The manufacturing process of tissue paper involves several key stages that convert raw materials (usually
wood pulp or recycled paper) into soft, absorbent tissue paper. Below is a detailed breakdown of the
tissue paper manufacturing process:
1. Raw Material Preparation
The raw material for tissue paper is usually wood pulp (either virgin or recycled). There are two main
types of pulp used:
Virgin wood pulp: Made from fresh wood.
Recycled paper pulp: Recycled paper that is processed to make new paper.
The first step is preparing the raw material by:
Pulping: Wood logs are turned into wood chips, and then the wood chips are mixed with water
and chemicals to break them down into fiber. This process is called pulping and can be done
mechanically or chemically.
Cleaning: If using recycled paper, it's shredded and cleaned to remove contaminants (ink, plastic,
etc.) before being pulped.
2. Pulping and Bleaching
Pulping: The raw wood or recycled paper is converted into a slurry of fibers and water through
either mechanical or chemical methods.
o Mechanical pulping uses grinding to separate the fibers.
o Chemical pulping uses chemicals (like sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide) to break
down lignin in wood, leaving only cellulose fibers.
Bleaching: To ensure the tissue is white and clean, the pulp is often bleached using chlorine
dioxide or oxygen-based compounds. This removes any residual color from the pulp.
3. Forming the Paper
The pulp slurry is then diluted with water to a consistency suitable for paper formation. This mixture is
spread evenly onto a forming fabric (also known as a wire mesh), where water is drained from the pulp,
and the fibers begin to bond together. This process results in a wet sheet of paper.
4. Pressing
Once the paper has been formed, it is passed through large press rollers to remove excess water and to
further compact the fibers, giving the tissue paper a more solid structure.
5. Drying
After pressing, the paper moves through a set of drying cylinders or drying machines. The paper is dried
by using heated rollers or steam, which removes the remaining water content, resulting in a dry paper
sheet. At this stage, the paper is still relatively thick.
6. Creping
To achieve the softness and flexibility typical of tissue paper, a process called creping is applied:
The dry paper is passed over a creping blade, which scrapes the paper off the drying rollers in a
crinkled, textured form.
This creates a softer texture and increases the bulk of the paper, making it more absorbent.
7. Calendering
The tissue paper is then passed through a series of calendering rollers, which smooth out the creped
paper and provide a uniform thickness. This process adjusts the final texture of the tissue paper.
8. Rolling and Reeling
Once the tissue paper has been processed and treated, it is wound into large rolls, also known as parent
rolls. These rolls are often very large (sometimes up to several feet in width) and serve as the starting
material for creating consumer-sized products.
9. Converting
The large parent rolls are then sent to the converting section, where they are cut into smaller rolls or
sheets for consumer use:
Toilet paper: The parent roll is unwound, cut into smaller rolls, and packaged.
Tissue paper: For products like facial tissue, napkins, and paper towels, the large rolls are cut
into the desired size and shape (e.g., folded into neat packages or perforated for easy tearing).
Packaging: The tissue paper is then packaged for retail or commercial sale.
10. Quality Control
Throughout the entire process, there are various quality control checks to ensure the tissue paper meets
the required standards for:
Softness
Absorbency
Strength
Thickness
If any defects are found, adjustments are made during the manufacturing process to ensure the final
product is consistent with the brand’s specifications.
11. Finished Product
Once the tissue paper has been converted into its final form (e.g., rolls of toilet paper, boxes of facial
tissue, or paper towels), it is ready for shipment to retailers and consumers.
Summary of the Tissue Paper Manufacturing Process:
1. Raw Material Preparation: Use wood pulp or recycled paper.
2. Pulping and Bleaching: Convert raw materials into pulp and bleach for whiteness.
3. Forming the Paper: Spread the pulp onto a wire mesh to form paper sheets.
4. Pressing: Remove excess water using press rollers.
5. Drying: Use drying cylinders to remove remaining moisture.
6. Creping: Scrape the paper to give it a soft, crinkled texture.
7. Calendering: Smooth the paper to adjust thickness and texture.
8. Rolling and Reeling: Roll the paper into large parent rolls.
9. Converting: Cut and package the tissue paper into consumer products.
10. Quality Control: Ensure the final product meets standards for softness, absorbency, and
strength.
Conclusion:
The tissue paper manufacturing process involves converting raw materials into soft, absorbent paper
that can be used for products like toilet paper, facial tissues, and paper towels. Each step, from pulping
to converting, is crucial to ensure the final product meets the desired quality and performance
standards.
