Wisconsin state grants, totaling around $100,000, recently awarded to two Wisconsin businesses and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP), will be directed toward conversion of pulp and paper mill sludge into a valuable by-product stream. As reported by the Wausau Daily Herald this week, Abba Makolin Waldron & Associates in Neenah and Wausau-based American Science and Technology will partner with the university on separate projects., both being run through the Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology.

Professor Don Guay, one of the UWSP faculty members, is working on a project with American Science and Technology that is focused on turning paper mill sludge headed for a landfill into isoprene, a sugar-rich compound used in industrial products such as car tires. Diverting the sludge to by-product development could save mills considerable landfill costs while creating another revenue stream.

The second project, with Abba Makolin Waldron & Associates, is focused on improving the consistency of paper made with recycled paper. It uses a technology invented by UWSP professor Gerry Ring that mixes paper fibers of different lengths more precisely. The process creates a stronger sheet of paper and allows companies to use cheaper materials. Abba Makolin President Bob Makolin said his company will work with student researchers to take Ring's process and create a fiber-length analyzer that can be installed on paper machines.

"If this technology works out, it could be truly a game changer for the industry," Makolin said in the newspaper article.

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The November 10-11 TAPPI-Pira Specialty Papers 2010 conference in Chicago, Ill., USA is the only conference devoted exclusively to latest developments in the specialty papers sector. The comprehensive 2010 program features:

• 18 presentations from a cross-section of industry experts from organizations such as Suntech Resources, Hewlett Packard, Kimberly Clark, FPInnovations, and Western Michigan University
• One-and-a-half days of in-depth coverage of global market trends; insights into how to improve the manufacturing process, reduce costs, and increase competitiveness; the latest technology developments; and the forecast for sustainability and LCA
• Two round-table lunches covering the industry's hot-button topics (as determined by attendees!) where attendees can share and learn from successes and setbacks
• Networking with more than 150 top paper industry leaders. Last year's attendees included companies such as Cargill, DuPont, Georgia-Pacific Chemicals, Neenah Paper, Rio Tinto Minerals, Teijin Aramid USA, The Dow Chemical Co., and many more.

More information about this highly focused, one of a kind conference, and registration procedures are available online.

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The U.S. dollar has weakened significantly in recent months, Mark Wilde, senior analyst, Deutsche Bank, notes, adding that "with potential price pressure looming in key grades as demand eases, we believe the weaker U.S. dollar reduces the risk of significant declines. This is primarily because the weak dollar squeezes margins of foreign producers. It reduces revenues in local currency terms, but does nothing to reduce local currency costs. A weaker dollar also aids domestic pricing dynamics in other ways, including boosting exports and limiting imports." Company Back To Top

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With market pulp prices starting to slide after a big rally since the April 2009 bottom, there is some concern about a replay of the late 2008/early 2009 collapse, Wilde says, adding, however, that "we view this as unlikely." In the last downturn, he continues, the U.S. dollar played a significant role by rallying against the Euro from $1.56 to $1.25 and against the Brazilian Real from R1.57 to R2.43.

In recent months, the U.S. dollar has weakened against the Euro from $1.20 in early June to a recent $1.37 and against the Real from R1.89 in early June to a recent R1.71, Wilde reports. Other key factors in the last downturn are absent, he points out, including very high inventories, a collapse in demand, and black liquor credits in the U.S.

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In 2009 U.S. containerboard producers exported some 3.5 million tons of containerboard, about 11% of total production. With attractive off-shore prices and a weak U.S. dollar, Wilde advises, exports should become an increasingly attractive option for domestic producers. This diversion of supply should help keep the domestic market snug despite evidence of slowing domestic demand growth, he adds. Back To Top

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U.S. West Coast newsprint producers closed the gap with East Coast producers, Wilde reports, with list price in the West rising $20/metric ton in September to $610/metric ton. With East Coast prices flat in September, the gap is now down to $30/metric ton. Reports suggest that small customers are paying the full $40/metric ton increase this month, he notes. For large customers, however, price pass-thru is happening in two monthly installments of $20/metric ton each. In addition to the $40/metric ton September price increase, White Birch implemented a $25/metric ton price increase in the western markets beginning the first of this month. No other producer has yet announced a hike for October, Wilde adds.

