Voith’s New C-bar Vertecs Screen Basket Improves Sticky Separation Efficiency by up to 50 Percent and Significantly Increases Throughput         

• At least 50 percent higher sticky removing efficiency at same throughput compared to existing solutions on the market
• Increased screening throughput by at least 20 percent, while retaining or even improving screening efficiency 
• Over 20 percent screening energy savings
• Improved operational reliability and extended plugging limit at lower differential pressure

Paper manufacturers now have access to optimised screening technology in stock preparation. Full-line supplier Voith has developed the C-bar Vertecs, a new screen basket that sets new standards in terms of separation efficiency, throughput, energy efficiency and operational reliability. The technology is already being used successfully at heinzelpaper in Laakirchen, Austria.

The C-bar Vertecs went into operation there as part of a trial comparison. Following installation and several hours of operation, Oliver Hunstein, responsible for process and plant technology at heinzelpaper, drew initial conclusions, “Compared to all other screening profiles that we’ve used so far, sticky removal has on average significantly improved. Losses in fine screening have been minimised, enabling us to achieve a higher yield.”

Compared to all other screening profiles that we’ve used so far, sticky removal has on average significantly improved. Losses in fine screening have been minimised, enabling us to achieve a higher yield.

Oliver Hunstein, responsible for process and plant technology at heinzelpaper

Previously, when choosing the right basket, paper manufacturers had to decide whether to focus on better pulp quality, higher throughput or increased operational reliability. With the C-bar Vertecs, these trade-offs are no longer necessary. A new profile geometry has made this possible: Regardless of which performance aspect paper manufacturers prioritise, C-bar Vertecs outperforms all previously known solutions in all relevant parameters. Depending on the individual focus, production volume can be increased by at least 20 percent, and sticky and dirt spot separation can be improved by up to 50 percent.

“We have extended the operating window for fine screening and reduced the vulnerability of the screens to plugging. This means that the screening process can now also handle more difficult-to-screen raw materials with a higher thickening factor in a stable manner,” reported Hunstein.

At the same time, the specific energy consumption per ton is reduced. With a throughput increase of 25 percent, for example, the rotor speed remains unaffected, while the pressure difference at the screen with installed C-bar Vertecs is at a lower level. This allows energy savings of over 20 percent to be achieved without any problems.

The C-bar Vertecs is based on proven Voith C-bar technology, known in the paper industry for over 35 years as the leading solution for slot screen baskets. It is characterised by an overlapping profile with a constant and stable slot width, which enables particularly consistent screening results over the entire service life.

The C-bar Vertecs screen basket is also being used by other paper manufacturers in the EMEA and North America regions. It is suitable for different types of recovered paper and is already being utilised in a wide variety of process stages such as coarse screening, fractionation, fine screening and reject screening. “In addition, the C-bar Vertecs can be installed in Voith’s BlueLine screens as well as older Voith machine generations and third-party machines,” said Axel Dreyer, Global Product Manager Screening Wear Parts at Voith Paper.

About heinzelpaper
The heinzelpaper site combines the plants in Laakirchen and Steyrermühl in Upper Austria, which are only a few kilometers apart. As part of the Heinzel Group, heinzelpaper stands for a strong combination of tradition, innovation and sustainability in paper production.

The Laakirchen plant specialises in the production of environmentally friendly, lightweight corrugated base papers based on recycled paper for the European market. These are produced on the paper machine PM10 – and, from April 2025, on the new PM11.

At the Steyrermühl plant, the paper machine PM6, which belongs to the group’s sister company heinzelpöls, produces high-quality kraft papers that cover a wide range of packaging and specialty papers for a variety of customer requirements.

The two traditional plants were founded in 1867 and 1868, respectively, and today employ a total of around 700 people at the heinzelpaper site.

About the Heinzel Group
The Heinzel Group produces market pulp and packaging paper at three locations in Europe and trades pulp, paper, recovered paper and packaging solutions worldwide. With its production companies heinzelpöls, heinzelpaper and Estonian Cell, the Heinzel Group is one of the most important pulp and paper producers in Central and Eastern Europe. The three trading companies of the Heinzel Group – heinzelsales, Europapier and Bunzl&Biach – respond flexibly to a wide range of customer needs internationally. The Heinzel Group’s growth success is based on entrepreneurial spirit and a focus on long-term partnerships. Sustainability is at the heart of all its activities.

About the Voith Group
The Voith Group is a global technology company. With its broad portfolio of systems, products, services and digital applications, Voith sets standards in the markets of energy, paper, raw materials and transport & automotive. Founded in 1867, the company today has around 22,000 employees, sales of EUR5.2 billion and locations in over 60 countries worldwide and is thus one of the larger family-owned companies in Europe.

The Group Division Voith Paper is part of the Voith Group. As the full-line supplier to the paper industry, it provides the largest range of technologies, services and products on the market and offers paper manufacturers holistic solutions from one source. The company’s continuous stream of innovations facilitates resource-conserving production and helps customers minimise their carbon footprint. With its leading automation products and digitalisation solutions from the Papermaking 4.0 portfolio, Voith offers its customers state-of-the-art digital technologies to improve plant availability and efficiency for all sections of the production process.