with the possibility to upgrade to a shoe press configuration, the machine will install Toscotec’s latest generation shoe press TT NextPress to enhance drying efficiency in combination with the existing TT SYD Steel Yankee Dryer. 
The supply also includes a TT TurboDryer, which uses the heat recovered from the air system to strengthen the shoe press de-watering action and increase post-press dryness. The rebuild will be supplied on a turnkey basis, including dismantling and erection operations, erection supervision, commissioning, training, and start-up assistance.  

Targets: Decarbonization and Speed-up
The project aims to achieve two targets. Firstly, it will slash PM1’s thermal energy consumptions by 25% and consequently significantly reduce the carbon emissions associated with its operation. Secondly, Toscotec will perform a machine speed increase from 2,000 to 2,100 m/min with associated capacity increase. 

Paulo Lobo Correia, Chief Executive Officer at Paper Prime, comments, “Focused on production efficiency, this technological upgrade will boost Paper Prime competitiveness and allow us to serve our customer base even better in the future. Toscotec has been our trusted partner since the beginning with the turnkey supply of our tissue line. We are confident that their expertise and reliability will guarantee a successful outcome on this new step in our growth.”

Riccardo Gennai, Sales Manager at Toscotec, says, “Decarbonization and Energy Efficiency upgrades are key for the European tissue market at a time where regulations are pushing for a profound industry transformation. Toscotec’s technology delivers on efficiency and investment performance. We expect Paper Prime to start generating a positive return on this investment in less than two years.” 

About Socigene Group 
With origins dating back to 1991, the Socigene Group had its first major boost in 1999 with the creation of the Trevipapel converting industry in Lousã, Portugal. Today, it is one of the leading tissue manufacturers in Portugal, well-known for its Joker brand. Trevipapel operates two production plants that process close to 40,000 tpy and it pursues an ambitious expansion project focused both on the domestic and export markets. In 2017, the Group set up Paper Prime, a tissue mill located in Vila Velha de Rodão, which supplies tissue reels to converting manufacturers in Portugal and other markets. 

Contact
Riccardo Gennai 
Sales Manager, Tissue division Toscotec
Email: Riccardo.Gennai@toscotec.com