The August North American newsprint operating rate was 97%, according to Wilde. Total U.S. newsprint consumption was -2.9% y/y. Recent data suggest that newspaper ad-spending in the U.S. is improving. Meanwhile, producers are increasingly focusing on alternative products (high brites and packaging grades) and off-shore markets such as Asia, Lain America, and the Middle East, where newsprint demand is growing, Wilde explains.

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Prices for woody biomass, whether sawmill byproducts, forest residues, or urban wood waste, were higher in the third quarter than the previous quarter in most regions throughout the U.S. The Northwest saw the biggest increase, with forest biomass prices (delivered) up 19% from the second quarter, according to the North American Wood Fiber Review (NAWFR), Seattle, Wash., USA.

During the past few years, there has been an expansion of the biomass-consuming sector in the Northwest, both of stand-alone facilities and for energy plants in conjunction with pulp mills and sawmills. This development has resulted in a decline in open-market volumes of sawmill biomass (bark and wood fiber residues) and there is starting to be an increased need to source additional volumes of higher-cost forest biomass and even urban recycled wood from the larger metropolitan areas in both Oregon and Washington, NAWFR notes.

As a result of low prices for fossil fuels, there has not yet been a dramatic increase in the consumption of biomass in the Northwest, and prices for both mill and forest biomass were actually lower in the third quarter compared with the same quarter in 2008 and 2009. This picture may very well change over the next two years if the plans for six new energy facilities in Western Washington materialize, as this would increase the demand for wood fiber, NAWFR explains.

California, home to the largest concentration of stand-alone biomass plants in North America, was one of the few states where BCAP (the Biomass Crop Assistance Program) money seemed to function as intended earlier this year, namely to bring out additional volumes of forest residues. With the absence of the BCAP incentives, average woody biomass prices in the third quarter returned to pre-BCAP levels of 2009.

In the U.S. Northeast, the third quarter found biomass plants receiving lower income due to relatively low demand for power in the region. Prices for feedstock, in reaction, drifted lower in part also due to plentiful inventories left over from the second quarter. Forest biomass prices have trended downward since early 2009 and are currently 22% below the first quarter of 2009, reports NAWFR.

Demand for woody biomass in the U.S. South has slowly increased the past few years as more energy plants have decided to add green energy to their portfolio of alternative energy sources. As a result, biomass prices have trended upward the past four years and were almost 50% higher in the third quarter this year compared with early 2007. This trend is likely to continue because of the expansion of biomass plants expected in the region in the coming years.

More information about NAWFR is available online.

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Felix Schoeller subsidiary Technocell Dekor will shutdown one of its two paper machines at the Titisee-Neustadt mill in order to cut costs. PM 17 will be closed by September 30 of next year, resulting in the loss of 84 jobs out of a total of 189 at the Titisee-Neustadt mill in Germany on April 1. The company will continue to operate PM 18, which produces pre-impregnated papers and resin-saving papers.

According to the company, PM 17 no longer meets all the requirements of efficient and highly productive decor paper production. It is also the smallest and least specialized of the company's paper machines that produce standard decor papers.

PM 17 annually produces 20,000 metric tons of decor paper, which is used as a surface finish for flooring, worktops, and furniture.

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Fortress Paper Ltd., Vancouver, B.C., Canada, has announced that its CEO, Chad Wasilenkoff, has been named Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the year, Pacific Region. The awards ceremony honored entrepreneurs in eight categories and an overall Pacific region winner. Wasilenkoff received the award in the Manufacturing category and was ultimately awarded the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Pacific Region.

Wasilenkoff was recognized for focusing on innovation and enhancing Fortress' presence in new markets. Fortress Paper is an international producer of security and other specialty papers and products. The company operates mills in Switzerland, Germany, and Canada.

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Heinzel Group of Austria is cleared to acquire Europapier AG, after The European Commission, Brussels, Belgium, decided that the sale would not hamper competition in the European Economic Area. The commission did not have any concerns about competition or find any sizeable overlaps in the companies' activities.

Europapier owner Mondi Group signed an agreement earlier this summer to sell the company to the Heinzel Group. With Europapier, Heinzel becomes a leading trading and merchant company with a total sales volume of around 1.2 million metric tons. The merger will allow Europapier to gain access to an even broader range of products, making it a more attractive one-stop-shop partner.

