TecnoGrip – Anti-Slip & Traction Coating for Paper and Board Machine Rolls

Improve traction, prevent slippage and achieve controlled winding

Reliable traction between the paper or board web and the roll surface is essential during winding and rewinding.

If the surface provides insufficient grip, the web can slip against the roll. This can contribute to uneven winding, wrinkles, web tracking problems, marking and inconsistent roll quality.

TecnoGrip is PR Rolls' wear-resistant anti-slip and traction coating developed for rolls and cylinders where controlled friction between the web and roll surface is required.

Typical applications include winder drums, pope cylinders and other winding or rewinding positions where reliable traction is critical.

Unlike a standard coating with a fixed surface finish, the surface roughness of TecnoGrip can be tailored according to the paper or board grade and application requirements. PR Rolls currently specifies a roughness range of Ra 4–16.

The result is not simply a rough surface. The objective is to create the right functional surface for controlled traction, winding and long-term wear resistance.

What Problems Does TecnoGrip Solve?

TecnoGrip is intended for applications where insufficient or inconsistent friction between the roll and web creates production problems.

Typical symptoms can include:

• Paper or board slipping against the roll
• Uneven winding
• Wrinkles during winding or rewinding
• Web tracking problems
• Uneven roll hardness
• Paper or board marking
• Loss of traction at higher machine speeds
• Worn or polished roll surfaces
• Frequent surface maintenance
• Corrosion of the underlying roll

The objective is to establish a durable surface with controlled friction characteristics matched to the application.

Why Traction Matters in Paper and Board Winding

Winding appears simple: a continuous paper or board web is converted into a roll.

In reality, winding quality depends on carefully controlled mechanical conditions.

The interaction between the web, roll surface, tension and nip conditions influences how the finished roll is built.

If traction between the web and roll surface is insufficient, relative movement can occur between the surfaces.

This can contribute to:

• Slippage
• Wrinkles
• Unstable web movement
• Uneven winding
• Roll quality problems

A traction coating modifies the functional surface of the roll to provide the friction required for more controlled interaction with the web.

TecnoGrip is designed specifically for this purpose.

TecnoGrip for winder drums

Reliable traction for demanding winding applications
winder drums are a primary application for TecnoGrip. PR Rolls specifically positions the coating for these applications.

During winding, the roll surface must provide sufficient and consistent traction to support controlled movement of the paper or board.

As an uncoated roll wears, becomes polished or loses its original surface characteristics, traction can deteriorate.

TecnoGrip creates a wear-resistant textured surface designed to maintain the required grip.

Potential benefits include:

• Reduced slippage
• More stable winding
• Reduced wrinkling
• Consistent traction across the roll
• Improved roll build
• Longer-lasting functional surface

This makes the coating particularly relevant when winding performance is limited by the condition or friction characteristics of the roll surface.

TecnoGrip for Pope Cylinders

Pope cylinders are another core TecnoGrip application identified by PR Rolls.

Reliable friction at the cylinder surface helps support controlled winding and transfer of the paper web.

If the surface becomes too smooth or worn, insufficient traction can contribute to slippage and winding problems.

TecnoGrip provides a durable textured surface with adjustable roughness, allowing the surface characteristics to be selected according to the paper or board grade.

For mills producing several grades, understanding the required surface characteristics is particularly important. The objective is not maximum roughness, but appropriate and controlled traction.

Traction Coating for Winder and Rewinder Applications

The same surface-engineering principle is relevant to other winding and rewinding applications where controlled traction is required.

Thermal spray traction coatings are used industrially on applications including paper machine winder drums and rewind rolls, where their functions include reducing slippage and supporting web tracking.

For PR Rolls, the suitability of TecnoGrip for any specific roll position should be evaluated according to factors such as:

• Roll function
• Paper or board grade
• Required traction
• Existing surface
• Operating speed
• Wear conditions
• Required roughness

This application-based approach is important because a traction coating should always be matched to the process rather than selected based only on the component name.

