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MultiForm V –
innovative forming fabric technology

Working together with Voith Paper on new paper and

board machine technologies like the DuoFormer Base, Voith Paper
Fabrics has developed the MultiForm V Series, a family of advanced
multi-layer forming fabrics (Fig. 1) to meet the high-quality and
technical requirements of today’s high-speed board and packaging
machines.

Andreas Weis
Voith Paper Fabrics
[email protected] MultiForm V – Development ing fabric with a paperside structure that
gives maximum sheet support and opti-
Market analyses indicate that in the pack- mum fiber/fines retention. A further key
aging sector grammages are reducing to- criteria is a low sheet mark.
ward 70 g/m 2. New board and packaging
machines are also wider and faster The latest generation of Gapformer ma-
putting higher demands on the forming chines have shorter forming zones that
fabric, with regard to stability (CD stiff- generate higher initial drainage rates.
ness and diagonal shear), dewatering This means that the fiber mat requires a
efficiency and life potential. Key forming higher dewatering capacity with minimum
fabric requirements are listed in Fig. 2. water content after the wire section.

During the development phase all fabric At speeds over 1,000 m/min, a thin fabric
requirements had to be taken into ac- becomes a more important parameter be-
count. For example, higher usage of recy- cause a caliper that is too high has the
cled fiber of decreasing fiber length caus- potential to hold too much fiber, resulting
Fig. 1: Rendered drawing of the es an increased amount of fines in the in misting and, therefore, a contaminat-
MultiForm V forming fabric. circulation system. This requires a form- ed wire section.

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Fig. 2: Key forming fabric criteria.

Fig. 3: Difference in yarn wear between con-

ventional CD binder system and warp exchange
technology of MultiForm V design.

Fig. 4: Exchange points conventional SSB

design.

2 3 4
High Fiber Structure Index = Formation CD-Binder SSB

Dewatering = Energy

Abrasion Potential = Life time

Fabric Stability = Profiles

Open structure = Cleaning Warp Exchange MultiForm V

MultiForm V – Technology MultiForm V – Stability The MD yarns on top and bottom side of
the MultiForm V design are of the same
The technology behind the MultiForm V The warp exchange technology of Multi- diameter and are ideally stacked. This
Series features a triple-layer warp ex- Form V provides highest stability in both creates a very open structure for maxi-
change fabric. The term “warp exchange” MD and CD. This is essential for the use mum dewatering capability (Fig. 7).
refers to the method of binding the layers in the newest Gapformer generation,
of a triple-layer fabric so that pairs of which run a high fabric tension.
machine direction yarns exchange places MultiForm V provides an absolute stable Case Study 1 –
with each other, alternatively weaving as run at highest machine speeds. This of- Water carrying
a paper-side yarn and then as a wear-side fers potential for improved CD moisture
yarn. Due to the tension in the paper ma- and CD basis weight profiles on the paper A Voith Paper rebuild in Germany pro-
chine, the machine direction yarn (warp machine (Fig. 6). ducing gypsum board at a maximum
exchange yarn) is fixed in its position re- speed of up to 830 m/min.
ducing the internal fabric wear signifi- MultiForm V – Life potential
cantly. Fig. 3 shows the difference in in- Problem: The standard fabrics for the
ternal wear between a conventional CD The long float of the wear side yarns in middle ply position showed high water
binder system and the Voith Paper Fab- the MultiForm V fabric (8-shaft) enhances and fiber carrying. At the return run there
rics warp exchange technology of the the available abrasion potential in com- was a lot of mist requiring intensive
MultiForm V design. parison to conventional 5-shaft or 6-shaft cleaning activities in this area of the
fabrics in the market. forming section. This is due to fiber
MultiForm V – Formation To maximize fabric life potential of the build-up on fabric return rolls and doc-
MultiForm V fabric, wear side yarns with tors as a result of extensive fiber carry-
To improve formation, the paper side of large diameters (0.40 - 0.45 mm) can be ing. Fiber lumps falling down onto the
the MultiForm V has a plain weave design used without negatively affecting the de- top ply could possibly lead to paper
for increased fiber support. Due to less watering characteristics or the formation. breaks.
exchange points of the binder yarns
on the paper side, the design of Multi- MultiForm V – Dewatering Solution: Voith Paper Fabrics supplied
Form V’s warp exchange technology the new MultiForm V design with warp
gives a more uniform fabric surface com- MultiForm V’s warp exchange technology exchange technology to reduce the flow
pared to conventional SSB fabric designs. creates a uniform pore size on the paper resistance through the fabric. The im-
Fabric marking is, therefore, significantly side of the fabric. This provides an even provements in water carrying were obvi-
reduced (Figs. 4 and 5). drainage of the sheet. ous directly after the installation of the

