Paraibuna automates its size press feeding with a 2000 kg/h enzymatic starch system

Surface application optimization has become a non-negotiable factor for corrugated paper manufacturers operating with recycled fibers. In this context, the Brazilian company Paraibuna Embalagens has taken a decisive technical step by integrating a new automated enzymatic starch preparation system, specifically designed to feed the size press of its paper machine.

This industrial upgrade allows the mill to process approximately 2,000 kilograms per hour of native starch. The transition to an on-site enzymatic conversion model represents a profound operational shift away from reliance on higher-cost modified starches, granting the facility much stricter rheological control over the fluids applied to the paper web.

Viscosity control and operational stability

Surface treatment at the size press is critical to consolidating the physical-mechanical properties of the paper, especially in demanding grades such as the recycled-based White Top Liner (WTL) marketed by the company. By applying starch to both sides of the sheet, pores are sealed and key values such as CMT and RCT are increased, which are fundamental for the performance of corrugated cardboard in the supply chain.

The new automated system eliminates the variations inherent in manual or semi-automatic preparation. The technical advantages of this installation include:

• Continuous conversion: Transformation of native starch using enzymes under controlled thermal parameters.
• Rheological stability: Maintenance of constant viscosity, preventing fluctuations in the application profile on the paper.
• Raw material efficiency: Reduction of specific starch consumption by optimizing surface retention.

Impact on packaging competitiveness

For a paper industry facing tight margins and a growing demand for high-performance packaging, mastering wet-end and size press chemistry is vital. The capacity to process 2,000 kg/h ensures that the paper machine operates without dosing bottlenecks, maintaining production speed even in heavy basis weights that demand a higher volume of binders.

With this automation, Paraibuna Embalagens strengthens its technological infrastructure in Brazil, ensuring that every ton of recycled paper leaving its winders meets the surface strength standards demanded by the most advanced corrugated board converters in the Latin American market.