Heinzel Group's strategy is to expand its key role in pulp, paperboard, and paper trading in Western Europe, emerging Eastern European markets, North Africa, Middle Eas, and Asia. The acquisition will enhance the Group's geographical coverage and strengthen its existing position in a number of countries.

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The Hengan Group, a manufacturer of tissue products in China, has ordered from Andritz, Graz, Austria, four PrimeLine high-speed tissue machines, each with a width of 5.6 m and a capacity of approximately 60,000 metric tpy. Following startup of the machines in 2011/2012, the Hengan Group will have a total of nine Andritz tissue machines in operation, producing tissue products.

PM 11 and PM 12, both PrimeLine W8 machines, will be installed at the Chongqing site and have a design speed of 2,100 m/min. The scope of supply includes the complete stock preparation plant, the two-layer headbox (PrimeFlow) with dilution control, a single press and hood, an 18-ft. yankee, a dust removal system, a PrimeReel Advanced reel system, as well as the machine control system from Andritz Automation.

PM 15 and PM 16, both PrimeLine W6 machines, will be installed at the Jinjiang site and have a similar scope of supply, with the exception of the yankee, which has a diameter of 16 ft and is made entirely of steel (PrimeDry Steel Yankee).

The machines and components will be manufactured at Andritz production facilities in Europe and China. With a total of 18 high-speed tissue machines now supplied to China, ANDRITZ has succeeded in strengthening its position as one of the leading suppliers of tissue machines and local services in China.

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Kimberly-Clark Professional, Roswell, Ga., USA, has made a multimillion dollar investment to boost the recycled fiber capabilities of its Loudon, Tenn., facility. The investment enables the mill to increase the amount of recycled fiber in a range of Kleenex and Scott brand towel products.

The capital improvements will bring the Loudon facility up to the same recycled fiber capacity of other state-of-the-art Kimberly-Clark Professional production facilities, enabling an increase in recycled fiber content for some of its towel products of up to 100%. Project construction was completed in July 2010 and production is currently ramping up.

"As part of our Reduce Today, Respect Tomorrow program, our goal is to make our products as environmentally sustainable as possible, while still maintaining the high level of product performance for which our products are known," said Andy Clement, director of the Hand Hygiene and Tissue business for Kimberly-Clark Professional. "This is consistent with the large recycled fiber investment we made in our Mobile, Ala., facility in 2007 and just one of many hand hygiene and tissue investments we plan on making in the future."

Kimberly-Clark Professional is one of the largest manufacturers of washroom products in the world, serving commercial institutional facilities such as office buildings, hotels, schools, healthcare facilities, manufacturing plants and other public buildings.

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VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and Kemira Oyj, also based in Finland, are opening a new joint R&D center in São Paulo, Brazil, to focus on water chemistry and biomass utilization applications. The new center is a continuum for the Center of Water Efficiency Excellence, which Kemira established with VTT in Finland.

The São Paulo center, which will begin operations at the end of this year, aims to implement the newest water technology research in the growing South American market. The center will focus on biomass, bioethanol, pulp, and applications for the oil and mining industries. It will also form partnerships with local enterprises and research institutions in turning biomass into chemicals, energy (biofuels), and pulp-based products.

"An on-site research facility in São Paulo enables VTT to support Finnish businesses in the growing South American market as well as develop its research collaboration in a very efficient way. This can't be done without being present in local markets in South America," said Erkki KM Leppävuori, CEO of VTT. "Establishing research facilities in Brazil supports VTT's internationalization strategy especially in the fields of industrial biotechnology and the forest sector."

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Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing Co., China, plans to increase its annual paper output capacity by more than 50% during the next two years. The company plans to build five production lines in Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province, to increase its capacity from 4.55 million tons to 6.95 million tons by June of 2012.

A production boost of that magnitude won't come cheap. The company has allocated HK$4.4 billion ($657 million) in capital expenditures for the next two fiscal years. By comparison, it spent HK$700 million ($104.5 million) during the year that ended in June.

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Metsä Tissue, Finland, part of the Metsäliitto Group, announced that it plans to invest about EUR 7 million to significantly increase its Away-from-Home tissue production capacity. With project completion expected by the first quarter of 2012, the regional investment will strengthen the company's Katrin brand presence in Europe and improve the Mänttä mill's cost efficiency.

