Plant and process for efficiently producing a structured cross-channel packing element

A plant for producing a structured cross-channel packing element for a column for at least one of mass transfer and heat exchange between a heavy fluid phase and a light fluid phase, the structured cross-channel packing element comprising:

• at least two adjacent layers made of expanded metal sheets each comprising openings that are surrounded and separated from each other by separating elements, and the expanded metal sheets each comprising periodic deformations,
• wherein at least two of the at least two layers are arranged in a longitudinal direction of the structured cross-channel packing element parallel and in touching contact with each other such that an open space extending from one end to an opposite end of the at least two layers is provided between the at least two layers such that at least one of the heavy fluid phase and the light fluid phase may flow therethrough, wherein the plant comprises:
• a stretching machine configured to cut and stretch a metal sheet to form one of a plurality of first expanded metal sheets,
• a calibration machine configured to roll each of the first expanded metal sheets produced in the stretching machine to a desired thickness,
• a sheet storage unit,
• a forming machine configured to form each of the first expanded metal sheets rolled in the calibration machine to form the expanded metal sheets comprising periodic deformations, and
• a stacking machine configured to stack the expanded metal sheets comprising periodic deformations to form the structured cross-channel packing element,
• wherein the sheet storage unit is configured to directly receive each of the first expanded metal sheets rolled in the calibration machine and to release the first expanded metal sheets directly to the forming machine.