Epiphany

E-piph-a-ny - [ih-pif-uh-nee] - a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience.

I had an epiphany the other day, which is rather rare for me.  I was thinking about paper machines when it hit me…

A paper machine is nothing more than a giant water removal device.  I mean, wet stuff goes in one end and dry stuff comes out the other end.   Sure, there’s a lot more to it than that, but when you boil it down to its simplest, most fundamental function, that’s what a paper machine does – it removes water from paper stock.  And if that’s true, then how water drains from paper stock is probably the most fundamental aspect of the paper making process, right?  Any change to the drainage quality of your stock will impact the function of the paper machine.

You’ll see it in how the wet line moves.

You’ll see it in the couch vac.

You’ll see it in the press section.

You’ll see it in the dryers.  And so on…

If the drainage quality of the stock will impact the fundamental function of the paper machine, then controlling the drainage quality of the stock is probably the most fundamental aspect of the paper making process.  And before you can control it, you have to measure it.

Gee, I wonder how you can do that?

TECO Drainac