TURBAIR® Vacuum Technology for Premium Tissue Machine in the U.S

Valmet, a leading developer and manufacturer in the pulp, paper, and energy & circularity sectors, has commissioned Everllence to supply a vacuum system for a new paper mill in the United States. The new tissue machine will have a width of 5.6 meters and an annual production capacity of 75,000 tons.

The vacuum system is designed for use in a Through-Air-Dried (TAD) tissue machine. In this type of machine, the paper web is dried by passing hot air through the sheet. This process places specific requirements on vacuum generation, particularly regarding stable operation across multiple vacuum levels during the forming and dewatering stages. The selected TURBAIR® vacuum blowers type RC provide four defined vacuum stages, enabling their use at different positions within the dewatering section of the machine.

“With this project, we are further expanding our market presence in the U.S. and strengthening our role in a key market for the paper industry,” says Matthew Hildebrand, National Sales Manager of TURBAIR® vacuum systems at Everllence USA Inc. “Valmet’s decision to select TURBAIR® technology underlines the suitability of our multistage vacuum systems in demanding tissue production environments.”

The delivery includes two RC 118 4 vacuum blowers. The multistage units provide four vacuum levels ranging from 24 kPa to 68 kPa for different stages within the dewatering section. Developed for industrial paper production environments, the RC blower series is used in applications where stable vacuum conditions are required across different process stages.

Manfred Dobler, Head of Paper Industry at Everllence, explains: “A stable and precisely controlled vacuum supply is required in TAD systems, where defined vacuum levels must be maintained at different stages of the process. The multistage design of the TURBAIR® RC series enables stable operation across these varying requirements.”

The vacuum blowers will be produced at Everllence’s Zurich site in Switzerland. Commissioning of the paper machine is scheduled for Q2 2028.

More about TURBAIR® vacuum systems

Compared to conventional water ring pumps, TURBAIR® vacuum systems enable energy savings of 40 to 60%. Additionally, the hot exhaust air from the vacuum blowers can be recovered and fed back into the system’s energy cycle, which can increase total energy savings to up to 80%. Another advantage of TURBAIR® vacuum blowers is that they do not require seal water. This allows for water savings of up to 99%, conserving freshwater resources and significantly reducing environmental impact.