FROM WOOD From wood to paper TO PAPER

Here are the key steps in the paper making process. For more information email us on info@modopapers.com.
1. Preparing the wood Bark is removed from the logs in large, rotating drums and then made into wood chips ready for pulping. 3. Preparing the pulp After making the pulp, it is prepared for the paper machine. This involves ensuring the mix of fibres is correct, refining the pulp, mixing in additives like fillers and chemicals and finally cleaning. 6. Creating the right surface Sizing agent solution (usually starch) is added to the paper on the size press. The paper is sized by roller pressure in the calendaring section size press. This optimises the printing surface. Sometimes additional treatments are made (off machine), e.g. coating and / or super-calendaring.

2. How is the pulp made? The pulping process breaks down wood chips into usable fibres and waste products. Mechanical pulping uses a grinding process to separate the fibres and is mainly used for low cost, short life products like newspapers. Chemical pulpingcooks the chips to separate the fibres and is used mainly for high quality products like Modo Papers.

4. Sheet formation The pulp slurry (pulp, chemicals and water) is sent on a wire, or most commonly between 2 wires. The fibres are positioned due to the speed difference between the pulp flow and wire(s).

7. Making the rolls of paper The finished paper is wound into jumbo reels, then split into smaller customer reels. The individual reels are finished with a protective wrapper for transport and storage.

5. Removing the water At the start of the process the pulp slurry is approximately 98% water. The water is removed by three methods: suction, pressure on the paper sheet and heat.