Calendering is done to improve the paper surface and thus print quality. Compared to conventional calendering, the metal belt calendering technology enables manufacturing of paper and board with better surface smoothness at a desired level of stiffness and bulk, but using 3-10% less fibre raw material. In addition, it consumes less energy and yields higher production efficiency than other calendering concepts. It is particularly suitable for low cost fibres such as recycled fibres and thus enables development of new cost-competitive paper and board products.

“The metal belt technology has the potential to make a major positive impact on the industry and the environment. It can be seen as a platform technology which has the potential to radically change paper- and board-making concepts. We are also highly impressed by the strong breakthrough nature of the research, which I think stands out as an extraordinary example of “thinking out of the box”, said Marcus Wallenberg, Chairman of the Marcus Wallenberg Foundation at the award ceremony.

Mika Viljanmaa, M.Sc., was born in 1966 in Finland. He started his career in 1996 as a development engineer at Valmet Corporation (now Metso Paper), Järvenpää, Finland, where he also completed his Master’s thesis as a Helsinki University of Technology student. Since 2003 he was in charge of calendering research and development at Metso Paper and since 2009 he has been responsible for R&D in surface treatment technology.