Paper Industry

As part of the basic materials industry, the paper industry manufactures packaging materials, hygiene papers, papers for graphic products and speciality papers. The raw material for paper production is mainly wood, which undergoes extensive chemical treatment. Chemicals and heat are used to produce pulp, which must then be bleached, mixed with additives, dewatered and dried. The processes take place in plants that must withstand difficult operating conditions. Temperatures of up to 190 °C are sometimes reached and strong alkalis or acids are used. Bleaching is carried out with the aid of oxygen, chlorine dioxide or hydrogen peroxide. These chemicals are particularly aggressive towards most metallic materials. Machines, apparatus and containers for paper production are therefore made of corrosion-resistant stainless steels.