Since 1991, Cumulus Netherlands has been at the forefront of humidification and water treatment in the packaging industry. Not only is this essential for production processes, it also ensures sustainable operations. This is also demonstrated by our installation at Tembo Paper Straws B.V.
Cumulus has been working in various sectors for many years, including within the packaging industry. According to Melten Altena, Manager Sales & Marketing, Cumulus has managed to maintain this position both in the Netherlands and worldwide. 'We have years of experience with humidification and water treatment in the packaging industry. As a result, we are able to provide the customisation required for each customer. We know the risks and consequences of our customers' production processes; this makes us a committed partner in optimising their production processes'. Sustainability plays an important role in this. 'Sustainability already starts with the design of our installations. These are designed for a long service life, with minimal maintenance. Moreover, with our installations we help our customers reduce their energy consumption and minimise losses in their production processes'. A great example of this is our adiabatic humidification installation at Tembo Paper Straws B.V. in Kampen.
Production line of Tembo Paper Straws B.V.
Tembo Paper Straws B.V. focuses on producing, developing and selling machinery for the production of paper straws. It also develops and produces paper straws itself. The machines are developed and produced within the Tembo Group. 'With Tembo Paper Straws, we produce 1.5 billion straws a year. That is a combination of straight straws, telescopic straws/extendable straw and the bending straw. That is mainly our production'.
Humidification at Tembo Paper Straws B.V.
In the past, Tembo Paper Straws started without a climate control system. 'We work with paper and you have to make sure the humidity and temperature are balanced. We didn't know where the limits were. What is the min and what is the max? How stable should it be? Within what values are you allowed to fluctuate? Or does it really have to be very stable?' In the beginning, they started with humidification chambers where only the paper was put in a chamber and then humidified. The paper has to acclimatise for a certain period of time in a production site. At the time, they saw at Tembo Paper Straws that they started to pack the paper very specifically. The paper goes from a truck to a warehouse, then to a specific room and then last in the production line, which means you start changing your humidity levels far too quickly. 'Because we work with very narrow paper rolls, we noticed that the whole paper roll starts to warp. That moisture pulls on one side of the roll and not the other. We noticed this in the other rooms as well. Our paper is very thin, so the paper starts warping very quickly.' says Gerben Stouwdam, managing director at Tembo Paper Straws B.V.
The production process
Recently, the humidification system at Tembo Paper Straws was installed. 'We were seeing a lot of fluctuations in our humidity level during the hot and cold periods. After we installed the Cumulus system, you just saw stability in our process.' Tembo Paper Straws had a lot of fluctuations in humidity, this made it difficult for them to estimate what humidity level is needed at what temperature, but they soon noticed that there was a balance in temperature and humidity level with the result that the production process was also improved and stable. 'If you see that you start fluctuating in temperature and in humidity, then you see that the impact in the process is so great. One time you run with paper that is too dry, so the paper snaps/tears easily. Other times you get a disturbance in your machine and then the paper web breaks. Or if it is too humid then the glue does not soak in as well and you see glue smearing, so there is quicker smearing in your blades and your machine'. With big changes in humidity you notice that the paper warps, resulting in paper not running smoothly in your system. 'With the use of Cumulus humidification, we find that we no longer suffer from these fluctuations. By working with the Cumulus system, combines with a climate control system, we have increased productivity by 5 to 7%,' says Gerben Stouwdam.
Sustainability
Sustainability is also a very high priority at Tembo Paper Straws. Basically, the factory's right to exist is due to sustainability: replacing plastic for paper. As a straw factory, Tembo Paper Straws is ISO 140001 certified and have set several sustainability aims in this. 'Our technology is designed to keep the waste of raw materials as low as possible. Our roof is full of solar panels and we have a sustainable heating system'.
Sustainability is also very important to Cumulus. 'Sustainability starts already with the design of our installations, which are designed for a long lifespan and minimum maintenance. With our installations, we help our customers reduce their energy consumption and minimise losses in their production processes,' says Wil Sampers, CEO of Cumulus Nederland B.V.
