First hybrid electric heating system for Yankee hood in tissue industry started up – a collaboration of Softys and ANDRITZ

The system uses a patented air mixing plenum that allows to combine heat sources depending on the mill’s specific needs. The customer can run the system either in 1) electric heating mode, using only the electric heater assembly, or 2) natural gas heating mode, using the burner, or 3) hybrid mode, with a freely adjustable portion of electric and natural gas heating. This provides Softys with maximum flexibility in choosing heat sources with a view to emissions reduction and energy cost optimization.

The system has been installed in a tissue machine with a design speed up to 2,000 m/min and a paper width of 2.8 m. It is the result of a joint R&D project between Softys and ANDRITZ.

Reinaldo Uribe, Director of Processes and Corporate Projects at Softys, and inventor of the system, explains: “We invited ANDRITZ as a partner to develop this R&D project as part of our ESG strategy to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from our tissue machines in Latin American, and we are happy to see that our efforts are now contributing to more sustainable mill operations. In George Nowakowski I found the perfect counterpart to implement  this project – from conjoint R&D works, up to the successful patent application and start-up.”George Nowakowski, Vice President Tissue Drying America, and -inventor of the system from ANDRITZ side, adds: “Collaborating with a partner like Softys gives us the great opportunity to use our mutual know-how in order to swiftly develop, extensively test and efficiently implement valuable innovations that are beneficial both for the environment and operational efficiency.” 

Softys, part of the CMPC group, is one of South America’s largest tissue producers. The mill in Lima has an annual production capacity of approx. 100,000 tons of tissue.

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ANDRITZ GROUP
International technology group ANDRITZ offers a broad portfolio of innovative plants, equipment, systems, services and digital solutions for a wide range of industries and end markets. Sustainability is an integral part of the company’s business strategy and corporate culture. With its extensive portfolio of sustainable products and solutions, ANDRITZ aims to make the greatest possible contribution to a sustainable future and help its customers achieve their sustainability goals. ANDRITZ is a global market leader in all four of its business areas – Pulp & Paper, Metals, Hydropower and Environment & Energy. Technological leadership and global presence are cornerstones of the group’s strategy, which is focused on long-term profitable growth. The publicly listed group has around 30,000 employees and over 280 locations in more than 80 countries.

ANDRITZ PULP & PAPER
ANDRITZ Pulp & Paper provides sustainable technology, automation, and service solutions for the production of all types of pulp, paper, board and tissue. The technologies and services focus on increased production efficiency, lower overall operating costs as well as innovative decarbonization strategies and autonomous plant operation.

The product portfolio also includes boilers for power generation, various nonwoven technologies, and panelboard (MDF) production systems. With waste-to-value recycling, shredding and energy solutions, waste and by-product streams from production are converted into valuable secondary raw materials as well as into sustainable resources for energy generation. State-of-the-art IIoT technologies as part of Metris digitalization solutions complete the comprehensive product offering.