Thimm further expanded its corrugated board plant in Rhineland-Palatinate with an extensive extension of the corrugated board plant and the installation of a new transport system.
In Alzey, for example, production of F-flute was started for the first time at a German Thimm site. Additional investments in process automation are planned for the fourth quarter of 2021.
As a major part of the Alzey investment package, conversion work on the corrugator (corrugator) began in May: The previous unit was replaced by the newer corrugating roll module "Modul Facer®" from BHS Corrugated. The maximum speed for the production of corrugated board could thus be increased to 350 metres per minute. The modernisation enables Thimm to produce F-flute for the first time in Germany. F-flute is often used in packaging and display production as a substitute for solid board, aluminium or plastic. In addition, the use of mini-flute results in effective logistical and cost advantages compared to other flute types. The investment will also secure the supply of E, F, B, C and T flutes, as well as their combinations as double flutes, to the Thimm factories close to the site. For example, the single-sided mini-flute is produced in Alzey for lamination or direct offset printing in the Wörrstadt plant 17 km away. In addition, various peripheral and conversion measures as well as machine upgrades were carried out. The modernisation took place during ongoing operation. In the autumn the performance part of the corrugator will be further expanded by rebuilding the dry end and steam system.
In addition, another part of the investment package was implemented in Alzey in the second quarter: New conveyor belts and chain conveyors from Dücker conveyor systems now form the new buffer line for corrugated board blanks at the corrugator. The significant increase in capacity at the corrugator means that separate intermediate storage will no longer be necessary in future.
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