Espoo Finland 20 November 2018 -- Valmet-supplied Advantage DCT 200HS tissue production line including an extensive automation package was successfully started up at ICT Iberica's mill in Burgo, Spain, in September 2018. The new tissue line meets the company's intention to adopt state of the art technology for highest quality tissue production. Valmet has previously delivered four tissue lines to ICT companies in Italy, France and Poland.

"Thanks to the teamwork between Valmet and ICT technicians, the project achieved all the objectives, both in terms of quality and timing. The capability to manage the main planning of all the phases - engineering, installation and commissioning - in a flexible way, the final tuning of the on-site activities, joined with the skills of the team members involved in the project, were the keys to achieve a regular and smooth start-up," says Silvano Marcelli, Technical manager at ICT and Antonio Jordan, Project manager at ICT Iberica.

"Despite all the work, all people involved did a great job. Together we managed to achieve a very good result and a start-up according to the plan. It was one of the smoothest start-up's I have ever seen," says Stefan Ziegel, Project manager at Valmet.

The production line was optimized to save energy and enhance final product quality. The new line will add 70,000 tons a year of high-quality toilet, towel, facial, and napkin grades for the European market. The raw material for the new line will be virgin fiber. The flexibility of Valmet's Advantage ViscoNip press makes it possible to adjust the production to fit current and future market needs, from production of tissue with high bulk and softness to energy- and cost-efficient products with high quality, only within minutes.

Technical information of the delivery

Valmet's scope of delivery comprised a complete tissue production line including a stock preparation system and an Advantage DCT 200HS tissue machine. The delivery also included a two-layer OptiFlo Headbox, Advantage ReTurne energy recovery system, Advantage ViscoNip press and Advantage SoftReel reel, as well as Advantage AirCap hood, steam generator and a complete mill equipment system from bale handling to fan pumps.

Complete engineering, training, start-up and commissioning were also included in the delivery as well as an extensive Valmet automation package.

About the customer ICT

ICT Group, has been in the tissue business since 1978 and is a European market leader that specializes in premium products. The business also includes the sales of parent reels to converters and diapers and personal hygiene products. ICT Group operates ten paper machines in four European countries and the global production capacity currently amounts to about 540,000 tons per annum which will increase to 610,000 tons by the end of 2018, when the latest investment in Spain will be completed. The ICT Group has a revenue of approximatively EUR 700 million and employees over 1,400 people.

Valmet is the leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. We aim to become the global champion in serving our customers.

Valmet's strong technology offering includes pulp mills, tissue, board and paper production lines, as well as power plants for bioenergy production. Our advanced services and automation solutions improve the reliability and performance of our customers' processes and enhance the effective utilization of raw materials and energy.

Valmet's net sales in 2017 were approximately EUR 3.1 billion. Our more than 12,000 professionals around the world work close to our customers and are committed to moving our customers' performance forward - every day. Valmet's head office is in Espoo, Finland and its shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki.