Voith Reaches Historic 3,000 Headbox Delivery Milestone While Introducing Next-Generation MasterJet 4Tec F for High-Performance Paper Machines

Voith employees in front of the 3,000th Voith headbox

(IN BRIEF) Voith has reached a major milestone with the delivery of its 3,000th headbox, highlighting over a century of innovation in papermaking technology and reinforcing the importance of headboxes in ensuring paper quality, efficiency and automation. The milestone unit is part of a large paper machine order in China and includes the first deployment of the MasterJet 4Tec F, a new variant designed for high-capacity machines with wider paper webs and faster operating speeds. Featuring advanced technologies such as the ModuleJet dilution control system, the new headbox enables precise basis-weight control, improved product consistency and more efficient resource usage. Voith continues to support paper producers globally through its extensive portfolio and service network, with headboxes playing a key role in both new installations and modernization projects across the industry.

(PRESS RELEASE) HEIDENHEIM, 25-Mar-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Voith has achieved a significant milestone with the delivery of its 3,000th headbox, underscoring more than a century of engineering expertise in one of the most critical components of paper production. Since introducing its first headbox in 1914, the company has continually advanced the technology to support consistent product quality, reliable operations and enhanced efficiency in paper mills worldwide.

Headboxes are fundamental to the papermaking process, ensuring an even distribution of fibers across paper webs that can extend up to ten meters in width. This uniformity is essential for achieving stable basis-weight profiles and high-quality sheet formation. As industry demands evolve, modern headboxes must also deliver improved energy efficiency, reduced maintenance requirements, longer cleaning intervals and seamless integration with automation systems. Advanced solutions such as dilution water profiling have become increasingly important in meeting these performance expectations.

The milestone 3,000th unit forms part of a comprehensive paper machine order for a customer in China and includes two MasterJet 4Tec F headboxes. This delivery marks the first implementation of the MasterJet 4Tec F series, representing an expansion of the technology into large-scale applications. While earlier versions of the MasterJet 4Tec were designed for smaller machines, the new F variant is engineered for high-capacity production environments, supporting paper web widths of up to 11.6 meters and operating speeds reaching 1,600 meters per minute.

With the MasterJet 4Tec platform, Voith has enhanced headbox performance by combining established mechanical design principles with newly developed features. A key innovation is the ModuleJet dilution control system, which enables precise control of basis weight across the width of the paper, resulting in stable production profiles and consistent output quality. These advancements contribute to optimized raw material usage and improved operational efficiency throughout the lifecycle of the equipment.

The company highlights that the delivery of its 3,000th headbox reflects long-standing collaboration with customers and a deep understanding of papermaking processes. Headboxes continue to play a vital role not only in new machine installations but also in modernization projects, capacity upgrades and product grade conversions. Voith’s global service network and comprehensive product portfolio enable it to support paper manufacturers across all stages of operation, from initial installation to ongoing optimization.

Feedback from industry users of the MasterJet 4Tec technology has pointed to strong performance, including rapid stabilization following grade changes and consistently high-quality results. These capabilities have contributed to repeat orders and further adoption in large-scale paper production facilities.

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 & automotive. Founded in 1867, the company today has around 21,000 employees, sales of € 4.9 billion and locations in over 60 countries worldwide and is thus 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.