TecnoGrip for Section Rolls and Spreader Rolls

Section rolls and spreader rolls can also benefit from a controlled, wear-resistant traction surface where reliable contact with the paper, board, felt or fabric is required. Insufficient or uneven friction can contribute to slippage, unstable web or fabric movement and reduced control through the machine section.

TecnoGrip provides a durable HVOF-applied surface with controlled friction and application-specific roughness. By selecting the appropriate surface texture for the roll position and material in contact with the roll, PR Rolls can help improve traction while avoiding unnecessary marking or wear.

For section rolls, TecnoGrip can be used where a stable and consistent grip is required to support reliable web, felt or fabric movement through the machine. The wear-resistant coating also helps maintain the required surface characteristics over longer operating periods.

For spreader rolls, controlled traction can support the spreading function by maintaining reliable contact between the web and roll surface. A correctly specified surface can help reduce unwanted slippage and support stable web handling, particularly in demanding paper and board applications.

As with winder drums and pope cylinders, the objective is not to create the roughest possible surface. PR Rolls selects and finishes the TecnoGrip surface according to the specific roll function, operating conditions and material in contact with the roll. This provides the required balance between traction, wear resistance, web handling and surface quality.

Prevent Paper and Board Slippage

Slippage occurs when the available friction between the web and roll surface is insufficient for the operating conditions.

The solution is not necessarily to make the surface as rough as possible.

Excessive or inappropriate surface texture can create other problems, including marking sensitive grades.

The goal is therefore controlled friction.

TecnoGrip allows PR Rolls to create a defined surface roughness suited to the paper or board application.

PR Rolls currently specifies:

Surface roughness: Ra 4–16

with the actual roughness tailored according to the paper or board quality.

This adjustability is one of the most important characteristics of TecnoGrip.

Surface Roughness Tailored to the Paper or Board Grade

Different paper and board products have different surface characteristics.

A surface suitable for one application may therefore not be optimal for another.

Factors that can influence the required roll surface include:

• Paper or board grade
• Surface sensitivity
• Basis weight
• Machine configuration
• Web tension
• Winding conditions
• Operating speed
• Required traction

For this reason, PR Rolls does not treat roughness as a single universal specification.

Instead, the TecnoGrip surface can be finished within its specified roughness range according to the requirements of the application.

This helps balance two competing objectives:

Enough friction to prevent slippage – without creating unnecessary marking of the web.

Prevent Wrinkles and Improve Winding Quality

Insufficient or inconsistent traction can allow relative movement between the web and roll.

That movement can contribute to wrinkles and inconsistent winding.

PR Rolls specifically identifies the prevention of paper or board slippage and marking as key TecnoGrip functions, with the objective of producing even rolls and maintaining paper quality.

By creating a more controlled traction surface, TecnoGrip can support:

• Stable web movement
• Reduced slippage
• Reduced wrinkling
• Consistent roll build
• Improved winding conditions
• Better finished-roll quality

The actual winding result naturally depends on the complete machine setup, not the coating alone.

High Wear Resistance for Long-Term Traction

A traction surface must do more than provide the correct roughness immediately after application.

It also needs to maintain its functional characteristics during operation.

Paper and board continuously interact with the roll surface, creating mechanical wear over time.

If a conventional roll surface gradually becomes polished, its friction characteristics can change.

TecnoGrip combines its textured surface with high coating hardness and wear resistance.

PR Rolls specifies a coating hardness of:

1200 ±150 HV

This helps create a durable functional surface designed to maintain its characteristics over extended operating periods.

Thermally sprayed carbide coatings are well established for demanding paper-machine environments because of their high wear resistance. Peer-reviewed research has described thermally sprayed tungsten-carbide coatings as among the most wear-resistant coating types used in paper machinery.

