The innovative starch cooker enables Smurfit Westrock's Morava mill to significantly reduce surface starch consumption while improving paper quality.
June 23, 2025 - PGA Anlagenbau, a member of the IBS Paper Performance Group, has successfully started up a starchPERFORMER at Smurfit Westrock's Morava Paper in the Czech Republic.
The Morava paper mill produces recycled corrugated paper and testliner.
As part of an optimization project, the existing conventional starch cooker was replaced by a PGA starchPERFORMER in the surface starch preparation system of Paper Machine 2.
According to PGA, one starchPERFORMER is already in operation at the Smurfit Westrock Group, with more to follow later this year. The innovative starch cooker enables Smurfit Westrock to significantly reduce surface starch consumption while improving paper quality.
"PGA's new enzymatic cooker enables us to use starch as a raw material in both slurry and powder form," said Mr. Jurica, Operational Manager at the Morava mill. "The cooker technology allows us to adjust the concentration and viscosity of the cooked starch according to the quality requirements of the paper being produced. During the commissioning of the new technology, we received support from PGA which contributed to the rapid start-up and training of the operators."
The PGA starchPERFORMER revolutionizes the preparation of mass and surface starch in the pulp and paper industry. The innovative starch cooker is based on a patented thermo-mechanical cooking process. The system can significantly reduce starch and steam consumption. It also offers maximum flexibility and fast changeover when using different types of starch.
IBS Paper Performance Group is a leading specialist in the optimization of paper, board, pulp and tissue machines — with high-quality products and innovative system solutions and services. PGA Anlagenbau, which is based in Wernberg (Austria), has been part of the IBS Group since 2014. The company specializes in machines and systems for stock, additives and starch processing.
SOURCE: IBS Paper Performance Group