According to Maflex, which distinguishes itself by a distinct propensity to meet specific needs, its great added value, guiding customers toward informed choices and sustainable investments is crucial. “Our tailor-made approach enables ‘re-solving’, ‘remanufacturing’ and ‘reconditioning’, making three new R’s available to converters – General Manager Luca Mazzotti explains. Maflex stands out for its highly personalized consulting support. Maflex aims to solve several issues related to the converting process that also fall within the circular economy, such as the possibility to upgrade existing machinery by integrating more advanced automation solutions or to enable, in a simple and versatile way, the automatic production of Coreless products, considered a zero waste in the AFH tissue product landscape”.
For MAFLEX, awareness comes through construction design. The benefits of the Maflex Modular Philosophy begin with the shipping and installation stages, through production and use. Indeed, the compact nature of the modules affects their footprint, with significant reductions in transportation costs and, consequently, environmental footprint. The independence and autonomy of the modules, each with its own integrated electrical panel and all the necessary equipment for operation, ensure fast assembly times, limited production downtime and, above all, easy additions or upgrades to existing systems. “The Maflex modular approach favors change management: regenerate. Each unit can be smoothly integrated with new technologies: the processing line remains state-of-the-art according to industry developments, while adhering to a conscious, future-oriented approach” – says Luca Mazzotti.
Seamlessly upgrading avoids complete refurbishments and maximizes equipment lifespan (key in Life Cycle Assessment – LCA), promoting a circular economy that postpones disposal of obsolete machinery. “This design system, in fact, intervenes on maintenance and consequently on durability. The simplification of interventions contributes to their resilience. Individual units can be individually maintained, addressed and upgraded, ensuring efficient business continuity” – adds Mazzotti.
We provide dedicated solutions to special needs
The Maflex Modular Philosophy enables targeted and precise interventions to ensure operations for as long as possible. This also results in high residual value. “This is a very important aspect because it ensures a sustainable investment aligned with economic commitment and circular issues – Mazzotti continues. Each machine maintains not only its efficiency for the longest possible time, but also its value over time, postponing further large investments and machinery decommissioning”.
Needs analysis is always at the forefront. Maflex evaluates options with its customers, with the possibility of optimizing systems that are still efficient or that of Reconditioning if necessary. “When existing equipment is no longer in line with the customer’s needs and the conditions are right, we offer to take back the decommissioned machines, with the intention of reallocating them to more suitable markets” – says Mazzotti. This is a practice that represents an opportunity for the tissue industry, especially in many areas of the world where technological and production needs can vary greatly. “There are many areas where this practice proves to be critical and is an opportunity to promote an efficient and sustainable business system and to participate in the emergence of a new converting facility” – adds Mazzotti.
Supporting customers in achieving certain circular goals means Regenerating the technologies used by enhancing them and supporting its production ambitions by containing its consumption. The Maflex Energy Regenerative System (MERS), introduced by Maflex in 2010, is a pioneering system that redefines sustainable energy management practices with savings of up to 20 percent. A requirement that can not only be contained but also reused. “Regeneration units allow MERS to replenish unused energy, thereby improving the carbon footprint of the equipment. MERS, by reducing the total energy demand in the manufacturing plant, helps optimize energy efficiency in one of the most demanding industries in this respect” – Ing. Mazzotti concludes. Maflex confirms itself as a proactive partner in supporting customers, even in the area of circularity. Offering customized solutions tailored to individual needs and ambitions is the first step in mitigating impact and applying the three-plus-three R rule in the tissue converting industry.