Wear and Corrosion Protection

TecnoGrip does not only provide friction.

PR Rolls also specifies wear and corrosion resistance as important properties of the coating.

This combination is valuable because winding and process rolls may experience both mechanical wear and environmental exposure during their service life.

TecnoGrip therefore combines:

Traction + Wear Resistance + Corrosion Protection

Rather than repeatedly restoring an unprotected roll surface, a functional coating can help protect the underlying component while providing the surface characteristics required by the process.

HVOF Thermal Spray Technology

TecnoGrip is applied using HVOF – High Velocity Oxygen Fuel – thermal spraying.

In an HVOF process, coating material is accelerated at high velocity toward a correctly prepared substrate.

For traction-roll applications, thermal spraying makes it possible to engineer the functional surface rather than relying only on the properties of the underlying roll material.

The coating can then be finished to achieve the required surface characteristics.

PR Rolls' TecnoGrip process consists of:

Surface preparation → HVOF coating → Surface finishing

The final roughness is adjusted according to the application.

More Than Just a Rough Surface

It is important to distinguish a properly engineered traction coating from simply making a roll rougher.

The required surface must balance several characteristics:

Traction
The surface must provide enough friction to prevent unwanted slippage.

Surface texture
Roughness must be suitable for the paper or board grade.

Wear resistance
The surface should retain its functional characteristics during operation.

Corrosion resistance
The underlying roll should be protected against the operating environment.

Web quality
The surface should not unnecessarily mark or damage the produced material.

TecnoGrip combines these requirements into one engineered functional surface.

Surface Preparation Before TecnoGrip Coating

The performance of any thermal spray coating depends on the condition of the substrate.

Before coating, the existing roll or cylinder surface must therefore be correctly prepared.

For TecnoGrip, PR Rolls currently describes a process where the rolls or cylinders are first sand-blasted before HVOF coating.

Depending on the existing condition of the roll, additional restoration work may be required before final surface preparation.

The objective is to provide the correct foundation for a durable coating and consistent final surface.

Surface Finishing – Creating the Required Traction

After HVOF application, the TecnoGrip surface is finished to achieve the required characteristics.

PR Rolls describes the final stage as polishing the surface, with the resulting roughness tailored according to the paper quality.

This finishing stage is critical.

The objective is not simply to apply a hard coating. The finished coating must provide the specific traction characteristics required by the machine and paper or board grade.

The complete process can therefore be understood as:

Prepare → Coat → Finish → Verify

On-site TecnoGrip Coating

One of TecnoGrip's major advantages is that PR Rolls can apply the coating directly at the customer's mill.

Removing large winding rolls or cylinders can require:

• Machine dismantling
• Heavy lifting
• Transportation
• Workshop processing
• Reinstallation
• Extended downtime

On-site coating eliminates many of these steps.

PR Rolls states that TecnoGrip can be applied on-site in less than 12 hours, depending on the application and project conditions.

This makes the coating particularly suitable for planned shutdowns where maintenance time is limited.

Short Shutdown – Long-Term Surface Upgrade

A key advantage of thermal spray surface engineering is that the functional properties of an existing roll can be changed without replacing the complete component.

For TecnoGrip, this means an existing winder drum, pope cylinder or suitable winding roll can receive a new functional traction surface during a maintenance shutdown.

Potential advantages include:

• No unnecessary roll replacement
• Reduced transportation
• Shorter shutdown requirements
• Improved traction
• Restored surface functionality
• Increased wear resistance
• Corrosion protection
• Extended component service life

PR Rolls' broader on-site coating concept is specifically designed to extend roll and cylinder lifetime while reducing downtime and transportation.

When Should You Consider TecnoGrip?

TecnoGrip should be considered when the interaction between the web and roll surface is contributing to winding or runnability problems.

