Paper Moisture Sensor

Innovative Moisture Sensing for the Paper Industry

The wood used in paper making often comes into the manufacturing process with a moisture content of above 60% . Without the use of intelligent moisture meters at several points in the manufacturing process, the likelihood of clogged equipment, loss of product, and inefficient processes is extremely high.

When dealing with such high moisture content in the raw material used to create the end product, care must be taken to ensure the process is properly controlled. With near infrared (NIR) sensors, instant moisture results display without waiting for time consuming lab results, allowing more quick and accurate measurement of what’s happening on the manufacturing line in real-time. And in the paper industry, where high moisture content demands careful observation, that real-time feedback is paramount to an operation’s success.

If the web is too wet, it is very fragile and could break, causing a shutdown in process to clean all machinery, or putting undue stress on drying cylinders.

The temperature of these cylinders must be appropriate to reduce the moisture content from the web’s entering 20-30% to the necessary percentage to meet quality control standards (typically, 5-7% for most paper). Utilizing NIR meters at this point in the process allows for accurate and instantaneous, non-destructive measurement. The data from these real-time measurements can be utilized through our networked sensors to make automatic adjustments without operator control to optimize the process and increase final product quality as well as throughput.