PAPER TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL - Advanced TAD technology for premium tissue grades (ATAD) Softer on the environment, lighter on energy, and stronger in performance. Paul Richards, Senior Technology Manager, Tissue, and Grade Owner for TAD & Hybrid Technologies, ANDRITZ - Paper Technology International 2026 - Book - Page 122

PAPER TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL - Advanced TAD technology for premium tissue grades (ATAD) Softer on the environment, lighter on energy, and stronger in performance. Paul Richards, Senior Technology Manager, Tissue, and Grade Owner for TAD & Hybrid Technologies, ANDRITZ

PAPERTECHNOLOGYINTERNATIONAL
Energy ef昀椀ciency has caused producers and chemical
suppliers to cooperate and drive the exit solids from the TAD
process downwards. Drying beyond the 65-70% level is more
energy demanding using through-drying, but more ef昀椀cient when
using high velocity impingement drying.
“The ATAD concept is straightforward in theory: remove as
much water as possible from the sheet before it reaches the 昀椀rst
TAD drum. Although TAD technology has been around for over
30 years, the pre-TAD section dewatering has long represented a
process limitation, with only one proprietary process from a major
producer demonstrating a viable solution. We set out to develop an
alternative that leverages ANDRITZ’s deep expertise in both tissue
and broader paper industry technologies.”
HOW DOES THE ATAD CONCEPT WORK?
“The idea was to go against the grain with regard to
traditional TAD manufacturing,” continues Richards. “Conventional
thinking tells us that tissue from the TAD process is never pressed.
With ATAD we are challenging that perception. Our aim is to offer
controlled pressing of the TAD sheet whilst it is protected by the TAD
fabric.”
The ATAD process involves using a felted suction roll around
which the TAD sheet passes. This felt is more akin to a press felt
from the paper process and is softer and drier than conventional
tissue-making felts. As the sheet wraps the suction zone, a hood
with a combination of steam shower and hot air is located over the
zone, using the temperature to help dewater the system. At the point
just before the sheet leaves the suction zone, a press is used to
create additional dewatering.
“Because the sheet is already molded into the TAD fabric
at this time, there is a very limited impact of the pressing on the
sheet structure, but the forced contact of sheet to felt increases the
water removal and increases our sheet solids ahead of the 昀椀rst TAD
drum,” says Richards. “If you consider the amount of water in the
sheet at this point, even a small reduction in that water content is
signi昀椀cant when it comes to the thermal energy needed for drying.
Imagine now that we can achieve a 5 or 6% solids increase, and
suddenly we are looking at very signi昀椀cant energy bene昀椀ts.”
Image 2: Franz Harrer, Director Global R&D and Pilot Plant
Operations Paper & Tissue, ANDRITZ.
Image 3: PrimeLineTAD machine: with brand-new ATAD
technology, signi昀椀cant energy savings are achievable.
ENERGY AND EMISSIONS REDUCTION, ALONG WITH TOP
QUALITY RESULTS
The dedicated pilot machine in Graz is set up to be very
昀氀exible for various concepts. Therefore, ANDRITZ has extensively
tested the ATAD concept regarding energy consumption against
different TAD concepts available on the market. Boris Jancic,
ANDRITZ’s Head of Operation Tissue Pilot Plant, explains, “The
results of ATAD have been remarkable. Depending on the grades
produced (bathroom or towel tissue), the energy savings based on
steam, gas, and electrical from vacuum pumps and air system fans
were measured between 6 and 16% reduced consumption.
“The 5 or 6% pre-TAD solids increase, which means solids
above 30% ahead of TAD 1 drum, are not a dream, but on our pilot
machine, repeatable and proven results. These results have been
achieved after three years of intensive R&D activities and concept
improvements. Additionally, trial results con昀椀rmed that further solids
improvements are possible but testing on our pilot machine was
limited by some mechanical components.”
To address concerns that the pressing of the paper sheet
could have a negative impact on sheet quality, especially caliper,
ANDRITZ carried out extensive laboratory work on the quality of
the products produced with the ATAD concept. Jancic adds, “Final
analyses showed that with the ATAD paper samples produced were
equally comparable with samples produced using standard TAD
processes.”
On the sustainability factors of ATAD, Franz Harrer, Director
Global R&D and Pilot Plant Operations at ANDRITZ Paper & Tissue
says, “CO₂ emissions in TAD are largely tied to gas consumption
for heating the hot air that evaporates water in the TAD section.
By removing more water mechanically upfront, less evaporation is
needed, directly lowering emissions generated from use of fossil
fuels. Depending on the split between gas and electricity used for
drying, CO2 reductions of up to 15% or more are achievable. We’re
also advancing use of electri昀椀cation and heat recovery options to
improve this further.”
“The strength of ATAD is its simplicity – a smartly-engineered, robust concept that can enhance new
machines and can be applied to existing lines. It’s a practical step forward using low-risk and industryproven concepts to help tissue producers boost ef昀椀ciency while staying true to premium product quality.”
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