Voith, together with its partners from industry and research, recently launched FOREST, a new research project aimed at developing a comprehensive digital map for papermaking processes. The project team is now working to define the requirements and interfaces for the framework and derive a requirements catalog.
Jul 20, 2023
Voith has launched a new research project called FOREST together with partners from industry and research. FOREST stands for “Framework for Resource, Energy, Sustainability Treatment” in paper production.The project aims to develop a fully comprehensive digital map for papermaking processes that can capture energy and material flows, as well as CO2 flows and footprints, down to the sub-process and sub-product level. The digital framework identifies multiple optimization opportunities that promote a targeted acceleration of the paper industry’s transformation toward climate neutrality. The project involves cooperation between Voith and Modellfabrik Papier gGmbH, the Institute of Textile Technology at RWTH Aachen University (ITA), the NOWUM-Energy Institute at FH-Aachen University of Applied Sciences, the Chair of Wood Technology and Fiber Materials Technology at TU Dresden, the Paper Technology Foundation (PTS), ABB AG and associated partners such as Felix Schoeller GmbH & Co. KG, Sappi Ehingen GmbH, Schoellershammer GmbH and WEPA Group.
Also Read: Velvet CARE to Establish Third Paper Machine in Five Years, Part of USD 91 Million Investment Project
By visualizing the actual state of the production facilities, all stakeholders gain a deeper understanding of the processes. In particular, the innovative solution makes it possible to identify plant areas with high optimization potential during ongoing operation using current data. After the first kick-off meeting, the project team is now working to define the requirements and interfaces for the framework and derive a requirements catalog. In addition to a physical basic model, this framework also includes specific, more detailed modeling of individual sub-processes, which are also being developed by Voith as part of the project. In the next step, Voith will test the digital framework together with the other research partners on various pilot installations.