Metsä Tissue's main tissue product brands are Lambi, Serla, Mola, Tento, Katrin, and SAGA. The company has production sites in Finland, Germany, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, and Sweden.

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The workforce at M-real Corp., Finland, part of Metsäliitto Group, will be reduced by a maximum of 44 people as a result of concluded statutory negotiations at the Äänekoski paper mill in Finland. Personnel reductions will take place during 2011 at the latest.

M-real began statutory negotiations in August in efforts to improve the mill's efficiency and profitability. The mill employs about 250 people.

The company will work with authorities to help affected employees find new employment. If possible, it will offer jobs internally in the company or at other Metsäliitto Group businesses.

M-real announced in March that it would invest approximately EUR 6 million in sheeting operations at the Äänekoski paper mill to increase sheeting capacity, streamline the conversion process, and improve package quality and the mill's profitability. The investment will be done next summer.

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The Procter & Gamble Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, has announced a long-term environmental sustainability vision that includes powering its plants with 100% renewable energy, using 100% renewable or recycled materials for all products and packaging, having zero consumer and manufacturing waste go to landfills, and maximizing resource conservation. The new vision provides P&G with a long-term framework to guide its sustainability decisions and goal-setting.

P&G will implement a series of 10-year sustainability goals to focus company efforts, incrementally improve the organization's environmental performance, and hold P&G accountable against its long-term sustainability vision. The first set of 10-year sustainability goals will be delivered by 2020. The company will report progress against these goals on an annual basis.

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YTN, Finland's Federation of Professional and Managerial Staff, reports that discussions with the Finnish Forest Industries' Federation have not advanced, and that senior white-collar workers in the pulp and paper industry may strike. The strike is scheduled to begin at 6 a.m. on October 29 if an agreement is not reached by then. YTN has about 3,000 senior white collar employees in Finland's pulp and paper industry. Back To Top

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NSE Biofuels Oy, a joint venture of Finland-based Stora Enso and Neste Oil, will begin environmental impact assessments for a commercial-scale biorefinery at Porvoo and at Imatra in Finland. Year-long assessments of the two locations will start in November.

Porvoo and Imatra are considered possible locations for a commercial-scale plant because of the local availability of the raw materials needed and good logistic connections. The two locations are potential sites for a unit that could produce about 200,000 metric tpy of premium-quality renewable diesel from wood biomass. The companies' existing plants at Porvoo and Imatra would enable efficient year-round use of heat energy generated in the biorefinery.

The first full-scale commercial plant will represent an investment of at least EUR 500 million.

The entire production chain—from wood biomass to biowax suitable for refining into renewable diesel—has been tested at the company's demonstration plant at Varkaus, Finland. Trial runs will continue there until at least next year. Decisions on the future of the Varkaus plant and the possible approval for a commercial plant will be made early next year after business plans and cost calculations have been completed.

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An environmental group is accusing Stora Enso, Helsinki, Finland, of seizing land illegally from farmers in China in its efforts to build a new pulp feedstock source there. Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI), an advocate for local communities' rights to natural resources and land, said Stora Enso, working through officials, took land from poor farmers in China's Guangxi province.

Stora Enso said it was reviewing its Chinese land deals and amending the deals affected by legal irregularities. The company is expected to invest around EUR 1.8 billion ($2.52 billion) in its Guangxi businesses, including 120,000 hectares of land and a pulp, paper and board mill.

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Henan Luohe YinGe Paper, China, is installing two new Voith Paper, Germany, tissue lines that are expected to be in use next year. Both machines have a two-layer MasterJet II T headbox, Crescent former, and the new Voith NipcoFlex T shoe press. Voith Paper's NipcoFlex features low energy consumption and provides enhanced bulkiness of the paper.

With a design speed of 2,000 m/min and wire width of 5,600 mm, each machine can produce 60,000 metric tpy.

One of China's top 100 growing enterprises, YinGe Group owns more than 10 subsidiary enterprises. YinGe has 3.6 billion CNY capital and more than 7,000 employees.

