NewPage Corp., Miamisburg, Ohio, USA, this week announced that Richard D. Willett, Jr., president and CEO, has resigned from NewPage effective January 18, and will remain with the company as a consultant through March 31. Mark A. Suwyn, former CEO and currently executive chairman, has been elected to serve as CEO until a new CEO is named.

"After considerable personal reflection on my longer term career interests, I have made the difficult decision to leave NewPage to pursue opportunities in other industries," stated Willett. "A smooth transition is important to me, and I have agreed to assist Mark Suwyn and the NewPage management team as needed as a consultant to the company, and then further through a two-year consulting arrangement with Cerberus Operations."

Suwyn said that "while there is never a perfect time for a transition, Rick and I, along with the board of directors, have mutually agreed on this timing and feel that NewPage is well positioned for the future now that the acquisition of Stora Enso North America has been successfully integrated. Rick has made enormous contributions to NewPage over the past four years and we all wish him well in the future."

NewPage is the largest coated paper manufacturer in North America, based on production capacity, with $4.4 billion in net sales for the year ended December 31, 2008. The company's product portfolio is the broadest in North America and includes coated freesheet, coated groundwood, supercalendered, newsprint and specialty papers. NewPage owns paper mills in Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Nova Scotia, Canada, with a total annual production capacity of approximately 4.4 million tons of paper, including 3.2 million tons of coated paper, 1.0 million tons of uncoated paper, and 200,000 tons of specialty paper.

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The value of imported products within the U.S. sawmill and woodworking machinery manufacturing industry has been relatively high, at approximately 90% of U.S. production, according to a new report by Research and Markets, Dublin, Ireland. Because of this reliance on imports, the report covers the foreign trade statistics including the top 25 countries the U.S. imports from and their respective import values. This industry, the reports notes, exhibits a high amount of trade activity, because in 2008, the value of exported products within this industry into the U.S. has also been relatively high, at approximately 30% of U.S. production. This reliance on exports is also covered in the report's foreign trade statistics.

As detailed in the report, titled "Sawmill and Woodworking Machinery Manufacturing Industry in the U.S. and its International Trade (Q4 2009 Edition)," the industry's revenue for the year 2008 was approximately $0.9 billion, with an estimated gross profit of 27.64%. Import was valued at $0.9 billion from 42 countries. The industry also exported $298.1 million worth of merchandise to 130 countries. Adding import value to and subtracting export value from the industry's shipment value, the total domestic demand for the industry in 2008 was $1.5 billion.

More information about this report is available on the Research and Markets web site.

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The North American uncoated free sheet sector could see price increase announcements in the next few weeks, reports Mark Wilde, senior analyst with Deutsche Bank. Initiatives in the $60 per ton range on a variety of UFS grades seem likely, he says, adding that, depending on the size and speed of implementation, a successful hike could lead to upward revisions in 2010 earnings estimates. Deutsche Bank's current estimates project UFS prices rising $10/ton in Q1, $20/ton in Q2, and $30 in Q3. Back To Top

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Kraft paper prices are rallying, Wilde also reports. List price of 70-lb grocery bag rose $20/ton to $745/ton in December and extensible multiwall sack 50-lb rose $40/ton to $935/ton. Longview Fibre recently announced a second price hike of $50/ton on extensible as well as on its unbleached and bleached kraft paper grades, effective January 1, Wilde notes. The latest price hike, he adds, is driven by strong mill backlogs (northern extensible producers = approximately two months, southern = 3 - 4 weeks), improved demand, and a surge in input costs. Prospects for January price hike are encouraging, Wilde says. "We think at least $20 - $30/ton of the hike is likely to be 'recognized.' " Back To Top

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All major North American uncoated recycled board producers have announced a $50/ton price hike for shipments effective early February, Wilde reports (see Published Price Increases below). The price hike is driven by a sharp rise in OCC costs (+ $30 - $40/ton in January). Sonoco is out with a $50/ton hike on all URB grades effective February 1, and an accompanying 4.5% hike on converted products effective February 15. RockTenn and Caraustar have announced a $50/ton price hike on URB grades effective February 8. Ox Paperboard's $50/ton price hike is effective February 1. Newark Group has announced a $40/ton price hike effective February 8 Back To Top

