A Bolivian company active since 1996 in the tissue paper sector invested in a new technology line to increase its production by 25%. The line is characterized by modularity, safety, and advanced digital functionality. The system is designed for flexibility, allowing future expansion with additional components. Its main advantages include a predefined configuration, which reduces both installation time and costs, and simplified maintenance management thanks to integrated electrical panels. The introduction of this new technology therefore enhances the company’s efficiency, consolidating its role in the market
Producing 50 million rolls per month, Copelme (Compañía Papelera de Industria y Comercio Mendoza S.A.) is a major Bolivian company dedicated to tissue paper sector: toilet paper, napkins and paper towels.
Founded in 1996 and part of Grupo Mendoza de Inversiones, Copelme S.A. is a Bolivian company specializing in the production and marketing of 42 different tissue paper formats, from roll to fold, in both large and small sizes. The company, with over 650 employees, offers four product lines: Hogar, Nacional, Excelsior, and Institucional serving the consumer, industrial and healthcare markets.
The 45% of Copelme’s current output is made from recycled paper. Company’s sustainable production is indeed also supported by its Recme (Recicladora Mendoza) operation, which processes used paper and cardboard for the tissue paper industry. This process contributes significantly to resource conservation and waste reduction.
A new line
With the aim of increasing the volume to boost its monthly production volume by 25%, raising it from 50 million to around 62-63 million rolls, Copelme invested in a new Perini MyGo line by Valmet. This project will allow to increase production capacity, currently at 95%, at its historic Cochabamba plant in Bolivia.
«Building on the success achieved with Valmet’s advanced Perini Constellation technology, Copelme continues to invest in Valmet’s technological solutions to strengthen its competitive position in the sector» says Rafael Mendoza, Vice President of Copelme. «Specifically, the choice of this line is due to its modularity, sustainability, and safety – qualities that add significant value to support our company’s growth ambitions».
The plant specializes in producing toilet and kitchen paper rolls up to 200 mm in diameter, at an operational speed of 600m/min. CE or UL certified, the new line is a plug & play solution preconfigured to industry standards, ensuring maximum flexibility.
The modularity plus
Among the reasons why the Bolivian company chose this new line is its modularity; one of Perini MyGo’s distinctive features.
The line’s configuration, equipped with integrated electrical panels and anchored perimeter guards, can be enhanced and expanded with additional components to meet various production needs. This approach minimizes installation time and costs, enabling Copelme to accelerate the market introduction of new products and seize opportunities promptly.
In terms of safety, the electrical panels positioned on individual machines have eliminated the need for junction boxes and relocated PLC I/Os into the electrical panel itself, accessible from outside the line for easier maintenance and diagnostics.
Not only that, Perini MyGo also aligns with Copelme’s values regarding sustainability, incorporating eco-friendly technologies like the Aquabond system, which replaces glue with water in the lamination process to reduce environmental impact.
Additional benefits include reduced lead times, fast installation, and production area monitoring without direct operator intervention.
Digital services
The choice of the Perini MyGo line enabled the Bolivian company to gain additional important benefits from digitisation. Thanks to Valmet’s digital services, Copelme can access real-time reports with data on the line’s productivity and energy consumption, ensuring peak efficiency. This added advantage is significant for the company, which is considering extending this service to other plants for consistent data access.
«A particularly relevant advantage for us is the presence of a Valmet team in Joinville, Brazil, capable of providing rapid response times to our facility» adds the vice president of Copelme. «Moreover, the synergy between our teams, driven by a shared commitment to innovation and strong interpersonal relationships based on shared values, was decisive in choosing the new Perini MyGo technology».
Finally, Mendoza concludes by emphasising the importance of long-lasting cooperation: «Valmet has been a fundamental partner for Copelme for many years, and with this new project, we reaffirm our commitment to making this partnership even stronger and more enduring».