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Measuring the mass of stock on the forming fabric at the wet end of the paper machine is very useful for optimizing the machine's performance. An optimized wet end can have favorable benefits to paper quality, paper throughput, energy usage and paper clothing life cycles.

The technique used to measure mass of the stock employs the use of a backscatter gamma radiation device. This method is desirable because it is very accurate in obtaining mass data. Further, the device can be used without interrupting paper machine production.

Once the mass data is measured, the data should be compiled and calculated to flowrates and to percent solids performing a material balance. This publication describes how to calculate the material balance from this data.