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For coated recycled board, Newark Group has announced a $40/ton price hike, effective February 1. This month's $40 - $45/ton CRB price hikes were first announced in late November by RockTenn, Graphic Packaging, PaperWorks, Cascades, and Strathcona, Wilde points out. Back To Top

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Copec, Chile, will invest $700 million in its Celulosa Arauco y Constitución (CELCO) wood pulp (cellulose) operations this year, according to local newspaper reports. CELCO is a pulp, engineered wood, and forestry company controlled by the Empresas Copec group. CELCO has five pulp mills in Chile and one in Argentina, as well as four engineered wood manufacturing plants in Chile, two in Argentina, and two in Brazil. In 2009 CELCO reportedly closed a deal worth $344 million with Finnish papermaker Stora Enso to acquire assets from the Spanish paper, pulp, and energy company Ence in Uruguay. Back To Top

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Fortress Paper, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, a security and specialty papers producer, reported this week that it received a contract for electronic passports that will generate revenue of C$10 million over five years. According to a Reuters news report, Fortress said it will make about 2.5 million electronic passports, enabled with radio frequency identification (RFID) that will contain the holder's personal data and other biometric information. Fortress also plans to increase its banknotes production capacity to 10,000 metric tpy from the current 2,500 metric tpy, a move that involves the expansion of its Landqart mill in British Columbia. The company plans to rebuild its paper machine there. Back To Top

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Glatfelter, York, Pa., USA, this week announced that it recently opened a new sales and distribution center in Russia. Located in Moscow, the new office will serve Glatfelter's Composite Fibers Business Unit (CFBU) customers in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), including Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Belarus. These areas were previously served through agents and traders. In conjunction with the establishment of this operation, Glatfelter acquired certain customer relationships and an existing sales platform from distributors of metalized products. The new center provides a local focus for all CFBU products and services, with a concentration on the food and beverage and metalized products market sectors.

CFBU uses specialized fibers to create highly specific papers for a multitude of end-use applications in the food and beverage, metalized products, technical specialties, and composite laminates market sectors.

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Georgia-Pacific Wood Products, Atlanta, Ga., USA, announced this week that it has achieved "Green Approved" certification from the NAHB Research Center for 13 of its wood and engineered lumber products. The company also reported that it has achieved certifications to the independent Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) chain-of-custody standard across its engineered lumber facilities and the SFI fiber sourcing certification for its engineered lumber, structural panels, and softwood lumber products. "Green Approved" certification means that G-P products comply with specific green practice criteria in the National Green Building Standard. Builders can earn points toward certification to the Standard by using G-P "Green Approved" products in accordance with both the approved practices described in the Standard and manufacturer installation instructions. Through SFI chain-of-custody certification, G-P's engineered lumber facilities all have a tracking system in place to identify the amount of wood fiber originating from forests certified to SFI. Additionally, G-P engineered lumber, structural panels, and softwood lumber product mills are all SFI fiber sourcing certified. Back To Top

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Green Energy Resources (GER), New York, N.Y., USA, reports that it has signed a two-year $55 million supply contract to deliver woodchips to Turkey. Shipments are scheduled to commence in March of this year. The pine woodchips will be sourced from Virginia, North Carolina, and Texas. The contract is the second signed with Turkey in the past three months for a combined $72 million in planned exports.

In other news, GER is expecting to begin the domestic supply of woodchips to major U.S. coal power generators in March. Permits for co-firing have been filed with the U.S. EPA and testing is expected through 2010, the company notes. GER sources its wood from storm damage, urban wood waste streams, and tree farms.

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Nippon Paper Industries (NPI), Tokyo, Japan, has been commercially using EcoSphere biolatex binders at one of its mills since January 2009, as a substitute for styrene butadiene (SB) synthetic latex, according to EcoSynthetix, Lansing, Mich., USA, and Burlington, Canada. NPI is also running trials with EcoSphere at a number of its mills producing coated paper.