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Liansheng Paper Industry (Longhai) Co., a subsidiary of Fujian Liansheng Paper Co., Ltd., has purchased two new board machines for its mill in Longhai City in Fujian Province on the southeast coast of China. Both machines, from Metso, Finland, will startup during the first quarter of 2012. The combined annual capacity of the two board machines will be about 800,000 metric tpy. One of the new machines will produce testliner and the other will produce fluting. Both machines use new technology in machine building, design, and operation.

Last year, Fujian Liansheng Paper ordered a containerboard machine from Metso for its Zhangzhou mill.

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M-real Corp., Finland, part of Metsäliitto Group, will invest EUR 16 million to modernize the coating section at its Kemiart Liners mill in Finland next year. The investment is expected to improve product quality for M-real.

M-real also reports that it made a final decision to invest EUR 26 million in the expansion of the cartonboard production and sheeting operations at the Simpele mill in Finland next year.

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A newsprint machine at the Rhein Papier Hürth mill in Germany has set a new world newsprint speed record. The No. 1 machine (PM 1) at Myllykoski-owned Rhein Papier Hürth recently reached 24 hours at 2,020 m/min—a new world speed record in newsprint production.

PM1's average speed for the month was 1,937 meters per minute, according to the company.

Myllykoski operates seven paper mills in Finland, Germany, and the U.S., with a total annual capacity of close to three million tons.

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Nine Dragons Paper Industries Co., China, was this past week presented the Greycon, London, England, Rapid Implementation Award to recognize its dedication and speed in implementing a Greycon product. Nine Dragons, the largest producer of containerboard products in China, recently implemented X-Trim at the Taicang production mill.

The company spent more than two years on the evaluation process for a trim optimization solution that could deliver efficiency savings. Greycon's X-Trim reportedly can maximize the possible output and value from each roll of paper, making production schedules as efficient as possible.

The X-Trim project was ready to go live within the desired six-week timeframe. This schedule has subsequently been replicated at the Chongqing and Tianjin mills, and more mills are planned for the coming months.

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Earthcycle Packaging Ltd., Vancouver, B.C., Canada, is unveiling a new line of backyard compostable trays for the agriculture industry. These trays, available in "natural earth" or black, provide a higher level of protection in shipping, the company notes. Completely compostable and recyclable, the trays can be composted in as little as 90 days. Many trays and designs are available, including trays with built-in cups or a "flat bed" version.

Earthcycle Packaging was founded in 2005 to produce durable, safe, and environmentally responsible packaging alternatives from renewable palm fiber. "Using palm fiber to create packaging products will ultimately reduce the environmental and health hazards brought on by plastics and reduce our dependency on petroleum products, as well as create a better quality of life and working conditions for those affected by the incineration of palm waste," Earthcycle said.

The company's products are being used to protect and display fresh produce at retail chains across North America.

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The Newark Group, Cranford, N.J., USA, announced this week that its Paperboard Products Division will increase prices by as little as 3.5% to as much as 5.5% for all tubes, cores, chipboard roll heads and chipboard sheets.

Rates of increase will vary by product. The price increase, effective with orders shipped on or after November 1, is in response to recent increases in the price of uncoated recycled paperboard.

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Gould Paper Corp., New York, N.Y., USA, one of North America's largest distributors of printing and business papers, has announced the appointment of Yoshio Takai as VP, Compliance. A native of Japan, Takai lives in Fort Lee, N.J. He is a graduate of Yokohama National University and MIT and has worked for major corporations such as UBS, Shinsei Bank, and ExxonMobil. Recently, Takai held several senior positions with Overhead Door Corp. in Dallas, Texas.

"Mr. Takai is a welcome addition to the Gould team. In his new position, he will be responsible for Gould's compliance processes worldwide. Earlier this year, Japan Pulp and Paper, a public company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, purchased a majority ownership position in Gould. Being part of a public company, and with the increased complexity of doing business around the world, we at Gould must comply with all of the requisite benchmarks to assure continued high quality products, services and reporting," said Carl Matthews, EVP and CFO of Gould.

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30 years = 360 months, 1560 weeks, 10,957.5 days (including leap years), 262,980 hours, 15,778,800 minutes, and in the case of Mitsubishi, a TAPPI Sustaining Company, it is also how long they have been doing business in the United States.

As a supplier to the Corrugated Industry, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America Inc. Corrugated Machinery Division has successfully operated continuously in the U.S. for the past three decades. I recently had the pleasure of spending a day with Randy Schiller, Vice President Sales & Marketing of MHIA, at their offices in Hunt Valley, Md.