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Fig. 5: Exchange points warp exchange

technology.

Fig. 6: Shear stability comparison of different

fabric designs.

Fig. 7: Open fabric structure for increased

dewatering capability.

5 6 12 7
Rating of X-Y shear stability
10
9
9

6 5

0
MultiForm V WeftBound B&P
SSB 2.5 layer

MultiForm V fabric on the inner layer po- some competitive designs. After trials was having some issues with bleeding
sition. Misting in the forming section was with fabrics from competitors failed and carryback).
reduced significantly. This positive result (triple-layer SSB design as well as
was observed throughout fabric life. The 2.5 layer), Voith Paper Fabrics was asked Solution: The local sales and service
customer reordered soon after fabric in- to provide an improved fabric design. team studied the issues in the mill and
stallation. was able to win a trial for the MultiForm
Solution: Due to the competitors failed V. The trial-wire was just recently in-
Henning Dippel, Production Manager triple-layer design, the customer was stalled and is already showing improve-
BM 6, Tecnokarton Mayen, Germany: hesitant to experiment with further prod- ments by way of a greatly reduced wire
“Our expectations in regards to forma- ucts. Through the efforts of a strong marking and cleaner running rolls.
tion, retention and life time were fully sales and service force, Voith Paper Fab-
reached with the new MultiForm V design rics was given permission to supply the The customer is pleased with the perfor-
from Voith Paper Fabrics. With Multi- new MultiForm VS from the MultiForm V mance so far. They have been able to
Form V we could prevent the usual high Series. The VS design was installed but speed up the machine and are now run-
fiber and water carrying in our forming was damaged after 62 days. The mill was ning about 13.2 m/min faster than normal
section that used to lead to cleaning and pleased and the second order was given with no issues.
runnability problems throughout the fab- and installation came a few months later.
ric life time.” This fabric ran for 104 days. Seven fab- The MultiForm V is yet another product
rics have been ordered since the first tri- introduced to meet today’s increased
al and the MultiForm VS is now the mill’s demands on sheet properties. Like the
Case Study 2 – standard design. PrintFlex P press fabric, these products
Formation and fabric life are specifically developed to support the
papermaker’s desire for improved paper
Problem: At a medium grade machine in Case Study 3 – and board quality.
the Southeastern US, running at 762 m/ Reduced wire marking
min and producing 1,270 tons/d, forma- The MultiForm V was designed through
tion and wire lifetime needed to be im- Problem: A southern kraft mill in the US the combined R&D efforts of Voith Paper
proved. Voith has been a 100% supplier was experiencing: Fabrics and Voith Paper. The 7 divisions
with the MultiForm GP design with good of Voith Paper share technical expertise,
performance for over seven years. How- 1. Wire marking in the sheet. state-of-the-art laboratory equipment and
ever, the mill felt compelled to go outside 2. Water and fiber carrying at high oper- pilot machines to create joint develop-
the Voith “family” and ran trials with ating speeds (their incumbent supplier ments for advanced papermaking.

2005