Modern Paper Making

Source Materials

Woodyards supply the materials to make paper from both the coniferous trees (softwood) and deciduous trees (hardwood). The reason is the fibers in the softwood and hardwood provide the strength and opacity and smooth surface with the paper. Those trees are grown and harvested in product companies' or private landowners' forests. Millions of seedlings planted each year replace the ones chopped down and shipped to the paper mills.

Paper Making

The logs of wood pass through a debarker to strip the bark then into the chipper where the moving blades cut the wood into 1-inch pieces. Those pieces go to a digester in order to be pressure-cooked by a mixture of water and chemicals. Pulp forms eventually and next is washed, refined and, if necessary, bleached before the slush enters the beater. Other additives like color dyes and coatings mix with the slush and then pumps through a wire screen. Sensors from the advanced equipment monitor each stage of the process so to ensure quality control. The finished product winds into large rolls up to 30 feet in length and weighs almost 25 tons. A slitter later cuts the rolls into smaller sizes for easier handling.

Products

Paper making helps to generate numerous products for many companies throughout the world. Other paper mills make cardboard for use in boxes for shipping out goods to the various clients. Newspapers and magazines need their supply for the printing presses to send out fresh copies daily, weekly or monthly to patrons and subscribers. Envelopes and greeting cards require paper to celebrate significant moments in customers' lives. Paper bags help to carry groceries or someone's lunch.

References

• Paper Making Process
• Papermaking Facts