Papermaking Fundamentals: Printing & Writing (May 2025)

AstenJohnson University (AJU) was established in 2005 as one way to invest in the development of future papermakers and to provide a forum for learning and sharing of common business practices. This AJU session will focus on issues associated with the printing and writing grade. By concentrating on a specific paper grade, we will be able to provide students with specific, applicable information that can be put into practice immediately upon returning to the mill. We will discuss actual papermaking experiences in class, so we encourage participants to bring examples of past problems or current challenges to explore in class.

Who should attend?

This 3½ day training session has been created to address the needs of individuals relatively new to papermaking or papermaking roles, those with one to five years of experience in a mill. This training is well suited for new process engineers and technicians as well as new machine operators and new shift managers. Additionally, those with extensive hands-on experience but little formal technical training on the fundamentals of papermaking and equipment will benefit from this session.

*Due to customer request, we have extended the session to give time for more in-depth discussion on each topic.

THE COST

The tuition is $2,450 and covers transportation to the hotel,  your hotel room, meals and all training materials. You will be housed at the Hilton Garden Inn (Airport location). The only additional expense to you will be your travel costs to and from Charleston. AJU starts with a reception on Monday evening at 6:00 PM. Class will start at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 13 and concludes on Friday, May 16 at 12:00 p.m.. Detailed logistics of the training will be provided upon your enrollment. The online registration form is linked at the end of this page.

What you will learn?

1. Forming Fundamentals

• Headbox
• Delivery of Jet to Fabric
• Sheet Forming
• Turbulence
• LoVacs, HiVacs and Vacuum Systems

2. Machine Clothing Basics: Impact of Clothing on Performance and Sheet Properties (Forming Fabrics)

3. Forming Troubleshooting: Common Operational and Quality Issues and Solutions (Roundtable)

4. Press Fundamentals

• Pressing and Press Configurations
• Press Vacuum Systems
• Felt Conditioning
• Sheet Control
• Steam Showers

5. Shoe Pressing

6. Machine Clothing Basics: Impact of Clothing on Performance and Sheet Properties (Press Fabrics)

7. Press Troubleshooting: Common Operational and Quality Issues and Solutions (Roundtable)

8. Drying Fundamentals

• Theory of Drying
• Heat and mass Transfer
• Common Configurations

*registration is open to paper manufacturers only*