Typical indicators include:

• Paper slips against the roll
• Board slips during winding
• Wrinkles occur during winding or rewinding
• Finished rolls are uneven
• Roll hardness varies across the width
• Web tracking is unstable
• Existing roll surfaces have become polished
• The current surface does not provide sufficient traction
• Roll surfaces wear rapidly
• Corrosion affects the roll surface

The correct solution should be based on the actual cause of the problem.

PR Rolls can evaluate the roll application and define the required surface characteristics accordingly.

TecnoGrip Technical Properties

PR Rolls' currently published TecnoGrip specifications are:

The final surface roughness should always be selected according to the individual application.

TecnoGrip vs. Other PR Rolls Coatings

This section is particularly valuable because it helps customers understand which coating solves which problem.

TecnoGrip should therefore be selected primarily when friction and traction are the surface properties that need to be improved.

A release coating is designed to reduce adhesion.

TecnoGrip does essentially the opposite where required: it creates a controlled surface that provides more reliable grip between the roll and web.

That semantic distinction is important for both customers and search engines.

Why Choose PR Rolls for Traction Coatings?

The objective of a traction coating is not simply to increase roughness.

It is to create the correct friction characteristics for the actual production process.

PR Rolls combines:

• Paper and board machine experience
• On-site coating expertise
• HVOF thermal spray technology
• Wear-resistant coating technology
• Application-specific surface finishing
• Adjustable surface roughness
• Fast on-site execution
• Measurement and maintenance capabilities

The result is a surface engineered around the roll function, web and production conditions.

PR Rolls' wider coating portfolio also allows the coating technology to be selected according to the dominant operating problem – whether that is traction, release, wear, corrosion or contamination.

Frequently Asked Questions About TecnoGrip

What is TecnoGrip?
TecnoGrip is PR Rolls' wear-resistant anti-slip and traction coating for rolls and cylinders where controlled friction is required. Its primary applications include winder drums and pope cylinders.

What does a traction coating do?
A traction coating increases and controls friction between a roll and the material contacting it. In paper and board applications, this can help prevent slippage and support more stable winding.

Where is TecnoGrip used?
PR Rolls specifically identifies winder drums and pope cylinders as TecnoGrip applications. The broader principle of thermal-spray traction coatings is also used industrially for winder drums and rewind rolls.

Can the roughness be adjusted?
Yes. This is one of TecnoGrip's most important characteristics. PR Rolls specifies a surface roughness range of Ra 4–16, tailored according to the paper or board quality.

Does a rougher surface always provide better performance?
Not necessarily. The objective is to achieve sufficient traction without unnecessarily marking the paper or board. The required surface therefore depends on the grade and application.

Can TecnoGrip help prevent wrinkles?
Yes. PR Rolls specifically positions TecnoGrip as a coating that helps prevent paper or board from slipping and supports even winding.

Is TecnoGrip wear resistant?
Yes. PR Rolls describes the coating as highly wear resistant and specifies a hardness of 1200 ±150 HV.

Is TecnoGrip corrosion resistant?
Yes. Corrosion resistance is one of the benefits specified by PR Rolls.

How is TecnoGrip applied?
The surface is prepared by sand-blasting, followed by HVOF thermal spraying and final surface finishing/polishing.

Can TecnoGrip be applied on-site?
Yes. PR Rolls states that the coating can be applied directly at the customer's site and, depending on the project, the coating work can be completed in less than 12 hours.

Improve Traction Without Replacing the Roll

A worn or polished roll surface does not necessarily mean that the complete roll needs to be replaced.

TecnoGrip creates a durable, wear-resistant traction surface for winder drums, pope cylinders and suitable winding applications where paper or board slippage affects production.

By tailoring the surface roughness to the application, PR Rolls can create the controlled friction required for stable winding while avoiding unnecessary marking of the web.

Combined with HVOF thermal spraying, on-site application and PR Rolls' paper and board machine expertise, TecnoGrip provides a fast way to restore and upgrade the functional surface of critical winding equipment.