Technology boost for Spinnova
A specialist developer of automation technology for the pulp and paper industry, Valmet, is to work with Spinnova to deliver processing equipment to customers of the cellulosic fibre company.
Spinnova has developed a technique, based on fibre suspension flows, to make textile fibres from micro-fibrillated cellulose from paper-grade wood pulp. The technique involves mechanically pulping the fibres and controlling the flow in such a way as to form a yarn without using any complex chemical processes.
It has said for a long time that its technology is highly scalable and that partner companies would be able to put systems in place to produce the fibres at their own sites.
Valmet has already supplied drying technology for Woodspin’s factory, a joint venture between Spinnova and Brazilian wood-pulp group Suzano. Spinnova and Valmet will continue to work together to increase the competitiveness of fibre production technology; they have said this will lower the capital and operational costs of fibre production.
“Working with Valmet will further accelerate our path to reach our technology goals and cost-competitiveness targets,” said Spinnova chief executive, Tuomas Oijala. He added that this development could also open up a new portfolio of potential customers.
For his part, the president of Valmet’s paper division, Petri Rasinmäki, said the automation technology provider was a supporter of converting renewable resources into sustainable results and aimed to use its expertise to play “a strong role in the revolution of the textile industry”.
