MegaDrive From Voith Supports Longer Service Life and Lower Maintenance in Paper Mills

MegaDrive From Voith Supports Longer Service Life and Lower Maintenance in Paper Mills

(IN BRIEF) Voith has launched MegaDrive, a next-generation rubber wire drive roll cover for the forming section of paper and board machines. The solution is designed to improve traction, reduce wear and minimise maintenance requirements in demanding wet-end operating conditions. MegaDrive has shown up to 30% lower abrasion compared with standard covers and is engineered to resist hardening, surface cracking and loss of properties during extended runtimes. It maintains stable grip and traction under wet conditions, variable speeds, high mechanical loads and fluctuating temperatures. Voith can also combine MegaDrive with its forming fabrics as part of a tailored full-service package, helping mills improve forming-section runnability, extend service intervals and reduce the risk of unplanned downtime.

(PRESS RELEASE) HEIDENHEIM, 16-Jul-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Voith has launched MegaDrive, a next-generation rubber wire drive roll cover designed to improve traction, reduce wear and lower maintenance requirements in the forming section of paper and board machines.

The new cover has shown up to 30% lower abrasion compared with standard covers, supporting longer runtimes and extended service life in demanding production environments.

Wire drive rolls play a critical role at the wet end of the paper production line. They transfer drive power to the forming fabric and operate at high, variable speeds under abrasive and mechanically demanding conditions.

Their function is to keep the wire moving at the correct speed and tension as the paper is formed. Stable contact and reliable traction between the roll cover and forming fabric are essential to prevent slippage, maintain consistent sheet formation and support machine runnability.

Over time, standard wire drive roll covers can lose performance as they harden and develop surface cracks. This can increase the risk of traction loss, sheet defects, unplanned downtime and premature roll changes.

MegaDrive has been developed as a hardwearing but flexible rubber cover that can be customised to meet specific operating conditions. Its surface profile can be tailored to individual machine requirements, helping mills achieve more stable performance in the forming section.

The rubber compound is designed to resist hardening, surface cracking and property loss, even during extended operation in harsh wet-end conditions.

Voith said MegaDrive is engineered to withstand high mechanical loads while maintaining consistent grip and traction on the forming fabric. The cover is designed to perform reliably under wet conditions, variable speeds and changing temperatures.

The solution brings together key performance characteristics for paper and board producers: dependable traction, high wear resistance and stable performance over longer runtimes.

As part of a full-service package, Voith engineers can also develop a coordinated forming-section solution that combines MegaDrive with the most suitable Voith forming fabric. The combination can be adapted to the machine type, operating speed, furnish properties and production goals.

Ralf Moser, Global Product Manager Roll Covers at Voith Paper, said MegaDrive gives papermakers and board producers a more durable roll cover for the demanding wet end.

“This next-generation rubber wire drive roll cover provides stable traction for longer, which helps mills extend runtimes and reduce maintenance effort significantly,” said Moser.

He added that combining MegaDrive with Voith forming fabrics can improve runnability in the forming section and help production lines start more reliably.

Voith said MegaDrive supports mills seeking to increase reliability, reduce maintenance effort and improve operational stability in paper and board production.

About the Voith Group
The Voith Group is a global technology company. With its broad portfolio of systems, products, services and digital applications, Voith sets standards in the markets of energy, paper, raw materials and transport. Founded in 1867, Voith today has around 21,000 employees, sales of € 4.8 billion and locations in over 60 countries worldwide and thus is one of the larger family-owned companies in Europe.

About Voith Paper
The Group Division Voith Paper is part of the Voith Group. As the full-line supplier to the paper industry, it provides the largest range of technologies, services and products on the market and offers paper manufacturers holistic solutions from one source. The company’s continuous stream of innovations facilitates resource-conserving production and helps customers minimize their carbon footprint. With its leading automation products and digitalization solutions from the Papermaking 4.0 portfolio, Voith offers its customers state-of-the-art digital technologies to improve plant availability and efficiency for all sections of the production process.

Media Contact:

Naomi Voith
Head of Solutions Portfolio Communications
tel: +49 7321 37-2209

SOURCE: Voith