Making paper in a TMP process
How is paper produced? Holmen's paper is produced in a thermo-mechanical pulping process, (TMP). Learn more about paper production in this step-by-step guide with infographics and videos.
Making high-quality, sustainable paper in an efficient TMP process
Thermo-mechanical pulping, or TMP, is a high-yield, energy- and resource-efficient technology for splitting larger wood chips into individual papermaking fibres. These fibres are then laid out in a very thin sheet on the paper machine, to produce high-quality paper with high bulk, strength and brightness properties to perfectly meet the needs of paper users.
The TMP process is resource efficient in two ways. First, it provides an extremely high yield of around 97%, meaning of the original woodchips going into the process 97% come out as usable paper fibres. This is extremely high compared to many other wood pulping processes.
Second, although the TMP process requires high electrical energy input to accomplish the fibre splitting or refining step, the majority of that energy is recovered as heat.
This valuable thermal energy is then recycled numerous times, both upstream for preheating of the woodchips, as well as for drying of the paper on the paper machine. It can be recovered once again for heating of ambient air in the production plants and offices.
Quite often the steam you see coming out of a paper mill is 100% water vapour, from which all the useful thermal energy value has been extracted.
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The papermaking process
Step 1: From logs to chips
The pulpwood enters the mill and is washed, debarked, cut and chipped before moving on to the pulping step.
From logs to chipsStep 2: From chips to pulp
The wood chips are steamed, refined, relaxed and bleached before entering the paper machine.
From chips to pulpStep 3: From pulp to paper
The paper pulp enters the paper machine and exits as a finished sheet of paper after just 15 seconds.
From pulp to paper