Valmet has secured another order for a complete coated board production line from an established Asian customer, extending a relationship that already includes previous paper and board machine deliveries. The new installation is scheduled to start production in 2029.
The Finnish engineering group will supply equipment from stock preparation through the board machine to reel and winding operations. Automation, digital services, paper machine clothing, spare parts and lifecycle support are also included in the delivery.
Valmet disclosed the order on 9 November 2026, but recorded it in orders received for the third quarter. The customer has not been named, and the company has not published the order value, production location, line width, running speed or annual capacity.
The new line will support production of premium-quality coated board, a material used in packaging and other converted products where the surface and mechanical properties of the sheet must meet defined requirements. Valmet says the project follows a concept similar to a separate board line it announced earlier in 2026.
That similarity allows the equipment supplier and customer to draw on experience from previous projects. It does not establish that the new installation has the same manufacturing specification, production capacity or site as the earlier delivery, because those details have not been disclosed.
Board making begins with the preparation of a fibre suspension. Depending on the grade and feedstock, this can involve fibre treatment, cleaning, screening and blending before material is fed into the continuous manufacturing process. Feedstock preparation influences the properties of the sheet formed later in the line.
Fibres suspended in water are delivered to a headbox, which distributes the mixture across the forming section. The consistency and distribution of material at this stage influence basis weight and other properties across the full width of the finished board.
The forming section removes part of the water while establishing the initial sheet structure. Further water is removed through mechanical pressing, allowing the material to progress towards the dryer section at a lower moisture content.
Mechanical dewatering is closely connected to energy use. Water that can be removed through pressing does not subsequently need to be evaporated using thermal energy. However, excessive pressing or poorly controlled sheet conditions can affect material properties and process stability, so the stages must be balanced.
During drying, the sheet passes through equipment designed to reduce its moisture content to the level required for further processing. Moisture distribution, operating temperature and sheet tension must be controlled to maintain a stable web at production speed.
Coated board then undergoes surface treatment to achieve the characteristics needed for the intended end product. Coating systems can be used to adjust surface smoothness, appearance and printability, while their application and drying conditions have to remain compatible with the underlying sheet.
Different board grades place different demands on stiffness, surface quality and folding behaviour. Material intended for packaging must also withstand handling and converting operations without excessive damage or defects. Valmet has not specified the exact coated board grades the customer will manufacture.
The order covers machinery through to the reel and winders, making downstream sheet handling part of the same production programme. Winding equipment must control tension and reel formation so the product can be transferred for storage or further conversion without introducing avoidable defects.
A line extending from stock preparation to finished reel brings together operations with different control requirements. Changes to fibre properties, machine speed or moisture levels can affect several downstream stages, requiring coordinated adjustments rather than isolated optimisation of individual machines.
Valmet will provide automation and digital services as part of the delivery. Such systems can support process measurement, operating control and the monitoring of production conditions, although the company has not identified the specific control hardware or software modules ordered by this customer.
The automation package will sit alongside equipment engineering and start-up work. Commissioning a new board line requires each process stage to operate within its intended range before the overall production system can achieve stable output at the quality levels required by the customer.
Paper machine clothing will also be supplied. Forming and press fabrics interact directly with the moving sheet and contribute to water removal and web handling. Their properties and condition affect machine performance, making regular inspection and replacement part of long-term operation.
Spare parts and lifecycle services extend the relationship beyond installation. They provide a means of supporting equipment maintenance, changes to operating requirements and the replacement of components whose performance deteriorates through service.
Valmet’s sales director for China and Asia Pacific within Packaging and Paper Machines, Markus Veikkola, identified experience from earlier joint projects as a basis for achieving the customer’s production and quality objectives. The company has not assigned a quantified improvement in energy consumption, yield or throughput to this new line.
The planned installation will require manufacturing, delivery, assembly and testing before the customer’s operators can establish the process conditions for commercial board production. Equipment acceptance and the development of stable operating routines will influence when the line begins sustained output.
Valmet expects start-up in 2029. The order expands its future machinery delivery programme, while the customer’s ultimate production volume and the technical performance of the new line remain to be established through commissioning and operation.