Working with FIMATEC, EcoSynthetix's Japanese Distributor, the parties undertook exhaustive testing and evaluation of EcoSphere as an SB latex substitute in 2008. The successful commercial substitution of SB latex with EcoSphere biolatex binders began in January 2009 and continues under a cooperation agreement. Nippon Paper Group, which has 24 paper mills in Japan, will use EcoSphere biolatex binders in a number of paper applications, replacing SB synthetic latexes in their proprietary paper coatings.

John van Leeuwen, EcoSynthetix CEO, stated he was "delighted that NPI, globally recognized as producing some of the whitest, brightest, fine paper in the world, chose EcoSphere to help them meet their sustainable development objective by replacing petroleum based synthetic latexes with EcoSphere biolatex binders produced from annually renewable sources." Van Leeuwen commended Masato Katayama, president and CEO of FIMATEC, for his team's "exceptional efforts in making this historic agreement possible."

NPI, a key company within the Nippon Paper Group, was founded in 1949. Nippon Paper Group is a producer of pulp, paper, paperboard, and paper related products in Japan. Fimatec founded in 1987, is a supplier of mineral products to the paper industry. EcoSynthetix, founded in 1996, focuses on biobased replacements for petrochemical performance products. Its flagship product EcoSphere is a biolatex binder that replaces petroleum based latex binders used in the manufacture of coated paper and paperboard. Biolatex binders reportedly improve sustainability, reduce cost, and reduce carbon footprint.

The global paper coating industry annually uses more than 4 billion lb (2 billion kg) of petroleum based synthetic binders valued at approximately $5 billion. First generation EcoSphere reportedly can replace up to 100% of these latexes.

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Sappi Fine Paper North America, Boston, Mass., USA, has issued a call for entries in its North American Printers of the Year awards for 2010, a competition that recognizes print excellence and innovation for work produced on Sappi papers. Winning printers can win up to $20,000 in design support of their marketing initiatives for each category and will be featured in Sappi's upcoming searchable online database for designers, printer buyers, and corporations. All entries for the competition must be received by February 12.

Printers can enter existing work printed between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2009, that uses a Sappi paper as the dominant stock and is printed on a Sappi paper in the U.S. or Canada. For each entry, six copies of the printed piece must be submitted by mail along with one copy of the entry form. More details and the entry form are available on Sappi's website, or by calling 800-882-4332.

This year Sappi has expanded the Printers of the Year program to include a digital category recognizing the trend towards digital printing even in the most demanding applications. Printers may submit entries for one of the following 10 categories: Annual Reports, Books, Brochures, Calendars, Catalogs, Digital Print, Magazines (sheet fed), Magazines (web), Printer's Own Promotions, or General Print (any printed material not included in the other categories). Each printer may submit an unlimited number of entries but each entry must be accompanied by its own entry form. All entries will be judged on overall impact of the piece, degree of difficulty in the printing techniques, and technical excellence.

Printers will be initially competing for the Silver Awards, who then compete for the Gold Awards and Sappi's International Printers of the Year, respectively. The Silver Award winners from each region (Mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes, Midwest, Northeast, South and West) will be chosen in each of the 10 categories for a total of 60 Silver Awards. These finalists will represent their regions in the challenge for the Gold Awards (winners from each category for a total of 10 winners who will receive up to $20,000 in design support). Gold Award winners from North, Central, and South America will then compete in the International Printers of the Year Awards to be issued later this year.

