New Voith MegaDrive Rubber Wire Drive Roll Improves Traction and Extends Runtimes

MegaDrive shows up to 30 per cent lower abrasion compared to standard cover supports significantly extended runtimes and longer service life combines high wear resistance with reliable traction properties.

Voith launches MegaDrive, a next-generation rubber wire drive roll cover designed to improve traction, reduce wear and minimise maintenance effort in the forming section of paper and board machines.

Wire drive rolls transfer drive power to the fabric at the wet end of the paper production line. They operate at high, variable speeds under harsh, abrasive conditions. Their role is to ensure that the wire can keep moving at the correct speed and tension as the paper is formed. Stable contact and reliable traction between the roll cover and forming fabric are essential to prevent slippage, maintain consistent sheet formation and ensure machine runability.

Wire drive roll covers are exposed to abrasive conditions and constant high mechanical loads. Over time, standard covers lose their properties. As they become hardened and develop surface cracks, the risk of traction loss, sheet defects, unplanned downtimes and premature roll changes increases.

Hard-wearing, customisable rubber drive roll cover
MegaDrive wire drive roll cover is made from a hard-wearing yet flexible rubber compound that allows the surface profile to be tailored to individual operating conditions. The result is a durable cover for paper mills that is resistant to hardening, surface cracking and loss of properties even during extended runtimes in harsh forming section conditions.

As MegaDrive is engineered to withstand high mechanical loads. Even in harsh, wet conditions and at variable speeds and under fluctuating temperatures, the new cover design maintains consistent grip and traction on the forming fabric for longer.

Individual solutions for longer runtimes and less maintenance effort
MegaDrive brings together the key performance features that make a measurable difference to papermakers and board manufacturers: reliable traction, high wear resistance and stable performance over extended runtimes.

As part of a full-service package, Voith engineers can tailor a coordinated solution for the forming section that combines MegaDrive with the most appropriate Voith forming fabric for the type of machine, operating speeds, furnish properties and production goals.

MegaDrive gives papermakers and board producers a more durable roll cover for the demanding wet end. This next-generation rubber wire drive roll cover provides stable traction for longer, which helps mills extend runtimes and reduce maintenance effort significantly. When we combine MegaDrive with our forming fabrics, we can improve runnability in the forming section – which means the production line always gets off to a great start.

Ralf Moser, Global Product Manager Roll Covers at Voith Paper

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. Founded in 1867, Voith today has around 21,000 employees, sales of EUR4.8 billion and locations in over 60 countries worldwide and thus is 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.