High-efficiency coating drying with minimum energy consumption

OptiDry Coat air dryers

OptiDry Coat air dryers are designed for high drying capacity. Aided by patented air dryer nozzles, the dryers achieve uniform evaporation with minimum energy consumption, high efficiency and excellent runnability. We can prove that you get the best paper quality and lowest energy consumption with Valmet air dryers.

Energy savings

Less maintenance costs

Better paper quality

High drying capacity

Because coating drying is an energy-intensive process, optimizing energy consumption is crucial. Air dryers can cut the energy costs of coating drying by up to half. Valmet air dryers offer energy efficiency rates between 70% and 80%, which is significantly higher than the 25% to 35% efficiency typically achieved with infrared (IR) dryers. This translates to energy savings of 50% or more when using air dryers instead of IR dryers. The OptiDry Coat air dryers are suitable for all coated paper and board grades and can be installed both on new machines and as part of rebuilds.

OptiDry Coat air dryers are available in different types to meet a wide range of coating drying requirements. For example:

  • The OptiDry Coat high-intensity is an energy-efficient, high-performance air dryer that ensures fast and effective coating drying by optimally removing moisture.
  • The OptiDry Coat air dryer is a versatile solution suitable for all coating drying applications, offering flexibility for various heating and layout configurations.

Using OptiDry air dryers provides several benefits:

  • Outstanding energy efficiency
  • High drying capacity
  • Superior end product quality
  • Excellent runnability
  • Easy and low-cost maintenance
  • Improved working environment
  • Reduced fire hazard
  • Reduced environmental impact

For positions currently equipped with IR dryers, the OptiDry Coat high intensity air dryer offers a highly effective alternative, with numerous successful references in paper and board machines. By adopting the OptiDry air drying family and PowerFloat nozzles, you start to significantly reduce your energy costs.

Upgrade your coating drying process with OptiDry Coat double-pass

To further enhance coating drying processes, OptiDry Coat double-pass takes the standard of high-intensity air drying followed by long air turn drying to a new level. OptiDry Coat double-pass combines three advanced air drying technologies in one compact solution, delivering superior coating quality while saving space and energy.

Why choose OptiDry Coat double-pass?

  • Three dryers in one compact frame, saving space and reducing investment costs
  • Contactless air drying with an ideal drying strategy for excellent coating and printing quality
  • Best energy efficiency on the market with advanced Valmet Air Dryer Nozzles for optimal performance
  • Modular and flexible design for all coating applications
  • Compatible with multiple heating sources and supports fossil-free energy alternatives

Three air drying stages for optimal results

The high-intensity air dryer section removes free water quickly to prevent absorption into the baseboard, ensuring a mottling-free surface with superior gloss and smoothness. The turning dryer section uses air to turn the web contactlessly and at a lower temperature, ensuring pigments and binders remain at their optimum temperature. The moisture control section stabilizes coat moisture and temperature with high air speed or heat, delivering perfect print quality without swelling or shrinking.

Sustainable and cost-efficient

OptiDry Coat double-pass is an energy-efficient, reliable and sustainable solution for coating drying. It offers the best energy efficiency on the market and features superior Valmet Air Dryer Nozzles for optimal performance. It supports fossil-free energy alternatives and works with all common heating sources, including electricity, steam and gas. The design requires less maintenance and improves the working environment by reducing heat and humidity in the machine hall, thanks to its no free draw feature.

OptiDry Coat double-pass coating air dryer

OptiDry Coat double-pass coating air dryer

Want to talk to our coating drying experts?

Want to talk to our coating drying experts?

If you wish to get further information like technical specifications, need a quotation, or wish to discuss different solutions, fill in the contact form and our experts will contact you shortly.

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Replacing gas with electricity

Many paper producers are looking for ways to eliminate fossil fuels from their production processes. How can this be done in coating drying? 

A highly effective and future-ready way to achieve fossil-free coating drying is to use electric heating. Switching from a gas burner to electric heating can also help save energy. When electric heating replaces a gas burner in an air dryer and the process is optimized, energy savings are typically around 10 percent.

Do you want to know more about the electrification of air dryers?

Do you want to know more about the electrification of air dryers?