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Thilmany Papers, Kaukauna, Wis., USA, reports that it has launched a new corporate branding identity. The new brand elements include a modernized logo color treatment, a total website overhaul, and a strategic business tagline: "great minds on paper." The company's corporate website features a more intuitive, user-friendly design. With conversational messaging, candid photography, extensive product information, and key updates (such as a complete sustainability section), visitors can more easily access all the things about Thilmany. Other brand components, including printed materials, trade show graphics, and electronic communications, have also been streamlined into the new message format. Back To Top

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SAICA, a Spain-based containerboard and packaging company, reports that it will build a $473 million recycled containerboard mill at Partington Wharfside in Trafford, U.K. The company's No. 11 machine at the mill will have the capacity to produce 400,000 metric tpy of lightweight, high performance containerboard production capacity. PM 11 will be 7.5 m wide and have a maximum operating speed of 1,500 m/min. Construction is expected to begin early this year, with startup set for February 2012. Back To Top

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Smurfit Stone Container Corp., Chicago, Ill., USA, in a regulatory filing this past week, reported that it plans to raise $1.85 billion of debt financing to pay off creditors and support its business when it exits bankruptcy, Reuters reported. The company plans to borrow $1.2 billion under a six-year loan and have $650 million available under an asset-backed revolving loan. The company expects to exit bankruptcy in April.

According to the filing, Smurfit plans to emerge with $1.1 billion of net debt, down $2.9 billion entering bankruptcy, and expects to eliminate another 599 jobs in 2010 (in addition to the 2,185 in 2009), reducing its total personnel to some 19,000. The company reduced its payroll by 2,185 last year. The company anticipates reducing it debt ratio to 2.5 times its EBITDA, or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. The debt ratio was 8 times in 2009. It also forecasts an increase in EBITDA of more than 40% by 2014, which would reduce its EBITDA ratio to 1.7 times by 2014.

The company expects to get court approval to begin asking creditors to vote on its plan of reorganization later this month, according to Reuters.

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Pretium Packaging, St. Louis, Mo., USA, is partnering with Castle Harlan, a New York-based buy-out firm, and existing Pretium management in connection with the merger of Pretium and PVC Container Corporation, the parent of Novapak Corp., a portfolio company of Kirtland Capital, a Cleveland-based buyout firm. The new entity will retain the name Pretium Packaging, be headquartered in Chesterfield, Mo., and be managed by the current Pretium management group together with certain members of the Novapak team. The founder and current owner of Pretium, Keith Harbison, will be a significant minority shareholder in the combined business and a member of the company's board of directors. Back To Top

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Botnia (Oy Metsä-Botnia Ab), Finland, reports that it will increase pulp prices in Europe beginning February 1, until further notice. The new prices are: Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft (NBSK) $860 per metric ton and bleached birch Sulfate $760 per metric ton. Botnia, owned by M-real Oyj, Metsäliitto Osuuskunta, and UPM-Kymmene Oyj of Finland, produces bleached pulp grades. Its Finland-based pulp mills are located in Joutseno, Kemi, Rauma, and Äänekoski. Back To Top

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Caraustar Industries, Atlanta, Ga., USA, will increase prices by $50 per ton on all grades of uncoated recycled paperboard and uncoated recycled paperboard converted products produced by its mills, effective with shipments on and after February 8. Caraustar will also increase prices of tubes and cores and all other uncoated recycled paperboard converted products, which will be effective with shipments on and after February 15.

Greg Bartlett, VP sales and marketing for Caraustar's Mill Group, stated that "we have worked to mitigate rising costs by improving the productivity of our uncoated mill system and by guaranteeing the high quality of fiber supplied to our mills. However, recycled fiber prices have escalated significantly and we must pass these costs through to our customers."

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Mondi, U.K., will reportedly increase its recycled paperboard price in Europe by EUR 60 per metric ton, beginning February 1. The company attributes the increase to higher input costs, currently strong demand, and high machine operating rates. Back To Top

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Graphic Packaging International, Marietta, Ga., USA, a subsidiary of Graphic Packaging Holding Co., has announced a price increase of $50 per ton on all grades of PaceSetter uncoated recycled board (URB), effective with shipments on or after February 18. Back To Top

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Mohawk Fine Papers, Cohoes, N.Y., this week announced the appointment of Andy Patrick to its board of directors. Patrick is president and CEO of liveBooks, the leading provider of award-winning websites, allowing creative professionals to promote and manage their businesses online. Prior to founding liveBooks, he was executive VP and COO of Adjacency Brand New Media, a strategic web consultancy. In 2000 Patrick was named one of the top 50 people in design by Metropolis Magazine. He is also founder and executive director of FiftyCrows Foundation, a founding board member of Healing the Divide, founder and executive director of Mad Housers of Chicago, and was a founding board member of StreetWise magazine. Back To Top

