Western Michigan University's Paper Pilot Plant is home to a 24 in (610 mm) wide Fourdrinier paper machine and together with its complete stock preparation and recycling plant can make paper from your fiber source of choice. The professional staff has years of papermaking experience who have successfully explored non-woven wet-laid products made of a variety of non-cellulosic fibers.

The pilot paper machine is not only an excellent product development tool, it also has value as a production machine for new products building a new market, and for products with low-volume markets and high-value sales.

• Wet end studies
• Filler studies
• Drying studies
• Wet laid non-woven capabilities
  • Cellulose Fiber
  • Non-cellulose Fiber
  • Synthetic Blends
  • 100% Synthetic
• Experience using non-cellulosic and non-wood plant fibers
• First pass retention studies
• Toll papermaking

The paper machine can make 16 to 400 lb (3,000 ft² ream size) or 26 to 780 gsm paper in 24/7 operations. The stock and additive preparation facilities are sized to make extended continuous operations practical at production rates up to 160 lb per hour (72.5 kg/hr).