Over the Wire

Total At-Home shipments of converted tissue products increased 1.3% y/y in November 2015 (+1.7% 10 mo. YTD), with toilet paper volumes up 1.3% y/y, towels ahead 1.8%, and facial volumes flat y/y. Total Away-from-Home shipments rose 3.0% y/y (+3.0% 11 mo. YTD), with toilet paper volumes up 2.9%, towels ahead 2.4%, and napkin volumes 2.5% higher than a year ago.

 

Latin America defoamers market is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 3.8% between 2015 and 2023.

 

World demand for corrugated boxes is approaching 260 billion sq. meters. In developed countries, the report indicates box demand tends to track economic growth and production trends and will continue to be relatively slow growing, while Africa and Mideast regions will grow fastest but still be less than 5% of total demand.

 

The market will expand at a 5.80% CAGR over the report's forecast period and rise from a valuation of $632.9 million in 2013 to $936.3 million by 2020.

 

The government will have to revoke a freeze on operating permits for more than 900,000 hectares of industrial forest or the local pulp and paper industry will lose its competitiveness due to a disruption in the supply of raw materials, business groups and analysts have said.

 

Due to high labor, material costs, and poor demand, Sirpur Paper shut operations in 2014. It has struggled to pay salaries and repay debt. ITC is said to be examining various options to revive the company's operations. ITC needs to expand paper producing capacity to take on cheaper imports and become more efficient.

 

The fire is believed to have begun in the plant’s electrical system and the flames heavily damaged transformers powering one of the large paper machines. The company was unable to say how long production will be affected. There were no injuries.

 

State of the art facility of approximately 20,000 cubic meters will be located close to Wesel, Germany. The rail-linked operation will hold more stock keeping units for German and Benelux customers in particular.

 

Divestment of company's businesses in South East Asia, Taiwan, and South Korea for integration with Vinda International Holdings, Hong Kong, has been approved by the independent shareholders of Vinda. The transaction is expected to close on February 1.

 

The mill, which is operated by subsidiary of OKI Pulp & Paper Mills and company majority shareholder APP, has been touted to be the largest in Asia, boasting up to 2 million metric tpy of pulp capacity. Most of the plant's production will be shipped overseas.

 

The pledge will be used for acquisition of land on which the association's trails and lodge are located, to make the multi-use trails permanent.

 

UPM made a EUR 160 million investment in production expansion for the site in Finland. The investment marks a production capacity increase of 170,000 metric tpy to 700,000 tpy of bleached northern softwood and birch pulp annually.

 

Purchase price was approximately $62 million in cash. VAP owns four hydroelectric generation facilities associated with Verso's Androscoggin pulp and paper mill located in Jay, Maine, USA.

 

Since July 1, 2015, the company has repurchased 9 million shares under its 40 million share repurchase authorization.

 

Agreement will establish a cooperation in the manufacture, procurement, sale, and marketing in Indonesia of packages made out of paperboard or other materials in combination with paperboard.

 

BillerudKorsnäs’ 10% stake in the Danish packaging innovation company EcoXpac forms the foundation for collaboration and is part of commitment to innovation to solve packaging challenges of the future.

 

Graphic Packaging International Inc. has agreed to purchase 100% of the outstanding shares of Colorpak, a folding carton supplier in Australia and New Zealand.

 

Takeover now makes it possible to comprehensively supply existing major customers throughout Germany and the Benelux countries.

 

iPS Studio is a leading-edge research, development, and innovation center that connects consumer and market insights to the invention of new packaging solutions, all under one roof.

 

The Montville mill, which produces about 166,000 tpy of corrugated cardboard packaging was temporarily shut down in October before being reopened a month later. The company has not said what it plans to do with the plant.

 

Priorities include stemming regulatory overreach, recognizing biomass energy as carbon neutral, maintaining paper based communication standards for government services, improving market access for industry exports through trade agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and reforming the U.S. tax code to improve competitiveness.

 

The region's paper industry association points out that mills cut fossil fuel dependence by 20% in the past 11 years and 83% of their energy now comes from carbon-neutral biomass, all without this type of regulatory burden creating penalties for failing to comply with the exact specifications of a 5% emission reduction every three years.

 

The Tianjin mill will feature a fully-automated production line, and is designed according to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards, established by the U.S. Department of Energy and Green Building Association. K-C is reported to be reinforcing its commitment to long-term development in China.

 

Utilizing progressive metering devices, the EDL1 has been developed for usage in sectional lubrication systems as well as in large machines with different lubrication requirements at varying distances.

 

"It is clear that Appleton Coated has embraced sustainability, and has integrated the idea into all facets of their business," praised the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council. Appleton has expanded product offerings to include items made with high levels of post-consumer recycled fiber and more items made with certified green power.

 

"Marco Mensink has had a lengthy career with CEPI and the overall paper industry sector. During that time, he has made a major contribution to progress and led many innovative initiatives and developments. Above all, he leaves a very professional team of colleagues behind," said Peter Oswald, CEPI chairman.

 

Dépin served as CEO of the company for more than 12 years. Charles Malo is succeeding him as President and COO.

 

Steve Voorhees is scheduled to accept his award during the ASPI 2016 Spring Meeting, which will be held Feb. 24-26, 2016, in Miami, Fla.

 

There’s only few days left to be included in Nano 2016’s Technical Program. Submit your abstract today.

 

Results can be used to evaluate your potential career growth. By taking the survey, you will get access to aggregate data at no charge. Answers will remain anonymous and confidential. A full summary of aggregated results for the entire industry will be available when results are released later this month.

 

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This TAPPI member since 1992 worked with his parents and brothers to create and build their family business, Corrugated Container Corp., where he was VP of Manufacturing.

 

Allnorth is currently seeking a director of pulp and paper for its southwestern U.S. sector.