Weekly Spotlight
Verso Expands Strategic Alternatives to Include Sale or Merger of Entire Company

Over the Wire

TAPPI

Thursday, January 18, 2018 - Member
Cristini
Company has expanded its evaluation of potential transaction alternatives to include other alternatives, including but not limited to, a potential sale or merger of the entire company.
 
Forest Sector, Resolute Forest Products Applaud Canada’s Complaint Filing against U.S.
Government of Canada complaint challenges Washington’s use of anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties, claiming they broke the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Anti-Dumping Agreement, the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, and the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes.
 
Nippon Paper Subsidiary Kitakami Paper to Cease Operations
Nippon’s Consolidated Subsidiary will withdraw from all of its businesses on July 31, 2018.
 
Alternatives to Toxic Phenol Compounds in Glues Developed from Softwood Tannins
Finnish softwood bark contains large amounts of water-soluble tannin-polyphenols, which can be used as renewable alternatives to the fossil and toxic phenol compounds widely used in glues. VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, the Natural Resources Institute of Finland (Luke) and the Southeastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (Xamk) are developing an industrial production method for a polyphenol extraction process as part of the SusBinders project.
 
BASF Corporation
Market Roundup
U.S. Containerboard Output Rises in December
Containerboard production in December 2017 was up 3.6% compared with December 2016 and up 3.1% year-to-date.
 
U.S. Sanitary Paper Price Index Slips to Eight-Year Low
December 2017 prices dipped to eight year low, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics figures.
 
December U.S. Packaging Paper Shipments Increase
Shipments in December 2017 were 240,000 tons, 2.5% higher than in December 2016.
 
China December Pulp Imports Down from November
Pulp imports of 1.936 metric tons were down 17% from China’s November 2017 record high.
 
Foodservice Cup Sales to Reach $5.4 Billion in 2021
Beverage cups hold the largest share of this demand by far.
 
Warehouse Specialist
Pulp & Paper
Crown Van Gelder Invests in New Soft Calender for PM 1
Investment program for inkjet, label, and packaging papers mill in the Netherlands totals EUR 20 million.
 
Encore Tissue Starts up New TT SYD at Australian Tissue Mill
New Toscotec Steel Yankee Dryer has come on line at Encore’s Laverton North mill, Melbourne, Australia. Toscotec now has steel yankee dryer installations across five continents.
 
Simmons Pump Acquires Simflo Pumps to Create New Combined Company
Combined company – known as SIMFLO – will draw on nearly a century of experience to push boundaries in pump technology.
 
Suzano Papel e Celulose Starts up Two New Voith Tissue Machines
Complete double-width XcelLine VTM 4 machines were installed in the Brazilian paper manufacturer's plants in Imperatriz (state of Maranhão) and Mucuri (state of Bahia).
 
Universal Electric Corp.
Containerboard/Packaging
Cartulinas CMPC Maule First to Buy PulpEye in Chile
The Chilean folding boxboard maker Cartulinas CMPC S.A has bought two PulpEye online analyzer systems for its mill in Maule, one of the world’s biggest folding boxboard mills. This is the first PulpEye order in Chile. One system will be installed in the BTMP pulp mill and the other in the board mill’s stock preparation.
 
MustangT Front Push Dispensing Tap Features Ideal for Bag-in-Box Packaging
Mustang front push dispensing tap has the lowest oxygen transmission rate (OTR) in the industry, making it the ideal solution for extending the shelf life of Bag-in Box wine and other oxygen sensitive products.
 
UPM Raflatac Opens New Slitting and Distribution Terminal in Chile
New labelstock slitting and distribution terminal in Santiago has officially opened, with a grand opening event at the facility complete with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
 
VPK Packaging Group Plans New Containerboard Machine
VPK Packaging Group plans to invest in a new paper machine for lightweight recycled containerboard to strengthen its sustainable resource management.
 
Nonwovens
EcoWipes Invests in Technology from Trützschler and Voith
The progressive and sustainable WLS (wet-laid spunlacing) concept developed by the two companies for manufacturing wet-laid hydroentangled nonwovens is a perfect fit for the EcoWipes product range.
 