We have answered frequently asked questions about replacing gas with electricity and infra-red dryers with air dryers.

Check the Q&A

Read our success stories about OptiDry Coat

See all articles about coating drying

Umka Board Mill increases capacity by 70 percent with three rebuilds

Apr 14, 2025

Umka Board Mill invested in three large rebuild projects, selecting Valmet as the main supplier. The rebuilds increased their capacity by nearly 70 percent and significantly improved board quality. As a result, Umka now meets the market’s demanding expectations and is attracting new business and customers.

Successful start-up of Zhejiang Forest United Paper’s PM 6 production line

Mar 27, 2025

On March 8, 2025, Zhejiang Forest United Paper successfully started up its PM 6 board machine and produced its first roll of white lined chipboard. The start-up marks a solid step in Zhejiang Forest United Paper’s journey to achieving higher board quality and improved production efficiency. The board machine includes OptiDry Coat double-pass air dryer, which is a completely new one of its kind.

MM Količevo BM 3: Investing for the future with OptiSizer Curtain

Oct 7, 2024

MM Board & Paper’s collaboration with Valmet reached a milestone in October 2023 when their rebuilt BM 3 board machine and the first-ever hard nip sizer with a curtain application were successfully started up at the MM Količevo mill in Slovenia.

Cartiere del Garda takes a leap in energy efficiency

Mar 5, 2024

Sustainability is one of the most important drivers today for paper and board mills’ machine line upgrade investment. At Cartiere del Garda, sustainability has been promoted though investments in energy efficiency.

Liansheng Pulp and Paper: big success with PM 1 carton board and PM 3 high-grade fine paper lines

Feb 27, 2024

Living up to expectations, Liansheng’s PM 1 carton board and PM 3 high-grade fine paper production lines have been recognized as a success not only by Liansheng, but also by their customers.

Questions and answers about replacing gas with electricity in coating drying

Jun 7, 2023

Many paper makers are considering replacing gas with electricity in coating drying. To make you feel more secure with the change, we have answered frequently asked questions about replacing gas with electricity and infra-red dryers with air dryers.

Watch our latest videos about OptiDry Coat

See all videos about coating drying

Umka Board Mill rebuilds - 70% more capacity and enhanced quality

Apr 14, 2025

Watch the video to learn more about how Umka Board Mill transformed its operations with three major rebuild projects by Valmet. These rebuilds increased Umka’s production capacity by nearly 70% and significantly improved board quality, enabling them to meet market demands and attract new customers.

Rebuilding with state-of-the-art technology in MM Količevo BM 3

Oct 8, 2024

Watch the video to find out more about the latest collaboration between MM Board & Paper and Valmet. In October 2023 MM Board & Paper started-up the rebuilt board machine BM 3 at the MM Količevo mill in Slovenia. The investment for the board machine consisted of state-of-the-art technology and included three main updates: the dryer section rebuild; new sizing technology; and a new winder.

Paper coating process optimization brings savings at Cartiere del Garda

Aug 2, 2019

A rebuild of air dyers with new Valmet nozzles on Cartiere del Garda’s off-line coating machine in Italy has increased speed, reduced energy consumption and improved web stability. On top of everything, they can now guarantee their printing paper customers better quality – even on lighter grades.

New off-line coating machine at SAICA El Burgo

Mar 25, 2019

A beautiful story of partnership to develop completely novel and innovative coated white top liner grades. Valmet supplied a new off-line coating machine at SAICA El Burgo in Zaragoza, Spain, where curtain coating head plays a key role.

Energy-efficient air drying at SAICA, El Burgo

Mar 25, 2019

Safety played a key role when SAICA El Burgo in Zaragoza, Spain, chose air drying technology for their new, Valmet-supplied off-line coating machine. High coating quality proved at pilot trials and energy savings compared to IR dryers were also important.

Valmet - OptiDry air dryers for coating

Aug 24, 2016

Valmet’s solution for all coating drying applications is the highly efficient OptiDry air dryer family. It includes one- and two-sided dryers with several heating options, as well as contactless web turning drying and web cooling. Hundreds of OptiDry coating air dryer references have shown that it is possible to combine high drying capacity, low energy consumption, minimal maintenance costs and excellent end-product quality – all at the same time.

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