Weekly Spotlight
Packaging Corp. of America to Acquire TimBar Packaging

Over the Wire

TAPPI

Member
Cristini
PCA containerboard level to increase by more than 200,000 tons or 6% from its current level of 87% as purchase of TimBar allows growth of mill capacity. Purchase price: $386 million. TimBar 2015 sales: $324 million. PCA acquires five corrugated plants, two fulfillment centers, and four design centers primarily in the E./S.E. U.S.
 
Maine Mills Look for Niche in Specialty Papers
Three Maine., USA, mills have recently announced that they are converting machinery that once produced reams of glossy, coated paper used primarily in magazines and catalogs, to start making specialty papers, such as labels, filters, and packaging.
 
Swedish Biorefinery of the Future Receives another SEK 36 million
Vinnova has decided to prolong its investment in the growth initiative "The Biorefinery of the Future" and SP Processum for another three years with a total of 14 million SEK. The County Administrative Board of Västernorrland, the region Västerbotten, as well as the municipalities of Örnsköldsvik, Umeå, and Sundsvall together with the SP Processum member companies will invest another SEK 22 million.
 
More Evidence Suggests Students Perform Better on Paper
Students using pencil and paper scored better than those who took the test on a computer. The difference was most dramatic on the English section of the test. But the same effect also appeared in the results for the portions of the test that focused on eighth-grade math -- Algebra I and Algebra II.
 
Safety Hats - Direct Digital Manufacturing Services
Market Roundup
China Manufacturing PMI’s Dip to Four-Month Low in June
While the country's manufacturing PMIs declined to a four-month low, its services PMI reached a four-month high in June 2016.
 
Australia, New Zealand Expect Paper Consumption to Rise by 2020
Oceania Regional Market: Australia's paper consumption to rise 4.9% 2015-2020. New Zealand's aggregate consumption will grow 4.3%.
 
Brexit: Oceania Not Affected Much, Europe May Face Minor Backlash
 
Pulp & Paper
Domtar Kingsport Mill Donates $12,000 to Replace Robotic Dog
Kingsport, Tenn., mill has contributed $12,000 to the Kingsport Fire Department to be used to replace the KFD’s robotic dog, Sparky the Fire Dog..
 
Hansol Paper CEO Discusses Future Investment Ideas
Proceeds of a stock issue will be used to eliminate debt to bolster needed capital. CEO Lang Sang-hun of the South Korean P&P company discussed how he'd like to see the company venture more into thermal and aramid papers. The company believes its aramid paper now has 50 times more value than P&W paper.
 
Klabin Inaugurates New Paraná Pulp Mill
Puma Unit in Ortigueira, Paraná state, Brazil, is the largest investment ever in the company’s 117-year history. Investment of R$8.5 billion was completed in 24 months, within budget. Unit will produce up to 1.5 million metric tpy of pulp: 1.1 million metric tons of bleached hardwood pulp and 400,000 metric tons of bleached softwood pulp.
 
Kuban Papir Contracts PMP for Rebuild of No. 1 Tissue Machine
TM 1 will be supplied with state-of-the-art new technological items provided by PMP. The project driving force is a modern technology that ensures energy savings solutions following global trends. Additionally, excellent tissue quality is expected.
 
Norske Skog Develops Nano/MFC Method for HQ Paper, New Products
Microfibrillated cellulose (MFC)/nanocellulose is a renewable product and has several interesting applications the company will try. MFC will be used to enhance paper products with this new technology. It's said MFC will be developed as replacement for plastic products and as a thickening substance.
 
Sinar Mas P&P Divisions Reduce Investment by 70%
Two Indonesian subsidiaries announced they would each allocate $120 million and $30 million for capital expenditure this year. The figure represents 70% less than this past year’s realized investment, totaling $406 million in 2015. Firm bought necessary equipment this past year and is now cautious about global economy.
 
Voith Accelerates Digital Transformation
Acceleration has been made possible by the company’s successful investment in KUKA AG.
 
Universal Electric Corp.
Containerboard/Packaging
Clarke Companies Launch New Branding for Clarke Solutions, Acquire Automation
Newly refreshed branding, including complete logo and website redesigns, were developed to reflect the recent success of the three aligned companies and to set the stage for their next level of growth.
 
Huhtamaki to Improve Competitiveness in Asia-Oceania
Actions concern the Foodservice Europe-Asia-Oceania segment's operations in China and New Zealand, which have had an adverse effect on the segment's earnings in 2015 and in the first quarter of 2016.
 
IP Completes Sale of Asian Corrugated Packaging Business
Two previously disclosed transactions include the sale of IP's corrugated packaging business in China and Southeast Asia to Xiamen Bridge Hexing Equity Investment Partnership Enterprise, and the acquisition of the Holmen Paper Madrid Mill in Spain.
 
KapStone Acquires Central Florida Box
CFB provides design, graphics, manufacturing, assembly, fulfillment, warehousing, and distribution services to more than 400 customers ranging from small, family-owned companies to large, national corporations.
 
Macfarlane Packaging Invests in New Scottish Distribution Center
U.K.'s largest distributor of protective packaging products, is investing in a new Scottish distribution center in Glasgow within the newly opened distribution and storage hub of Bullet Express, one of Scotland's leading logistics businesses.
 