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Tony Knoezer, Vice President of Packaging Advanced Research, Frito-Lay and Christa Martin, Vice President Product Development and Management, MBE (a UPS company) will be the keynote speakers at the 2010 PLACE Conference. It will occur April 18-21, 2010 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, and is sponsored by TAPPI's Polymers, Laminations, Adhesives, Coatings and Extrusions (PLACE) Division. The conference is tailored for attendees from all areas of the flexible packaging and converting industries.

Knoerzer is responsible for research that will deliver greater performance and value through the creation of new materials, formats and technologies. He also leads the development of sustainable food packaging by coordinating a global team. 

Martin joined Mail Boxes Etc., Inc. (MBE, A UPS Company) in April 2008 as Vice President of Product Development and Management. MBE is the franchisor of The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. Martin has more than 20 years of sales, marketing, operations and product development experience.

The 2010 PLACE Conference is the premier North American event for the flexible packaging industry. The theme of this conference is "A PLACE to Soar". It will include multiple peer-to-peer networking opportunities with a wide range of technical professionals working in flexible packaging, polymers, laminations, adhesives, coatings, and extrusions.

Complete information, including the technical program, schedule of events, sponsorship opportunities and registration, is available online. TAPPI's PLACE Division is made up of hundreds of technical professionals working in flexible packaging, laminations, adhesives, coatings, and extrusions disciplines.

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The Association of Suppliers to the Paper Industry (ASPI) invites all ASPI members to reconnect with peers at the 2010 Spring Meeting, scheduled for February 18-19, 2010 in Naples, Florida, USA. This meeting delivers meaningful business content while providing a unique forum for senior business leaders to meet and interact with their peers serving the pulp and paper industry supplier community.

A key reason that business leaders attend is that they learn directly from guest speakers who represent their customer base. The speakers are senior executives who address pressing issues that affect how participants conduct business today and tomorrow. The connection is direct without any filtering layer of analysts or intermediaries. This meeting's presenters include J. Patrick Maley III, President, COO, and Director for Temple-Inland; Mike Edwards, SVP Pulp & Paper Manufacturing for Domtar; and Butch Johnson, CEO of Flambeau River Biofuels.

ASPI meeting attendees will also hear industry and market segment overviews by Stephen Atkinson, Managing Director for Paper & Forest Products for BMO Capital Markets. Joining him is Paul Leclair, VP and Chief Economist with the Pulp and Paper Products Council. ASPI is also pleased to announce that Tim Mescon, President of Columbus State University will be speaking. Mescon has an outstanding reputation as a speaker on management and leadership issues.

The ASPI 2010 Spring Meeting offers opportunities for informal networking, an ASPI Golf Tournament on Friday, February 19th, and a Spouse/Guest program. The venue is The Inn on Fifth in Old Naples, Florida  ASPI has negotiated preferred hotel registration rates for ASPI attendees.

Prospective participants are encouraged to make reservations. They can visit the ASPI website, www.aspinet.org for full details now and can visit the site periodically for program updates. Further background is available from Colleen Walker, ASPI Director of Member Relations, at cwalker@aspinet.org or by phone at +1 770 209-7349.

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Date: March 15-19, 2010
Location: North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina

Need to know more about pulping, bleaching, chemical recovery, recycling, papermaking and converting to do your job better? Gain an excellent overall view of the basic concepts in pulp and paper manufacturing while increasing your understanding through hands-on laboratory exercises.

Using a combination of balanced lectures and laboratories, this workshop will provide you with an easy-to-learn and lasting introduction to pulp and paper technology, operations, and markets, including:

• Overview knowledge of the entire pulping and papermaking process
• How different processes affect paper properties
• Hands-on lab experiments to enhance your understanding of process
• Run a pilot plant paper machine
• Close interaction with Pulp and Paper Professors in small groups

Learn more about the course and register to attend here. You can also download the complete course brochure.