"Let me make it perfectly clear, we have never pulled out of the market and are here to stay. This division has been in the black for the past 10 years in a row. We have enjoyed the past three decades of serving our customers in the U.S. and Canada. Thirty years is a big accomplishment for us that we are extremely proud of." Randy Schiller

As I say many times, you can tell how well a company is run by the smiles on the faces of the employees. What I witnessed when meeting several employees was a friendly smile; everyone knew each other's names. MHI does not have much employee turnover. When people come to work here they stay.

Randy is a self proclaimed "Computer Geek." He actually started serving MHI in 1987 as a software supplier. At that time he did not know what corrugators were. He is a quick study. Randy has seen many changes since he joined the company in 1994. Until 2000, the MHI Corrugating Machinery Company had really been acting as an independent representative of Mitsubishi's equipment. In 2000, they became part of the Mitsubishi family and have been in the "black" ever since.

This in itself has been major accomplishment, but when you consider the exchange rate of some other countries, at times calculated to be a 30 percent price differential, it is a truly amazing feat.

One of the biggest game changers was the development and introduction of the EVOL line of flexo-folder gluers with the EVOL-84 and EVOL-100. These introductions proved timely with some other manufacturers going out of business.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries does about $21 billion a year in sales and is one of about 300 independent companies within the Mitsubishi family. Within Mitsubishi Heavy Industries there are 12 divisions worldwide. MHI sells on total cost of ownership. Some may have a lower price up front; however, they feel that they can compete with anyone when total cost of ownership is taken into consideration.

The 40,000 square feet of office and warehouse space in Hunt Valley, Md., at one time served as a roll grinder and assembly plant. It now performs as a sales, service and parts depot for their equipment throughout the North America. Approximately 30 employees work in this building. These folks perform miracles according to some of their customers.

Randy said that he would put their team up against anyone in the industry. "We generally don't lose people. This type experience makes the difference with our customers. We normally do not hire people right out of school. We want to make sure that our new employees have had some field level experience and that they can handle a suitcase."

As always during my visits I asked for input on what can TAPPI do to add more value for our members? Randy was very open with some ideas, which included bringing back the Production Round Table at Corrugated events. Get the Production and Engineering Committees fired back up again. We must continue to get the box makers to come the TAPPI events. With the New World Order of Consolidation, we need to find out what makes these new owners and acquirers tick. They need to be involved.

I would be remiss if I did not give a shout out to one of my favorite people, Dick Olsen from Chicago, who works for Randy. (Dick, just so you know, Randy told me that one of the best decisions that he ever made in his career was to bring you aboard.)

I met many wonderful people during my visit. The ones who gave me cards are: Yasushi Kitahara-General Manager, Paul J. Aliprando-Operations Manager and Kunio Niuchi-Chief Engineer.

For more information about Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America Inc., please visit www.mhicorrugating.com.

For more information about TAPPI, please visit www.tappi.org.

There are two types of people in our industry; TAPPI members and those who should be.

Until next time............. Larry

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Professionals from industry, universities and research institutes are cordially invited to present at the 13th TAPPI European PLACE Conference, (http://events.tappiplace.org) which will be held 30 May to 1 June 2011 at the Festspiel- und Kongresshaus in Bregenz, Austria. The deadline for submission is 15 October.

The conference program will have a special emphasis on the latest trends, technologies relating to extrusion, coating, or lamination of web based materials. Abstracts should focus on the following:

* Developments in web materials, polymers and adhesives - their behavior and processing
* What's new in converting technology – extrusion, lamination and process control
* Final product design – a society commitment considering sustainability
* Characterization – inspection, methods and standards for materials

Authors interested in presenting a paper on these or related topics should submit their abstract to TAPPI electronically. Submissions must be received on or before 15 October 2010. View the Invitation.

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The panel of experts has been announced to discuss proposed Boiler MACT during a special Town Hall Meeting on October 19 at the TAPPI PEERS Conference.

"Boiler MACT is becoming one of the #1 issues at EPA... and the forest products industry is at the center of this debate. - Tim Hunt, Senior Director, Air Programs, AF&PA

At this Town Hall, the Industrial Boiler Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) current and proposed standards will be explained as well as what's at stake for the pulp and paper industry as policy-makers discuss new emissions rules for industrial boilers and process heaters.

