Die cutting machine starts a new row

Wagner Dortmund
LP 100/4/1,6
1-1174
Max. dB 81,8
Max. pressing force 100 000 kg
In use in 1962-2015.

Screen plates are used in pulp and paper industries to filter the wood fibre from residual materials. Plates are manufactured with die cutting machine. This Wagner has been in use since 1962 and is due to retire soon. Control unit has been replaced to computerized Siemens Sinumerik 20 years ago.

The steel plates needs to be oiled before pressing. The plate here is 1500mm width, 2600mm height and 4mm thick. One hole is 4,2mm in diameter and the perforator makes 16 holes at one press. It takes about 3 hours to make one plate and the perforator hits 65hits/min.

One can alter the plate thickness and the hole size. Biggest plug is 109mm in diameter and then only one hole is made at once.

Screen plate manufacturing started in Finland in 1945 because of war indemnities to Soviet Union. A.Ahlström Oy metal work shop purchased the first die cutting machines to it’s factory in Varkaus. Since then screen plate manufacturing has developed to a global business and after some corporate acquisitions the factory is now a part of Aikawa Fiber Technologies owned by Japanese Aikawa Iron Works. The production of screen plates and screen cylinders will continue with more automatized and robotized machines in Varkaus.

Video recording: Ulla Rohunen
Sound recording: Leena Ahonen
Photographer: Leena Ahonen