CEUs available. This course will also be held June 7-10, 2010; and October 4-8, 2010.

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TAPPI's NET (Nonwovens Engineers & Technologists) Division is pleased to announce that it is planning a 2010 Nonwovens Technical Conference for this fall. The conference will provide updates on current challenges and cutting-edge solutions for the nonwovens industry. Last year, leading experts from the nonwovens field addressed hot topics such as sustainability and "green" concerns, advanced binders and additives, and new technologies affecting the industry. Additional details on this year's program will be announced later this spring. 

"TAPPI and the members of NET are excited to expand our commitment to the nonwovens industry by organizing this conference," said TAPPI's President and CEO Larry N. Montague said. "By providing attendees with access to important technical knowledge and a network of people who can leverage that knowledge, TAPPI's 2010 Nonwovens Technical Conference will advance the science and its application within this dynamic field. This event is a critical gathering for those dedicated to broadening their knowledge of nonwovens technology."

Operating as a division of TAPPI, NET is the only professional society in the nonwovens industry and is the international association home for nonwovens experts from diverse markets and disciplines. Members work collaboratively in volunteer groups to share knowledge with peers throughout the world in all segments of the nonwovens industry -- from hygiene and fabrics to filtration, insulation and more.

NET is led by Division Chair Behnam Pourdeyhimi, who is Associate Dean for Industry Research & Extension, William A. Klopman Distinguished Professor and Executive Director of The Nonwovens Institute for North Carolina State University. "Technical societies such as TAPPI's NET Division provide a great service to the industry and return in spades actionable ideas to the individuals who volunteer, " said Pourdeyhimi. "TAPPI's 2010 Nonwovens Technical  Conference provides an exciting opportunity for NET to further nonwovens science and manufacturing applications through peer-reviewed papers and collaborative activities among organizers and attendees."

To learn more about participating in the development of the 2010 Nonwovens Technical Conference, please contact  Craig McKinney, Program Manager, at +1-770-209-7294 or cmckinney@tappi.org.

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The upcoming Best Practices in Corrugator Operations Short Course is sold out and has surpassed capacity for TAPPI's training facility. The course will now be held February 16-19, 2010, at the Holiday Inn Select in Norcross, Georgia, USA. Last held in 2004, this course is back by popular demand and teaches participants how to understand each element in the corrugating process, which will lead to higher productivity, better quality, and waste reduction.

Participants will learn the basics of how each component in the corrugator system works and how to run each component with optimum settings for peak performance. Both old and new equipment will be covered. Participants will develop an understanding of the critical properties of the raw materials that are vital to guarantee acceptable quality board. The course instructors will teach participants how the "Centerline Process" can be adopted in their plant and achieve a product that is consistent every day and on all shifts. Learn more.

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TAPPI has announced the dates and location for its 13th European PLACE Conference as 30 May - 1 June, 2011. It will be held at the internationally famous Festpielhaus on Lake Constance in Bregenz Austria. This biennial European event brings together professionals in the flexible packaging industry. It attracts managers, packaging engineers, technical personnel, technical directors and other key decision makers.

"We are excited to bring the same caliber of information and experts to Austria as we drew to our successful 12th European PLACE event in Budapest Hungary in 2009," said TAPPI President and CEO, Larry N. Montague. "The high quality of programming and the convenient location on Lake Constance bordering Switzerland, Austria and Germany promises to attract attendees from all over Europe."

The Invitation to Present will be extended in the coming months. Continue to check www.tappi.org for new details.

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"Optimizing Chemical Recovery Technology for Today's Marketplace" is the theme of the 2010 International Chemical Recovery Conference, which will be held March 28-April 1, 2010 in Williamsburg, Virginia USA.  Held every three years, the conference is a major event that addresses the needs of industry and academic professionals with interests in chemical recovery technology in the pulp and paper industry. The updated program schedule features more than 65 presentations. The event is designed to provide delegates an update on new technologies from around the globe while also showcasing ways to improve existing technology.

