With a growing footprint in the Indian paper industry, Bellmer continues to deepen its engagement through rebuild-focused projects, local manufacturing, and advanced process technologies. At Paperex 2025, the company marked its first participation with an independent booth, showcasing both paper and separation technologies supported by experts from Germany, Finland, and India. In an exclusive interview with Paper Mart, Mr. Johannes Kaiser, Director of Capital Sales, Bellmer, discusses the company’s core strength in paper machine rebuilds, key Indian projects such as the PM4 rebuild at Kuantum Papers, expansion of locally manufactured filmsizers, and how Bellmer is addressing industry challenges around energy efficiency, automation, and AI-driven performance optimization.
Paper Mart: Please introduce yourself, your role in the company, and how has the experience in India been so far?
Johannes Kaiser: My name is Johannes Kaiser. I work with Bellmer in Germany and am responsible for sales of our equipment, mainly shoe presses and calendars, but also other components. I have been traveling to India for the last 15 years and have visited many customers and projects. We have been quite successful in India, first with Gepcon and now with Bellmer.
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PM: What are you displaying at Paperex 2025, and how has your experience been so far?
JK: This is the first time Bellmer is participating at Paperex with its own booth. In earlier editions, we exhibited together with our agent JK. This year, we have experts from Germany, Finland, and India representing different departments of Bellmer. We are showcasing both paper technology and separation technology, and we are proud to present a stronger and more direct market presence. The experience so far has been very positive, especially as it reflects our growing customer base and project activity.
PM: What is Bellmer’s core focus in the Indian market?
JK: Our core competence in India are rebuild projects. This includes rebuilds of wire sections with headboxes and top formers, press section rebuilds with shoe presses, and increasingly, locally made filmsizers, particularly for writing and printing paper machines.
We are also strengthening our manufacturing presence in India. Until now, we were producing calendars locally, and since last year, we have started producing filmsizers in India as well.
PM: Can you share details of recent or ongoing projects in India?
JK: One of our most important projects this year has been the rebuild of PM4 at Kuantum Papers Ltd. This was a comprehensive rebuild that included a new shoe press, a complete press section, drying section, rebuilt filmsizer, and calendar. The goal was to improve productivity, reduce breaks, and increase dryness and overall efficiency. All Bellmer subsidiaries were involved, with a significant part of the work carried out by our local Bellmer India team.
We are also strengthening our manufacturing presence in India. Until now, we were producing calendars locally, and since last year, we have started producing filmsizers in India as well. One locally manufactured filmsizer was supplied to Kuantum Papers Ltd., another will be installed at Satia Industries Ltd., and additional units are planned for Kuantum Papers on other machines. We also have around four more projects scheduled to start in the coming months in India.
PM: How does Bellmer’s project approach differ globally compared to India?
JK: In India, projects are largely focused on rebuilds, especially for writing and printing paper machines. Globally, Bellmer is increasingly moving toward complete line supplies, where we deliver entire machines from headbox to winder. This applies to both European and Asian markets and represents a broader scope compared to partial rebuild projects.
PM: What does the acquisition of Cellwood Machinery AB mean for Bellmer?
JK: We are very happy with the acquisition of Cellwood Machinery AB. It opens up much more potential in terms of markets and customers. Cellwood has excellent products, and both teams are now working on strengthening cooperation. In India, this also involves combining the presence of two agents or units, and this integration process is currently ongoing.
This is the first time Bellmer is participating at Paperex with its own booth. In earlier editions, we exhibited together with our agent JK.
PM: What are the major trends and challenges you see in the paper industry today?
JK: The main challenges are related to operating costs. Customers are consistently asking how to reduce energy consumption, lower operating costs, reduce the number of operators on the machine floor, and integrate AI into their processes. These areas are the main focus of our current technology development.
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PM: How is Bellmer addressing automation and AI in paper machines?
JK: Today, Bellmer already supplies not only hardware and machinery but also automation and control systems, whether through our own PLC solutions or integration with customer DCS systems. Going forward, we plan to complement this with our own AI-based data analytics software. This will help customers save energy, improve performance, and achieve more optimal machine runnability.
Customers are consistently asking how to reduce energy consumption, lower operating costs, reduce the number of operators on the machine floor, and integrate AI into their processes.
