The Papermaking process begins with the debarking of the logs.  The logs are then sent through a series of chippers equipped with whirling blades, which break them down into smaller and smaller pieces. 

The tiny fragments are then pressure cooked with chemicals in a large vat called a digester to separate the fibers.  At this point, recovered fibers are often added to the pulp.

In the final stages of preparation, the wood pulp is cleaned, refined, bleached, and run through a series of beaters until it is a fine slush.  At this point, fillers and other additives can be mixed in.  When preparation is complete, the slush is pumped onto a fast-moving wire screen where it will start to become a continuous sheet of paper.

As the slush travels down the screen, excess water is drained away, leaving a crude paper sheet called web.  The web is then squeezed between rollers to remove remaining water and ensure uniform thickness and smoothness.  Finally, the web is run through a series of heated rollers to remove any remaining water. 

The finished paper is spooled onto "parent rolls" which can be 30 feet wide and weigh 25 tons.  The parent rolls are run through a machine called a slitter which cuts them into smaller, more manageable rolls. 

Now, the paper is ready to be shipped for use by a variety of businesses for products we all use everyday.

Kraft and Sulfite Process    

Pulping Operations and Methodologies

Do you ever wonder about the way Paper is made?  Are there different methods for making paper?  What kind of wood is used?

Find the answer to these questions and more: 

Modern Pulp and Paper Operations

Integrated Operations

Chemical Pulping

Dissolving Pulp

Paper Definitions