Weekly Spotlight
Arne Asplund Mechanical Pulping Award Granted to Björkqvist, Lucander, Tuovinen

Over the Wire

TAPPI

Member
Cristini
Awarded team has worked together in a systematic way, from laboratory to full scale operation, to show that their hypothesis about a novel surface for grinding stones is valid. The basic idea in their invention is to cover a metal segment stone surface with a defined diamond grid, including finding a proper geometry for the grid and fastening method for diamonds.
 
G-P Sponsors 37 Teachers for Summer Training Programs
This year’s selected teachers hail from Georgia-Pacific’s facility communities in 13 states: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, New York, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.
 
Pennsylvania Shipping Port Becomes New Destination for Pulp Trade
Fibria Cellulosa sends 360,000 tons of pulp annually from Brazil to the east coast U.S. port in Pennsylvania, and may soon join other South American producers including CMPC Celulosa, Eldorado, and Suzano at the port. A total of 460,000 tons is expected in 2016, requiring a second warehouse for the pulp to stay contaminant free.
 
Pulsar Open House Begins in in Green Bay
Open House began yesterday, May 17, and will continue through May 27. It will take a closer look at the new technology the company presented at recent industry shows.
 
Safety Hats - Direct Digital Manufacturing Services
Market Roundup
Weyerhaeuser/IP Deal Highlights Global Trends in Fluff Pulp Market
Two firms account for 39% of the global market for fluff pulp, which is used in diapers and other absorbent hygiene products.
 
Chinese Log Imports Rise in First Quarter of 2016
With declining log inventories at the Chinese ports (about 40% lower this year than the same time last year), and an uptick in demand for wood in the domestic market, importation of logs has been trending upward since last fall when import volumes were the lowest in almost three years.
 
Finland Reports 8% Growth in Paperboard Production in Early 2016
Output was up 8.4% from January-March 2015. Pulp and timber production also increased though paper production continued to contract nearly 5%.
 
Pulp & Paper
Manistique Paper Mill to Be Restarted
Shuttered mill in Manistique, Mich., USA, will be brought back to life this June as UP Paper LLC, reportedly producing unbleached kraft papers from recycled fiber.
 
Xerium Acquires J.J. Plank Corp.
Spencer Johnston and other J.J. Plank divisions supply equipment used in the production of paper, nonwoven fabrics, flexible packaging, tissue converting, and food packaging.
 
WestRock Announces Completion of Ingevity Separation
The company has successfully completed the separation of its specialty chemicals business, Ingevity Corp., as an independent public company whose shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "NGVT".
 
Van Houtum Has Festive Opening Ceremony for Omnipulper
This new type of production line built in the Netherlands uses beverage cartons as a raw material for producing toilet paper and paper towels. The biggest challenge was creating a technology to remove food debris from recycled raw materials.
 
Universal Electric Corp.
Containerboard/Packaging
Elopak, Nippon Agree to Pure-Pak Licensing
Agreement covers the production of Pure-Pak Classic cartons with Curve feature and Pure-Pak Sense cartons.
 
Evergreen Packaging, KidsGardening.org Name Winners of Carton 2 Garden Contest
This year's Carton 2 Garden winner categories include a $5,000 grand prize, three $2,500 specialty prizes, and 10 $1,000 grade level prizes.
 
Norampac Drummondville Mill Starts up Kadant Johnson Steam System
New corrugator line was part of a $26 million modernization project that doubled production capacity at the plant in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada.
 
Sonoco Recognizes Savannah Recycling Center for Sustainability Progress
Sonoco Sustainability Star Awards program is comprised of three tiers. Gold awards recognize facilities that have achieved 99% landfill diversion; silver awards honor facilities achieving 95% landfill diversion; and bronze awards distinguish facilities that have made significant waste reduction achievements.
 
Graphic Packaging to Close Menasha Plant
The company would rather focus on facilities they have recently acquired that are more state-of-the-art in capability. The closing of the facility will affect 228 jobs although those affected are encouraged to apply at the company's other Wis., USA, location in Wausau as well as for Graphic Packaging positions in other states.
 
Stora Enso to Invest EUR 70 Million in Finland for Extrusion Coating
Extrusion coating is a process used to enhance the functionality of paperboard packaging by creating barrier properties for demanding applications. The investment at Imatra mills will help meet increasing customer demand for food service board and liquid packaging paperboard. The project will be complete in Q4 of 2017.
 
Sealed Air Honored with DuPont Award for Packaging Innovation
The Korrvu Lok solution eliminates the need for messy or excessive void filling materials, keeping the item inside locked in place and cleanly presented. This corrugated design is easy to open, easy to reuse and recycle, and enables effortless reverse logistics if the customer needs to make a return.
 
