Kadant Granted Patent on Bi-Metal Blade Technology
Blades are used during tissue making to remove the sheet, which is typically traveling at speeds exceeding 5,000 feet per minute, from a rotating drying cylinder. This process, called creping, is critical to imparting the softness and bulk that consumers look for when differentiating the quality of tissue products. The blade/cylinder interaction is one of the most important aspects of tissue production and has historically been a major source of costly paper machine downtime, as the blades wear out often and need to be replaced.
Kadant's ProCrepe blade incorporates the newly patented bi-metal edge, which, because of the company's unique manufacturing process, maintains critical operating properties throughout its lifecycle. The ProCrepe bi-metal blade offers greater creping consistency than other available technologies and lasts up to five times longer than conventional steel blades to significantly reduce machine downtime.
"This bi-metal blade patent is a great example of Kadant's ability to create an important market opportunity by internally developing new technology in response to our customers' needs," said William A. Rainville, chairman and chief executive officer of Kadant. "During actual operation in tissue mills, our new ProCrepe bi-metal blade has maintained its precision edge for a longer period of time, resulting in a more uniform product as well as greater productivity stemming from longer blade life, less roll wear, reduced use of coating chemicals, and lower energy consumption. This means that tissue makers can produce a higher quality product for less money, without major capital investment."
Kadant Web Systems Inc. is a global leader in providing engineered doctoring systems and related accessories for more efficient paper production, as well as profiling equipment, such as steam shower systems, used by the paper, converting, and printing industries.
Kadant Inc. is a leading supplier of a range of products for the global papermaking and paper recycling industries, including de-inking systems, stock-preparation equipment, water-management systems, and papermaking accessories. The company also develops and manufactures composite building materials produced from natural fiber and recycled plastic. Kadant, based in Acton, Massachusetts, reported $221 million in revenues in 2001 and employs approximately 1,100 people worldwide. For more information, please visit www.kadant.com.
The following constitutes a "Safe Harbor" statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such statements are set forth under the heading "Forward-Looking Statements" in the company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 29, 2002. These include risks and uncertainties relating to the company's: dependence on the paper industry, international operations, competition, ability to manufacture and distribute composite building products and the long-term performance of such products, acquisition strategy, dependence on patents and proprietary rights, fluctuations in quarterly operating results, and financial covenants and other obligations arising from the spinoff of the company from Thermo Electron Corporation. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
CONTACT:
Investor contact :
Kadant Inc.
Thomas M. O'Brien, 978/776-2000
or
Media contact :
GreatPoint Communications, 978/392-6866
URL: http://www.businesswire.com
Today's News On The Net - Business Wire's full file on the Internet
with Hyperlinks to your home page.
Copyright (C) 2002 Business Wire. All rights reserved.