Voith launches SealView NG pneumatic-based full-width monitoring system for suction roll sealing strips, enabling reliable predictive maintenance also in news Voith’s innovative NipDynamics roll cover sensor system provides real-time insights to significantly reduce downtimes.

Voith launches SealView NG pneumatic-based full-width monitoring system for suction roll sealing strips, enabling reliable predictive maintenance

• SealView NG enables continuous full-width monitoring of suction roll sealing strips to support condition-based maintenance
• Robust pneumatic-based technology ensures reliable operation in wet end section to predict potential service life of seal strips
• Compact plug-and-play system with the potential to extend roll running times, supports cost-efficient ordering of spare parts, and minimizes risk of unscheduled shutdowns

SealView NG is the latest generation of monitoring systems for suction roll sealing strips. The SealView NG technology accurately calculates and clearly indicates the remaining service life of the seal strips, enabling the timely purchase of spare parts and optimal scheduling of maintenance and roll changes. The pneumatic-based system is a cost-efficient solution with the potential to extend roll running times and improve machine
availability.

The challenge: monitoring suction rolls in adverse conditions Suction roll seal strips work under demanding conditions where humidity and contamination can impact service life and lead to unexpected maintenance shutdowns. As sealing strips are hidden from view, operators are often forced to rely on their experience and guesswork to estimate their potential service life. However, suction rolls can start to lose vacuum suddenly as the seal strips near the end of their service life, resulting in stressful unplanned shutdowns. To avoid such situations, sealing strips are often removed earlier than necessary, which increases costs unnecessarily.

SealView NG reveals actionable insights from the inside
The new SealView NG system enables papermakers to continuously and easily monitor the wear status of sealing strips. This real-time condition-based monitoring allows maintenance to be scheduled according to the actual wear status of the sealing strips rather than on unreliable estimates and fixed maintenance intervals.

SealView NG uses a fail-safe pneumatic-based monitoring system to ensure reliable operation in harsh, damp conditions, which reduces the risk of short circuits, malfunction, or defects. Unlike alternative options that typically offer only spot measurements, SealView NG continuously tracks the condition of the sealing strips across their entire width.

Simple and safe condition monitoring system with reliable results
SealView NG features several design upgrades that simplify installation and use. The user-friendly LED display provides instant and precise wear status updates and does not require specialist IT expertise to operate. It is designed for universal compatibility across various industrial power supplies. SealView NG runs on a local, web-based app ensuring offline operation for security and reliability. No internet connection is required.

SealView NG is compatible with all major suction roll brands and can be installed during a regular roll service at any of the Voith Mechanical Roll Service Centers around the world.

“With SealView NG, we have designed a continuous condition-monitoring system for suction roll sealing strips that is reliable and easy to use. The pneumatic-based technology gives operators a clear picture of the wear status of their sealing strips, so they can plan maintenance more efficiently, avoid premature roll changes, and increase machine availability. With SealView NG, we make sure papermakers get the most out of sealing strips in a cost-effective way,” said Halim Takhedmit, Digital Product Manager Fabric & Roll Systems at Voith Paper.

Voith’s innovative NipDynamics roll cover sensor system provides real-time insights to significantly reduce downtimes

• Embedded sensor-based system for roll covers provides reliable real-time nip condition monitoring, even during full-speed operation and high temperatures
• Innovative digital solution enables early detection of critical issues to support faster troubleshooting and proactive process control without downtimes
• Improves runability, production efficiency, and product quality

Voith is expanding its digital portfolio with the launch of NipDynamics, its innovative roll cover sensor system. Directly embedded in roll covers, the robust sensors continuously measure nip conditions, even while the machine is running at full speed in high temperatures and with paper in the nip. As a result, papermakers gain valuable real-time insights into actual operating conditions without having to shut down production.
The advantages of reliable monitoring of roll cover conditions
When roll cover conditions are effectively monitored, paper mills can reduce the risk of operational issues, including roll misalignments, cover failures, and paper breaks caused by nip profile inconsistencies. Left undetected, such issues can negatively impact product quality and lead to unplanned downtimes.

While conventional static analysis tools can help optimize the nip profile and roll alignment, they are limited in scope. Many existing monitoring systems can only be used when the machine is shut down, and there is no paper in the nip. They typically provide only a snapshot of roll conditions. With such tools, it’s impossible to carry out a proper assessment of the performance of the roll covers under real operating conditions.
NipDynamics, providing real-time data at full speed
NipDynamics captures data from inside the roll cover while the machine is running. This allows operators to analyze actual operating conditions more easily, more precisely, and in real time.

The NipDynamics system consists of robust sensors that can be directly embedded in all types of roll covers to provide accurate measurements across the entire paper production process, from the forming to reeling section.
From sensors to customizable 3D representation
As the sensors are durable, heat-resistant and ultra-thin, they do not affect the profile, performance or service life of the roll cover. At the same time, the sensors are also super sensitive. They measure nip pressure profiles across the entire width of the cover to provide an accurate rotational frequency output.
Measurement data is collected and transmitted wirelessly. The digital solution provides a customizable 3D visualization of live measurements and stores the data, allowing operators to review past performance and analyze specific time periods.

Proven performance in the field: customer experiences with NipDynamics
Since its first field installations, NipDynamics has demonstrated its value across a wide range of paper machine applications. At a European MG cylinder application, NipDynamics enabled optimization of the nip profile and operating conditions over an extended installation period. The customer realized documented savings of approximately €45,000 and subsequently decided to equip an additional roll with the technology, highlighting the value of continuous online nip monitoring.

In a reel drum application in Europe, where average loading conditions are as low as approximately 2 kN/m, the system proved its exceptional sensitivity and measurement capability. The resulting process insights helped the mill better understand winding-related quality issues and supported efforts to enhance winding performance while reducing quality costs.

A recent installation on a tissue pressure roll delivered valuable insights from the very first day of operation. NipDynamics identified
a localized low line load that correlated with a wet stripe in the paper profile, allowing the mill to quickly pinpoint and address a previously
hidden process deviation.

“NipDynamics gives papermakers continuous insights into nip conditions during actual production. By making previously unidentified nip issues visible at an early stage, our new monitoring system supports faster troubleshooting and a more proactive process control. As potential issues are flagged early and more accurately, mills can better plan optimization and maintenance measures, avoiding unnecessary downtimes”, says Ralf Moser, Global Product Manager Roll Covers for the Finishing Section & Doctoring Solutions at Voith Paper.

Contact: Tamara Lemm – Manager Regional Communicatons – EMEA – Voith Group – tamara.lemm@voith.com – www.voith.com

About the Voith Group
The Voith Group is a global technology company. With its broad portfolio of systems, products, services and digital applications, Voith sets standards in the markets of energy, paper, raw materials and transport. Founded in 1867, Voith today has around 22,000 employees, sales of € 5.2 billion and locations in over 60 countries worldwide and thus is one of the larger family-owned companies in Europe.

The Group Division Voith Paper is part of the Voith Group. As the full-line supplier to the paper industry, it provides the largest range of technologies, services and products on the market, and offers paper manufacturers integrated solutions from a single source. The company’s continuous stream of innovations facilitates resource-conserving production and supports customers in significantly reducing their carbon footprint. With its comprehensive automation products and leading digitalization solutions from the Papermaking 4.0 portfolio, Voith offers its customers state-of-the-art digital technologies to improve the availability and efficiency of their systems in all sections of the production process.

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