5 things to look for when choosing a new machine clothing supplier

As a papermaker, the relationship with your machine clothing suppliers is critical to the performance of your mill. Yet many mills still rely on a single supplier for the sake of convenience, leaving themselves exposed to a huge array of potential issues.

Fortunately, mitigating that risk is simple: introduce more machine clothing suppliers to your network.

But where do you start?

We’ve pulled together a shortlist of five characteristics to look for when selecting a new or additional paper machine clothing supplier: 

1. Openness to Experimentation

A forward-thinking supplier should be willing to collaborate on felt trials and explore innovative solutions tailored to the specific needs of your production line. 

2. Responsive Communication

Timely and effective communication is paramount. A reliable supplier should be responsive and accessible, available to answer questions and quickly address any concerns. 

3. Quality Assurance  

Consistency in delivering high-quality machine clothing is non-negotiable. Your new supplier should have stringent quality control measures to ensure longevity of their product performance.   

4. Technical Expertise 

The new supplier’s application engineer is arguably their most important person. Tapping into their depth of technical knowledge and experience is indispensable, and they should offer advice to help optimize your production processes. 

5. Value for Money

Cost-effectiveness is obviously important, but look beyond price alone. Even a slightly better performing fabric easily brings over 100x its purchasing price.  

By selecting more than one paper machine clothing supplier, you reduce risk by spreading dependencies, fostering innovation, and empowering your own mill with greater control over your production process.
 
Learn more about the benefits of introducing multiple suppliers, and the magical effect of running PMC trials.