Paper, whether tissue or single-ply, has become an indispensable element in our daily lives. Napkins, towels, toilet paper, and facial tissues contribute to a cleaner and more hygienic world. However, few wonder: how is paper manufactured? And how are tissue paper or single-ply paper manufactured?
Behind this ubiquitous yet discreet product, so light and resistant, lies a lengthy production process and numerous cutting-edge technologies.
Whether it’s cellulose from recycled paper or wood fibers, it all starts with raw materials. Different phases of the production process begin here. The raw material is shaped, treated, moistened, dried, and blown before reaching the conveyor belt where the familiar tissue paper roll takes form.
Critical stages like wet creping, which thickens and strengthens fibers while maintaining softness and absorbency, and rigorous quality controls make a difference. Environmental certifications safeguard the sustainability of the production chain, and continuous innovation aims to enhance performance and reduce environmental impact.
In this article, we will narrate step by step the long journey from fiber to finished tissue product, whether it be tissue paper or single-ply paper. We will unveil all the secrets and technologies that make it possible to produce the paper – tissue or single-ply – you use every day.
How paper is manufactured: it all begins with raw materials
If you want to discover where the journey of your favorite tissue or single-ply paper begins, the answer is simple. For paper manufacturers and distributors like Cartiera San Giorgio, the first fundamental step is the careful and sustainable selection of raw materials.
Recycled paper is crucial for us as it represents a central source for our production. For virgin fibers, we rely only on certified and protected forests to reduce the environmental impact of our activities. These raw materials are then carefully chosen based on their properties to achieve the right blend of absorbency, strength, and softness.
They are then thoroughly cleaned and disintegrated to form a fibrous pulp consisting of tiny, perfectly separated cellulose fibers. At this point, the pulp is mixed with large amounts of water and other substances to give it the desired characteristics. The choice of the right raw materials and their transformation into pulp constitute the first fundamental step in the journey of tissue paper, laying the foundation for its performance, quality, and sustainability.
Wet creping: the secret of paper production
How is Cartiera San Giorgio’s single-ply paper made? The wet creping process is a fundamental aspect. It involves applying high-pressure water jets to damp cellulose fiber, creating a microstructure that naturally enhances fiber thickness and strength.
The result is that the fiber maintains an extremely thick and resistant structure while retaining a low grammage. All this without compromising its softness and absorbent properties, as is the case with traditional dry creping processes. Conventional methods cause excessive stiffening and thickening of the fiber, losing delicacy and liquid absorbency.
On the contrary, our process, thanks to wet creping, preserves the natural properties of cellulose, providing strength without altering its structure. So, our paper manages to be simultaneously:
- Extremely durable
- Soft and gentle on the skin
- Highly absorbent
Everything you desire from a daily tissue paper single-ply product but amplified. This is the result of our exclusive wet creping process.
Paper production stages: a meticulous and controlled journey to packaging
As you might have guessed, Cartiera San Giorgio’s single-ply paper manufacturing process follows a strict protocol with carefully controlled stages from start to finish. From the precise selection of raw materials to the wet creping process that gives fiber strength and thickness. But the journey doesn’t end here.
At this point, the crucial phase of drying and packaging begins. The freshly formed creped paper sheet passes through long heated cylinders that remove excess moisture, reaching the optimal percentage for maximum strength and absorbency. Drying occurs uniformly and gently, without tears or deformations, preserving the softness and regularity of the product.
At the end of this delicate phase, the creped paper moves to the packaging area, where it is stacked and rolled into standard-sized or custom-sized parent rolls based on customer requests. Parent rolls undergo additional quality checks and visual inspections to ensure the absence of defects and guarantee expected performance.
Only upon passing these checks is the roll labeled and packaged, ready to be shipped to customers. Every single production process is certified, and all machinery and equipment are regularly maintained and calibrated to maximize efficiency and the quality of the finished product.
How is paper manufactured? Our process is certified
For us at Cartiera San Giorgio, paper production is not just about the finished product but also about how it’s made. Our FSC®, PEFC, and ISO 14001 certifications confirm our commitment to:
- Use only fibers from responsibly managed forests and sustainable paper recycling practices
- Apply rigorous quality standards in every stage of the production process
- Minimize the environmental impact of our activities through continuous monitoring and improvement of our performance.
Whether you’re looking for a sustainable solution for your business or an industrial application, Cartiera San Giorgio’s single-ply paper is the right choice. Innovation, meticulous quality care, and environmental respect are the pillars of our production.
Thanks to our cutting-edge production process and stringent standards, we can offer you durable, absorbent, and long-lasting tissue paper, ready to make people’s lives simpler and cleaner.