New Products
Expera's Resin-Gard Saturating Papers Provide Multiple Applications
Resin-Gard offers dimensional stability, engineered strength, and surface properties that meet specific processing needs.
 
Gorman-Rupp Offers New ValuPrime Line of Priming-Assisted Centrifugal Pumps
ValuPrime is a compact and powerful pump ideally suited for dewatering needs of the construction, industrial, and agricultural markets.
 
Sun Chemical Introduces SunCure Aspire UV Offset Inks for Luxury Folding Cartons
Brand owners benefit from vibrant inks that offer longer shelf appeal.
 
Valmet Introduces New Moisturizer for Self-Adhesive Laminators
Compact moisturizer corrects all kinds of curl and cross-direction moisture profiles.
 
Published Pricing
Ence to Raise BEKP Prices by $20/Metric Ton
Price increase becomes effective beginning Feb. 1, 2018.
 
Koehler Paper to Increase Thermal Paper Prices
Company will raise prices by 12%-15%, beginning April 1.
 
Sun Chemical to Raise Prices of Offset Inks, Coatings, Consumables in N.A.
Prices will vary depending on the product line, but in general most prices will go up by a percentage in the high single digits.
 
Sustainability
Boise ASPEN Awarded Green Seal Certification for Sustainable Leadership
Boise Paper’s line of ASPEN multi-use recycled copy papers are now certified under Green Seal’s GS-7 standard.
 
UPM Biofuels Receives Uruguay's First RSB Sustainability Certification for Biofuel Feedstock
"RSB certification acknowledges our strong commitment to sustainability in all operations, now also in biofuel feedstock production with local farmers. This is also the first RSB certificate in Uruguay and creates new sustainable practices for agriculture," said Liisa Ranta, manager, Sustainability, UPM Biofuels Development.
 
People
Belovo Paper Mill Appoints Yonov Executive Director
Having broad general management experience in redefining organizational structure, developing sales, managing supply chains, and financing business plans, Kalin Yonov will be responsible for implementing the board’s vision and strategy.
 
Farrell Appointed SVP, Supply Chain, for Graphic Packaging International
Mike Farrell will have responsibility for procurement, logistics, operations planning, quality processes, and Lean/Six Sigma.
 
Maurer Appointed SVP, Americas Foodservice, for Graphic Packaging International
Spencer Maurer will serve as SVP of the business unit created from the combination with International Paper's Consumer Packaging business.
 
Midland Paper CEO Announces Retirement
Stan Hooker, the company’s long-time chairman and CEO, has retired and sold his majority interest to his three partners, Ralph DeLetto, Mike Graves, and Jim O’Toole.
 
TAPPI News
Paper Machine Operations Course Simplifies Complexity
Three information packed days offer you the unparalleled opportunity to learn how to increase the operational performance of paper machines and why this will improve the quality of the finished product.
 
NC State University and TAPPI to Host Symposium on "Fiber Development, Sourcing, Trends, and Innovation"
More than 17 global experts will discuss trends in the tissue industry, changes in consumption patterns, developments, and how that translates into fiber demand, supply and pricing.
 
Free Webinar on Work Life Balance
On Jan. 31, 2018, the Women in Industry Division will present the second free webinar in its series, "Work Life Balance: Elusive Dream or Achievable Goal?"
 
Consumer Messaging and Sustainability Headline Leading Flexible Packaging Conference
Hear a brand owner’s perspective on material selection and consumer messaging, and learn how supplier innovation is delivering sustainability solutions across the supply chain at TAPPI’s 2018 International Flexible Packaging and Extrusion Division Conference, April 22-25.
 
TAPPI Industry Career Center: City of Largo seeks Program Engineer
The City of Largo, in the Tampa Bay, Fla., USA, area is seeking a Program Engineer.
 
Specialty Papers Europe 2018 Provides Insights into Latest Technologies and Trends
Specialty papers professionals from across the paper supply chain will gather on April 23-25, 2018, in Cologne, Germany, to learn the latest advancements and trends affecting the industry as well as to network with their peers. They will be attending Specialty Papers Europe 2018. Will you be there?