Voith Introduces MegaDrive for Improved Forming Section Performance

Voith has launched MegaDrive, a next-generation rubber wire drive roll cover designed to enhance traction, reduce wear and minimize maintenance requirements in the forming section of paper and board machines.

Wire drive rolls transfer power to the forming fabric at the wet end of the paper production process. Operating at high and variable speeds under demanding, abrasive conditions, these rolls play a critical role in maintaining the correct fabric speed and tension during sheet formation. Consistent contact and reliable traction between the roll cover and forming fabric are essential to prevent slippage, support uniform sheet formation and ensure stable machine runability.

Wire drive roll covers are continuously exposed to abrasive environments and high mechanical loads. Over time, conventional covers can lose their performance characteristics. Hardening and surface cracking can increase the risk of traction loss, sheet defects, unplanned downtime and premature roll replacement.

Hardwearing and Customizable Rubber Drive Roll Cover

MegaDrive is manufactured from a durable yet flexible rubber compound, allowing the surface profile to be customized according to individual operating conditions. This provides paper mills with a robust roll cover that is resistant to hardening, surface cracking and performance degradation, even during extended operation in demanding forming section environments.

Engineered to withstand high mechanical loads, MegaDrive maintains consistent grip and traction on the forming fabric even under harsh, wet conditions, variable operating speeds and fluctuating temperatures. This helps support reliable performance and longer operating intervals.

Individual Solutions for Longer Runtimes and Reduced Maintenance

MegaDrive combines key performance characteristics that can deliver tangible benefits for paper and board manufacturers, including reliable traction, high wear resistance and consistent performance over extended runtimes.

As part of its full-service offering, Voith engineers can develop a customized forming section solution by combining MegaDrive with an appropriate Voith forming fabric. The solution can be tailored to the machine configuration, operating speeds, furnish properties and specific production objectives, helping mills optimize forming section performance while reducing maintenance requirements.

Source: voith.com