Participants include: Dan Curry (Moderator) from RMT Inc.; Tim Hunt, Senior Director, Air Programs with AF&PA; Ashok Jain, Regional Manager at NCASI; Hardik Shah, Senior Application Engineer with Southern Environmental Inc.; and Daryl Whitt, Project Manager with RMT Inc.

Learn more about this Boiler MACT Town Hall Meeting. The PEERS Conference takes place October 17-20 in Norfolk, Va. and this Town Hall is open to all registered attendees.

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Hear for yourself why NETInc is the not-to-miss event for the Nonwovens Industry! Listen to an interview with Bill Babbitt, Product Leader with Owens Corning. Bill will be presenting "The Design and Application of Residential Fiberglass Insulation Products" during Session 6: Building Sciences.

NETInc is the only conference designed for—and by—nonwovens professionals. The Technical Program features a State of the Industry Address, a keynote presentation by the Global Strategy Leader for Kimberly-Clark, a tour of the Nonwovens Institute's Pilot Facilities, and a Nonwovens Process Tutorial.

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The fall 2010 meeting of the TAPPI Yankee Dryer Safety and Reliability Committee will be held in Appleton, Wisconsin on November 4. This group is actively developing standard practices and visual standards for problems which cause drying system delay and compromise safety across the tissue industry. They also review and discuss and track all know incidents of yankee dryer failure from around the work. Committee members include tissue manufacturers, yankee dryer manufacturers, suppliers and consultants who support yankee operations. The meeting is open to all TAPPI members; visitors may attend one meeting.

More information is available from TAPPI's Website.

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Past TAPPI Board member Helen R. Schuierer passed away on July 12, 2010.

Helen Schuierer joined TAPPI in 1973. After 10 years of membership she was the first woman to receive the Testing Division Award, due to her contributions in the development of an automated test lab system. She said that by actively participating on various committees in the Testing Divisions and the Metropolitan Local Section, she kept abreast of what was happening in the industry and that benefited her company and her career.

In 1985 she was the first woman to be elected to the TAPPI Board of Directors. Her counsel on the Board's Coordinating Committee and TAPPI PRESS Committee, and most notably her chairmanship of the Board's Test Methods Management Committee, provided further improvements in the Association's member services.

Prior to her election to the Board, she held all the key positions in the Metropolitan Local Section, becoming the first woman ever to chair a TAPPI Local Section. She also served as vice chairman of the TAPPI Process and Product Quality Division and as chairman of the Division's committees.

After her retirement from Champion International in West Nyack, N.Y., she was president of H.R. Schuierer Inc. She was considered a leading authority in paper testing methodology. Her innovative efforts to develop automated off-line testing systems are credited with helping mills raise the productivity and accuracy in their testing and research laboratories.

She also published papers in TAPPI Journal and contributed to the publication of "A Handbook of Physical and Mechanical Testing of Paper and Paperboard."

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The 2010 TAPPI Nominating Committee announces the 2011 TAPPI Board Slate. Nominees and their respective positions are:

Chair – Norman Marsolan - Director IPST and Chemical Engineering Professor of the Practice, Georgia Tech IPST@GA Tech
Vice Chair – Thomas J. Garland - President and CEO, PaperWorks Industries Inc.
Directors –
• Sandra L. Le Barron, Director of Environmental, Health and Safety, Finch Papers
• Markku A. Karlsson, Senior Vice President of Technology, UPM-Kymmene Corporation
• Bob Snyder, President and CEO, Orchids Paper Products

Returning Directors
Davide R. Friedman, General Mills Inc., 2009-2011
Robert J. Gallo, Voith, 2010-2012
Jeff Hamilton, Sappi Fine Paper North America, 2010-2012
Chris Luettgen, Kimberly-Clark, 2010-2012
Thomas E. Rodencal, Rodencal Paper Consulting Inc., 2009-2011
Gary M. Scott, State University of New York, 2009-2011
Larry N. Montague, President and CEO, TAPPI

Other Nominations
Per TAPPI's Bylaws, the Association's membership has until November 1, 2010, to submit other nominations to the President and CEO of TAPPI, Larry N. Montague at lmontague@tappi.org. Such nominations must be signed by at least one percent of the voting members, and each voting member may sign for only one such nomination. Each such nomination must be accepted in writing by the nominee.
The name of each such nominee so submitted, signed and accepted shall be placed on the election ballot. The election ballot shall give voters the options of voting for or against the entire slate or for or against the individual candidate(s) for each position. Elections will begin December 1, 2010, and conclude January 15, 2011. Contact Mary Beth Cornell, + 1 770-209-7210 or mcornell@tappi.org with questions.

