Paper and Printing

Increased efficiency within the paper and printing industries calls for wider, faster machines. These technological advances have led to the need for large paper reels. At the centre of these reels are specially designed paper cores which are held in place by “chucks”, forced inside each end of the hollow tube, thus making the paper tube an integral part of the manufacturing process.

The lighter paper core, with equal technical performance to the /theoretically) alternative steel tube, has established itself as the paper and print industries choice of product.

The Paper Making Process
Modern paper and board machines vary in width and speeds depending on the paper type. A modern newsprint or magazine paper machine will produce up to 300,000 tonnes of paper per year and is often 9 meters wide. Speeds on these machines are some 1300 mpm and the Slitter Rewinders run at speeds of over 2000 mpm, produc-ing paper reels of up to 6 tonnes. The need for absolute consistency of strength, straightness and roundness of the paper core ist paramount to ensure a trouble free winding and unwinding process, in a safe working environment. For example critical tolerances such as diameter variations are measured in fractions of millimeters.

The Printing Process
He modern high speed printing machine prints at speeds up to 1000 mpm, with widths of 2.6 to 3.4 meters.

The paper core has to carry the total 6 tonnes weight on short “chucks” whilst rotating at high speeds without vibration or “flutter”.

The process of paper unwind on the modern print machine calls for great strength in the paper core with straightness and roundness tolerances which are extremely demanding. Failure to meet these specifications leads to high economic losses and in some cases safety risks.

To meet the exacting requirements of both paper mill and print customers the paper tube manufacturers have developed performance standards which ensure the safe running of both paper and print machines.