Excursion to the Steinbeis paper mill
A report by Paula Kuffer
Steinbeis is a fascinating place to visit if you are interested in the process of making paper from resources that have already been used.
Steinbeis paper mill, located in the beautiful town of Glückstadt in northern Germany, is a family-owned company that has been producing high-quality and sustainable paper for more than 150 years. During our visit, we were amazed at the complexity of the manufacturing process behind every single sheet of paper.
At the beginning of our visit, the history of the company was explained to us, as well as the development of the paper mill over the centuries. We learned about the design, structure, certificates as well as labels, various materials used in paper production and the different techniques of paper production.
After a short introduction, which was carried out by Mr. Jan Bergmann in a very entertaining way and with a lot of heart, he showed us the different stations of the production, so that we were able to experience the entire process of paper production cut by cut. First, we were shown how the wastepaper is searched on the assembly line for foreign materials that cannot be processed. On this assembly line, there were many bills, bank statements and family photos that were not torn up, so we were able to get a very private glimpse into the households of northern Germany. Along the way, we also learned about the different types of machines used in the mill and how they work to ensure high quality paper production.
One of the most exciting parts of the visit was when we were shown the hall where the paper is kept under tension by several rollers to be wound onto the parent roll at the end. Mr. Bergmann told us that this process takes about 40 min to produce a parent roll, which when unrolled is about 75 km long. Here we also saw how the quality of the paper is monitored and tested to ensure that every sheet of paper produced meets Steinbeis quality standards.
Overall, our trip to the Steinbeis paper mill was an unforgettable experience. We learned a lot about the history of recycled paper production and the complex process of making high-quality paper. Thank you for letting us be there!