Retiring Officers and Directors:
Jeffrey J. Siegel, Mica Corporation(Chair)
Vincent Newberry, Mondi Akrosil, LLC
Nicki S. Slusser, International Paper

2010 Nominating Committee
Chair: Mark R. McCollister, Paperchine Inc.
Members:  
Kathy Buckman Gibson, Buckman
Scott Frasca, RohmNova
Charlie Hodges, Port Townsend Paper
Asko Hyttinen, Strategy First
Norman F. Marsolan(non-voting), IPST @ GA Tech
Larry N. Montague, TAPPI
Jeff Pallini, Fosber
Gerry Ring, University of Wisconsin--Stevens Point
Barb Russell, Sonoco

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There's a special academic rate for researchers planning to attend BioPro Expo & Marketplace 2011. The "1+2" program allows one academic researcher to attend and receive free registration for up to two research assistants and/or students. BioPro Expo & Marketplace is a unique cross-industry event that explores existing and emerging ways for transitioning a variety of biomass feedstocks into energy and biofuel. At BioPro Expo, suppliers of agricultural, municipal and wood wastes, as well as producers of dedicated energy crops and food processing facilities, will find practical answers for capitalizing on biomass resources.

BioPro Expo is the largest conference and exhibition in the Southeastern US covering the full biomass processing spectrum for multiple industries, from supply through demand and utilization.

BioPro Expo & Marketplace will address biomass challenges that include:

• Migration Technologies
• Existing Biomass Conversion Strategies
• A 'Marketplace' & Trade Show focused on demonstrating cutting-edge technology, products and services available today.

Download the Academic 1+2 registration form.

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This October, get to know TAPPI member W.B.A. "Sandy" Sharp as he stars in the Member Spotlight. Sandy is currently Principal of SharpConsultant and has spent his career conducting pioneering corrosion control research in the paper and pulp industry. He is pictured here with his grandson.

In 1984 he received TAPPI's Engineering Division Award, just seven years after joining the Association, and in 1989 he was designated a TAPPI Fellow in his first year of eligibility. In 1994 he helped launch TAPPI's Process Control, Electrical and Information Division and was elected to the TAPPI Board in 1996, later serving as Chairman of the Technical Operations Committee.

Spotlight participants are recommended by fellow members and staff. If you would like to nominate a member (or even yourself!) just send their name (or names) to MemberSpotlight@tappi.org. We will forward a Spotlight Questionnaire to fill out and return. We look forward to seeing you in the Spotlight!

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At least 30 percent of variation in profitability can be explained by human performance. To help to improve profitability the Technologically Advanced Workforce (TAW) initiative was formed. It is one of the key focus areas of Agenda 2020 and governance of this program is provided by TAPPI. A key part of the TAW is the National Network for Pulp and Paper Technology Training (NPT)2. NPT2 is a national network of community colleges that produce technicians specifically skilled for the pulp, paper, and allied industries. The objective of this initiative is to provide training and education to ensure that the technologies chosen to create the forest products industry of the future are operated, maintained, and managed by a technically superior workforce that is globally competitive.

For more about NPT2 see the November/December issue of Paper 360.

On September 23 the TAW Executive Advisory Board had its first meeting. In attendance were (pictured from left to right) Curtis Sears, MWV; Keith Romig, United Steelworkers; Cindy Reinhart, Metso; Andrea Harper, Georgia Department of Labor; and T. J. Murphy, NPT2; present but not pictured were Larry N. Montague, Mary Beth Cornell, and David Bell from TAPPI. Members who have agreed to serve but were not present include Ellsworth Townsend, Packaging Corp. of America; John Donahue, SAPPI Fine Paper N.A. and Lyle Fellows, Verso Paper. Find out more information about the TAW.

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"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Back To Top

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