Nanotechnology
API Launches Chemical-Free Pulping Enhanced with Nanocellulose
GreenBox++™ technology replaces chemical pulping for production of high-strength, lightweight paper-based packaging using a chemical-free, waterbased process powered by nanocellulose.
 
UPM Cellulosic Biomaterial Used for Cancer Cell Research
A new cellulose-based hydrogel developed by UPM is highly biocompatible with human cells and tissues. It can be used in 3-D cell culture as an environment that mimics human tissue. The project will observe the results of testing cancer drugs and will note responses by the cell culture.
 
New Products
100BIO Introduces World's First 100% Biodegradable Foam Food Containers
Produced in a distinct shade of grey, each container is remarkably sturdy, cold-resistant, heat-insulating, and shock-absorbing.
 
GP PRO Introduces Dixie Ultra Interfold 2-Ply Napkin
The new napkin by the G-P division GP PRO is designed to be softer, larger, stronger, and more absorbent. Additionally, the new napkin easily fits in existing one-at-a-time style dispensers, which reduce waste and are easy to fill and maintain. It is also made from 100% recycled fiber.
 
PCMC to Introduce New Fusion C Press at Impact 2016
In addition to a demonstration of the Fusion C and viewing of a Fusion Board press, attendees at Impact 2016 will have direct access to a select group of industry suppliers as well as discussions with PCMC team members from all parts of the company.
 
Valmet Adds New Capabilities to Fiber Image Analyzer
Based on user feedback, Valmet has implemented improvements to the operator interface, including customizable measurement templates and reports. Valmet FS5 is now easier than before to use in regular mill testing, and it also meets the requirements of research laboratory use.
 
Verso Introduces Push Performance to the Limit
Push Performance to the Limit is a new promotion for iVerso's Futura digital coated paper line.
 
Toscotec S.p.A
Energy
Maine Awarded Grant for Forest Industry to Pursue Bioenergy
The USDA awarded the state of Maine a $380k grant this week to help the state's forest industry recover from a sharp decline in demand for softwood after a string of recent paper mill closings. Demand has fallen about 2.1 million tons since early 2014.
 
People
Appvion Elects Roberts to Board of Directors
David A. Roberts is executive chairman of Carlisle Companies Inc., a diversified manufacturing company based in Charlotte, N.C. He served as chairman and CEO of Carlisle from 2007 to 2015.
 
Fernie Promoted to President of Port Townsend Paper, Crown Corrugated
With the promotion, Colin Fernie adds responsibility for the Port Townsend Paper mill (Port Townsend, Wash.) and retains responsibility for the Crown Packaging and Boxmaster plants (Vancouver, B.C., Canada) and distribution centers (Kelowna B.C. and Calgary AB, Canada).
 
Kimberly-Clark Names Chandrasekaran CIO
Suja Chandrasekaran brings more than 25 years of experience in technology and leadership roles in both the consumer packaged goods and retail industries.
 
Lindquist Appointed President of Södra Wood Business Area
Jörgen Lindquist has been appointed president of Södra Wood, Sweden, following his position as interim president of the business area since March 14, 2016.
 
Voith CFO Jung to Retire, be Replaced by Haag
Dr. Hermann Jung, who will turn 61 in July of this year, will cease to play an active role at Voith on September 9, after serving Voith "extremely successfully" for 31 years. By appointing a successor to this key management role, Dr. Toralf Haag, the company notes that it is continuing to implement its long-term succession plan.
 
TAPPI News
TAPPI Lost and Found
Discover where articles and other information are located on the site and increase your understanding of our navigation with TAPPI Lost and Found.
 
Discover Concepts and Technologies in Biomass Bioeconomy
Learn fundamental principles from genomic level to large scale industry.
 
TAPPI Press Book of the Month: The Coating Processes
Now through May 31, receive 50% off this guide to the fundamentals and practical applications of paper coating.
 
PTF BPI Conference 2016: Call for Papers Deadline
The deadline for a Call for Papers for the fourth International Conference on Processing Technologies for the Forest and Biobased Products Industries is Friday, May 20!
 
Still Time to Register For PPSA OSHA Compliance in the Paper Industry Course
Learn OSHA policies, procedures, and standards in the paper industry during this two day course on June 6-7.
 
PEERS 2016 Technical Program Provides Real-World Results
With 10 topic specific tracks,the PEERS 2016 Technical Program is designed to address challenges facing mills and employees today.
 
"New Horizons" for Forest Products at the FPS International Convention
The June 27-29, 2016, event has become a staple gathering for the forest products research community, bringing together hundreds of scientists, design professionals, managers, decision makers, and others from academia, government, nonprofit, and private industry sectors from around the world.
 
TAPPI Industry Career Center: Econotech Services Ltd. Seeks Technical Sales Leader
Econotech Services Ltd. is currently seeking a pulp and paper technical sales leader for the company's Delta, B.C., Canada location.