The 2010 International Chemical Recovery Conference will include several key components:
- A comprehensive Plenary Session
- Special colonial Groaning Board Banquet in historic Williamsburg, VA
- Peer-to-peer networking that connects diverse groups of chemical recovery experts
- Sponsorship opportunities designed to fit a range of marketing needs or budgets

Online registration is available for prospective delegates. Those who register before March 1, 2010 receive the best registration rate and save hundreds of dollars (U.S.) versus the full fee that applies after that date. Members of TAPPI (international), PAPTAC (Canada), Japan TAPPI, ABTCP (Brazil), and PI (Finland) receive preferential pricing for all registration options. Group discounts are also available, offering substantial savings for multiple registrants from a single location.

More program content is available at www.icrcmeeting.org. Those interested in sponsorship information can contact Craig McKinney at +1 770 209-7294 or cmckinney@tappi.org. Information is also available through TAPPI's Member Connection Center, 1 800-332-8686 (US), 1-800-446-9431 (Canada), +1-770-446-1400 (worldwide), or via email at memberconnection@tappi.org.

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A Call for Presentations/Posters has been issued for the 2010 TAPPI International Conference on Nanotechnology for the Forest Products Industry, 27-29 September, 2010, in Espoo, Finland. This annual, internationally recognized event brings together leading researchers, industry experts, government representatives, and other stakeholders to share  advances and perspectives on nanotechnology-based products for the forest products and related industries.

To leverage research advances and offer participants new opportunities for knowledge sharing, the 2010 Technical Program Committee invites contributions from participants working with nano-enabled bio-materials, products, and their processing. Analysis of challenges and trends in emerging markets for forest products that are based on nanotechnology are sought to provide a foundation for new research and industrial activities. The organizers also  encourage submissions on other aspects of nanotech products including law, policy, economics and environmental health and safety. View the Call for Papers.

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TAPPI and Pira International are collaborating to provide key insight into the future of the paperboard industry with the Paperboard Packaging Conference, 22-24 June 2010 in Budapest, Hungary.

The event will bring together leading minds in paperboard and associated industries, creating a forum where the current challenges and opportunities facing converters, mills and end users involved in paperboard will be discussed and real solutions proposed.

In this forum you will hear:

• Market forecasts by geographic region, material type and end use over the next five years
• Consumer, retailer and brand owner future requirements and expectations
• Sustainability challenges and opportunities for paperboard packaging
• Latest innovations in printing and decoration technologies
• Regulatory and legislative landscape for the future Advances in paperboard manufacture and converting

Learn more about the Paperboard Packaging Conference, including the Draft Program at www.paperboardpack.com.

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Nominations are now open for management level awards through PIMA's prestigious and well-established industry awards program. All the awards recognize accomplishment and expertise in the field of management. The first three highlight leaders who have made significant contributions to the paper industry over time. The deadline for submission is January 31, 2010.

Nominations are open for the following awards:

• PIMA'S Executive of the Year: PIMA's highest honor, traditionally presented to senior-level executives in the pulp, paper or converting industries for excellence in management and outstanding contributions to the industry as a whole.
• Mill Manager of the Year: Recognizes the mill manager who has best demonstrated outstanding leadership, management, and organizational skills leading to improved results at the facility for which he or she is responsible.
• The Brookshire Moore Superintendent of the Year: Recognizes the mill superintendent who has shown high personal standards and professional management qualities that contribute to the betterment of those under their management and in their company.
• Technologist of the Year
• Ray H. Cross Community Service Award
• Delano L. "Del" Boutin Local Section Service Award
• Thomas F. Sheerin, Sr. Service Award
• IT Service Award
• Kenneth H. Phillips Specialist Group Award
• Student of the Year Award

The one-page Nomination Forms are available online, in both a printable PDF format or as an interactive online form. Complete award descriptions are also available online. Honor your peers, coworkers, and managers, and help promote management excellence in our industry, by making your nominations for PIMA Awards.

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