Due to its success, Feltest offered you another chance to attend this Webinar on June 3, 2021: I'll show you how better PMC can really increase your paper machine's output. 

Most paper mills use a mechanical tension gauge to measure the tension of Paper Machine Clothing, mostly forming fabrics. When this instrument is not in a perfect condition, it can cause serious problems in running your papermachine. The 2 most common defects on mechanical tension gauges are a worn sensor bar or a leaking bellow, causing internal friction.

In this blog article, I focus on the signs and consequences of forming fabrics running at a tension too low for optimal performance of your paper machine. One of the causes of low tension is improper use of the tension gauge. 

In two previous articles, I reflected on problems related to too high or too low tension in forming fabrics. In this article, I want to focus on the (im)proper use of the mechanical tension gauge.

Knowledge-sharing to improve production in the papermaking industry is Feltest’s mission, and we recently experienced directly how important this is in our industry.

Just in the few weeks since our first webinar How to Assess Press Felts, we are already seeing shifts in our customers’ perception of improving felts in the press section. 

In the Netherlands we have a saying, ‘meten is weten’, which literally translates to ‘measuring is knowing’. I guess we Dutchies like to analyze before we act. And basically, it says it all when it comes to the maintenance of your paper machine and its components.

Besides removing the most water of all press felts, the pick-up felt has another important task: it has to pick up the delicate sheet from the forming fabric and guide it into the press section. Problems in the pick-up area, often leading to breaks in the press section, are certainly not uncommon.  

When press vibrations take place in the papermaking process, machine speed has to be slowed down. This has a negative effect on output and production targets. Replacing the felt is often the expensive solution papermakers reach for, but it is only addressing the symptoms. Usually, the origins of press vibrations can be found elsewhere in the machine.

The Feltest SpeedController is a game-changing control unit that delivers precise felt performance data - helping you detect issues early and make informed decisions. Learn how it transforms complex measurements into clear insights for better production.

Here’s your step-by-step guide to getting started.