Paper Machine Clothing for the Board Industry
Board machine dryer sections operate under conditions that are uniquely challenging for dryer fabrics. Basis weights of 200-600 g/m² — the highest in the paper industry — require massive evaporation loads and correspondingly high drying capacity. Multi-ply construction (duplex, triplex, folding boxboard) means the sheet enters the dryer section at higher moisture content than single-ply grades, further increasing the evaporation demand on the first dryer sections. Board machines typically run at moderate speeds (300-800 m/min) but with very high fabric tension to maintain sheet stability through the long dryer sections characteristic of board production (often 40-80 dryer cylinders). The combination of high tension, high temperature (150-170°C), and long fabric loops (80-150 meters for large board machines) creates sustained mechanical stress that accelerates fabric wear, seam fatigue, and caliper loss. For coated board grades, fabric surface characteristics directly influence coating holdout and final print quality.
The Challenge You're Facing
Board machine dryer sections operate under conditions that are uniquely challenging for dryer fabrics. Basis weights of 200-600 g/m² — the highest in the paper industry — require massive evaporation loads and correspondingly high drying capacity. Multi-ply construction (duplex, triplex, folding boxboard) means the sheet enters the dryer section at higher moisture content than single-ply grades, further increasing the evaporation demand on the first dryer sections. Board machines typically run at moderate speeds (300-800 m/min) but with very high fabric tension to maintain sheet stability through the long dryer sections characteristic of board production (often 40-80 dryer cylinders). The combination of high tension, high temperature (150-170°C), and long fabric loops (80-150 meters for large board machines) creates sustained mechanical stress that accelerates fabric wear, seam fatigue, and caliper loss. For coated board grades, fabric surface characteristics directly influence coating holdout and final print quality.
Hidden Costs
Downtime, energy waste, and sheet defects from suboptimal fabricsEfficiency Loss
Generic solutions don't match your specific operating conditionsDecision Delay
Procurement cycles stretch without engineering-grade selection guidancePolyester Dryer Fabric — Engineered for Your Application
PAPTEX board-grade dryer fabrics are engineered for the sustained high-tension, long-loop conditions of board machine dryer sections. The flat yarn construction is optimized for maximum tensile strength (≥ 80 kN/m warp) with low elongation under sustained load — critical for maintaining dimensional stability on loops exceeding 100 meters. Air permeability is specified in the 500-650 CFM range to handle the high evaporation loads of heavyweight board, calculated from your machine parameters (steam pressure, hood configuration, section-specific moisture content). For the first dryer sections where the sheet enters at 55-65% moisture, we recommend higher CFM (600-650) to maximize initial evaporation rate. For later sections where the sheet is drier and lighter, lower CFM (450-550) maintains sheet contact and prevents flutter. For coated board grades (folding boxboard, white top liner, coated duplex), the fabric surface is finished to a finer profile to prevent fabric marking that would show through the coating layer.
Key Benefits
≥ 80 kN/m warp tensile strength — maintains dimensional stability on board machine loops up to 150 m
Section-specific CFM specification — high CFM for wet-end sections, lower CFM for dry-end stability
Low-elongation flat yarn construction — minimal stretch under sustained high-tension board operation
Fine surface profile for coated board grades — prevents fabric marking on printable top plies
Epoxy-reinforced edges standard — withstands the elevated edge wear of long-loop board machines
100% Polyester (PET) Monofilament
400 – 1,200 m/min
6 – 14 months (varies by paper grade and operating conditions)
12 – 400 g/m²
Key Technical Specifications
Core parameters for Polyester Dryer Fabric. See the product decision page for complete specifications.
| Material | 100% Polyester (PET) Monofilament |
| Construction | Flat yarn, multi-shed weave |
| Air Permeability | 350 – 650 CFM (at 125 Pa, ISO 9237) |
| Continuous Operating Temperature | Up to 180°C |
| Peak Temperature | 200°C (≤ 15 minutes) |
| Tensile Strength (Warp) | ≥ 80 kN/m |
| Tensile Strength (Weft) | ≥ 45 kN/m |
| Elongation at Break (Warp) | ≤ 2.5% at 80 kN/m |
Compatible Machine Brands
Why PAPTEX
Board machines represent a significant capital investment, and dryer fabric performance directly affects the return on that investment. A fabric change on a board machine typically requires 6-12 hours of downtime — more than on tissue or packaging machines due to the longer fabric loops and more complex threading paths. PAPTEX board-grade fabrics minimize the frequency of these change-outs by delivering consistent 10-16 month service life through higher tensile specifications, section-specific CFM optimization, and reinforced edge construction. Compared to generic "one-spec-for-all-positions" suppliers, the position-specific engineering approach typically extends service life by 20-30% on board machines.
vs Competitors
- ▸Albany International: Albany: publicly traded (NYSE: AIN), larger R&D budget. PAPTEX: factory-direct supply chain. No distributor margin. Same PET monofilament grade (ISO 9001 certified). Custom-manufactured per order — no stock fabric compromise on dimensions. Direct engineer communication from inquiry to delivery.
- ▸AstenJohnson: AstenJohnson: vertically integrated monofilament production. PAPTEX: sources virgin PET monofilament from certified suppliers. Caliper tolerance ± 0.05 mm vs industry typical ± 0.10 mm. Delivery 15–25 days vs 30–45 day industry average. Single-piece orders accepted.
- ▸Heimbach: Heimbach: German engineering, strong European service network. PAPTEX: equivalent ISO 9001 quality system. PTFE coating applied in-house during manufacturing — no post-treatment required. 6-language technical support. 120,000 m² factory with TEXO (Sweden) and JAGER (Germany) production lines.
In-House Manufacturing
120,000 m² factory, 500+ employees. Every step in-house — no outsourcing.Engineered to Your Machine
38+ senior engineers custom-design to your machine brand, model, and speed. Not off-the-shelf.Triple ISO Certified
ISO 9001 Quality · ISO 14001 Environmental · ISO 45001 Safety. 29+ patents.Global Support
Serving 30+ countries. Engineer response within 24 hours for technical inquiries.Common Questions About This Solution
Engineering answers to the most common pre-purchase questions
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Get Board Machine Dryer Fabric Specification
Send us your board machine parameters (brand, model, number of dryer cylinders, grades produced, basis weight range, coating applications). Our application engineer responds within 24 hours with section-specific fabric recommendations and competitive quotation.