Pankaboard Continues to Invest in Product Development
Following the recent investment in a new dilution headbox on its BM 3, Pankaboard, Finland, has continued its investment with an upgrade of its BM 2 machine, which produces folding boxboards.
 
Elopak Now Offering CarbonNeutral Packaging
Company is fulfilling its vision of carbon neutrality, in line with its ambitious environmental strategy--Future Proofed Packaging.
 
Legislative
San Francisco Passes Most Expansive Styrofoam Ban in U.S.
The hope, city leaders said, is that more companies will begin using organic and compostable packaging materials that would include paper bags and corrugated boxes.
 
New Products
ABB Launches New Crill in Pulp Analyzer
This is the first laboratory fiber analyzer that has the capability to accurately detect the amount of crill in any pulp mixture. Product uses a method based on the fact that small particles absorb and scatter light, which makes it possible to detect very small particles in a pulp suspension.
 
UPM Raflatac Introduces Thermal Top Logistics Fit PEFC Label Material
A self-adhesive label material designed especially for transport and logistics, the new label material offers higher productivity through less reel changes and exceeds the environmental credentials of its predecessors.
 
Verso Expands Anthem Plus Coated Paper Offering
Anthem Plus is an all-American economy coated paper with the flexibility to perform in virtually every sheet-fed printing application.
 
Verti-Lift Material Positioner Includes Integral Lift, Tilt, Turn, Convey
Lifting capacities of 2,000 – 6,000 lb. and a tilt range of up to 60 degrees are suitable for a wide range of assembly line or batch production applications.
 
Sustainability
KapStone Reports Progress In Meeting 2020 Sustainability Goals
In the environmental impact area, the company made good progress in reducing energy use, greenhouse gas, and criteria air emissions. KapStone is reportedly working hard to minimize the company's environmental footprint in areas of operation.
 
BillerudKorsnäs Says UN Sustainablity Goals Provide Opportunity
Company challenges conventional packaging solutions, many made of plastic. New innovative packaging materials are based on renewable Nordic fiber. Innovations include cement sack that dissolves with mixed cement, a paper that can be pressed in a cold state into forms like plastics, and a stand-up paper pouch.
 
PEFC Notes Improvements in Vietnam
According to the PEFC this week, Vietnam is well on the road to developing its own national forest certification system in line with PEFC international requirements for wood processing into products such as P&P and packaging for the global market, as well as producing sustainably sourced wooden furniture.
 
Energy
Segezha P&P Mill Contracts Valmet to Supply Biomass Plant
The 90 MW HYBEX boiler at the Russian site will produce steam for the mill`s production processes and enable the mill to use wood residues and sludge as fuel and thus reduce the use of heavy fuel oil. This will lower emissions and environmental impact. Delivery is scheduled for 2017.
 
Rottneros Bruk Has Renewa Deliver New Biomass Boiler to Pulp Mill
The Swedish site's Renewa built boiler plant will be designed for high availability use with paper mill sludge, saw dust, and forest residues as fuels. Power production is 20 MW. The new boiler plant will produce renewable heat for drying of CTMP and groundwood pulp produced by Rottneros Bruk.
 
People
FANUC America Appoints Cicco President, CEO
Mike Cicco has been named the company’s president and CEO. Cicco will have responsibility for all of the company’s operations in North and South America.
 
SWM Announces Senior Leadership Changes
Daniel Lister will assume day-to-day operations and leadership of the Advanced Materials & Structures business unit in a diversified company that focuses on paper packaging applications. He's an accomplished global business leader, with broad experience in the packaging, chemical, and lubricant industries.
 
Xerium Promotes Robert Burke to President of Asian Operation
Burke, now promoted from VP of sales to president of the entire Asia region for the company, will have full responsibility for the region and be responsible for delivering Xerium-Asia’s long-term and short-term business plans while maintaining and strengthening customer relationships.
 
TAPPI News
Get the "Drop" on the Biomass Boom with IBBC 2016
Stay abreast of the latest technologies/processes and learn best practices/strategies from industry leaders. This Bioenergy & Bioproducts Conference offers industry professionals a top technical program and networking opportunities. Click to "lean more..." as these full articles are accessible to both members/non-members here in the TAPPI News section!
 
Meet the Incredible Line Up of Experts for Financial Analysis Workshop
TAPPI and NC State University are working together to deliver a specialized financial course October 5-6 in Raleigh, N.C., USA, centered on your objectives in the pulp, paper, and related industries. Don't miss out on learning from these world renowned instructors in the industry!
 
Gain Hands-On Papermaking Experience
Learn by doing with well-known instructor Dr. Gerry Ring September 8-9 at the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point (USA).
 
To Stock... or Not to Stock?
Learn how to refine parts processes, improve time, and bottom line in Raleigh, N.C., USA September 1-2. Improving how one manages the spare parts and materials in an organization reduces maintenance costs, time, and parts inventory. An entire TAPPI course has been prepared and dedicated to these best practices.
 
TAPPI Career Center: University of Toronto seeks Assistant Professor
The University of Toronto (Canada) is currently seeking an Assistant Professor for its Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry.
 
Lost and Found Tool Helps Navigate New TAPPI Website
We have made a tool specifically to assure those unfamiliar to the new site maintain access to all of our features, association news, and information. Use TAPPI Lost and Found to discover where articles and other information are located on the new site. Increase understanding of new navigation with our easy-to-use tool.