Down in the undergrowth of Europe's economy, something is stirring, Reuters reports this week in an article exploring new signs of health in the European economy

 

At a special open-house ceremony, Sappi Fine Paper North America (SFPNA), Boston, Mass., USA, yesterday (October 30) announced the successful completion of its $170 million capital conversion project at the Cloquet Mill in Minnesota to produce specialized cellulose, which is used in textile and consumer goods markets

 

MeadWestvaco Corp., Richmond, Va., USA, reports that it has reached a definitive agreement for Plum Creek Timber Co., Seattle, Wash., to acquire all of its U.S. forestlands

 

If you would like to develop an in-depth understanding of yankee dryer steam systems, this half-day workshop is for you

 

Every day we come across great people in our great industry. Many don’t get the recognition they deserve

 

September 2013 containerboard production in the U.S. decreased 8.9% from August 2013, and was essentially flat compared with the same month last year

 

U.S. kraft paper shipments in September totaled 126,700 tons, 6.4% lower than the prior month

 

Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A., Chile, has signed an agreement for Metso (future Valmet), Finland, to upgrade and repair a power boiler at its Constitución mill in Chile

 

Canfor Corp., Vancouver, B.C., Canada, this past week announced that it will permanently close its sawmill in Quesnel, B.C., Canada

 

Algerian company Faderco has ordered from Metso, Finland, a complete tissue line to be installed at its new mill site in Setif, Algeria

 

Laakirchen Papier AG, part of the Heinzel Group, Germany, reportedly is getting excellent performance from its new Voith (Germany) NanoPro calendar cover

 

Packaging Corporation of America (PCA), Lake Forest, Ill., USA, this week completed its acquisition of Boise Inc., Boise, Idaho

 

SCA, Stockholm, Sweden, has secured an ownership share of 56.33% in the Chinese tissue producer Vinda, signifying that the terms for completion of the offer have been met

 

Stora Enso, Finland, will install a new Metso (Finland) LignoBoost lignin separation plant at its Sunila mill near Kotka in the southeast of Finland

 

UPM-Kymmene Corp., Finland, this week unveiled its new business structure, after launching a EUR 400 million performance improvement program this past August

 

BillerudKorsnäs, Solna, Sweden, has launched a heavyweight semi-chemical fluting in 220 gsm

 

MeadWestvaco (MWV), Richmond, Va., USA, has been recognized as a winner in the 2013 Pro Carton-ECMA Carton Awards

 

Appleton Coated, Combined Locks, Wis., USA, this week announced a partnership with Elk Grove Village, Ill.-based ConVerd

 

Larson Electronics, Kemp, Texas, USA, has released a new weatherproof explosion proof LED light designed for use in demanding wet industrial environments

 

PaperMax USA, Anaheim, Calif., USA, this week launched RainbowMax, a premium, heavyweight, carbonless paper

 

Voith, Germany, reports that the special structural features of its two new screen plates, NDuraPlate B and NDuraPlate D, achieve a higher pulping and screening efficiency of up to 30%

 

Metsa Fibre, Finland, reports that it will increase prices of its Botnia Nordic Pine and Botnia Nordic Strong NBSK (northern bleached softwood kraft) pulps in China by $40 per metric ton, beginning November 1

 

Södra, Växjö, Sweden, reports that it will raise NBSK (northern bleached softwood kraft) market prices in Europe to $920 per metric ton, effective tomorrow, November 1

 

Michelman, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, has added three new team members to its Paper & Corrugated business unit

 

At its Extraordinary Shareholders Meeting this past week, Arctic Paper S.A. Göteborg, Sweden, appointed Kjell Olsson and Dariusz Witkowski members of the company’s supervisory board

 

Joe Kusar, VP of Tolleson Lumber Co., Perry, Ga., USA, an Ilim Timber company (Russia), has been elected chairman of the Southern Forest Products Association (SFPA) Board of Directors, Kenner, La.

 

The Call for Papers deadline for the NETInc 2014 Conference is November 10. Authors interested in presenting on these or related topics should submit an abstract electronically at speakermanagement.tappi.org.

 

Machine supervisors, technical resources, lead operators, and technical personnel, project engineers, and suppliers can all benefit from this course, which is being led by 14 different industry-recognized instructors.

 

This seminar, November 4-8, in Raleigh, N.C., USA, is a combination course that offers both process skill training and precision maintenance training. The seminar is developed for participants with a mechanical craft background, engineers, maintenance supervision, and management.

 

The TAPPI NET division has announced the Introduction to Nonwovens Processes webinar, to be held December 12 at 12:00 p.m. EST. This webinar, the first in a series on nonwovens processes, will be presented by two of the NET division's highly accomplished volunteers - Christina Ruiz and Sneha Swaminathan of Hollingsworth & Vose.

 

A meeting planned for November 14 will discuss revitalizing local chapter activities for Southeastern TAPPI beginning in 2014. The meeting will be held at The Westin Atlanta North Perimeter Hotel, Atlanta, Ga., USA.

 

Lake States TAPPI/North Central PIMA hosts its annual Energy Technical Program, "Case Studies in Energy Optimization" on November 6 at Miron Corporate Office in Neenah, Wis., USA.

 

The Northeast Division of PIMA/TAPPI invites you to attend its annual fall meeting and conference to be held at Wells Commons at the University of Maine, Orono, Maine, on November 6.

 

If you are interested in making a presentation at the 2014 TAPPI International Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials, your abstract is due November 5.

 

This workshop will be held in Neenah, Wis., USA on November 5, just prior to the TAPPI Yankee Dryer Safety and Reliability Committee Meeting. Completion of the course will earn 0.4 CEU credits from TAPPI. Instructors: Blaine Waybright, Kimberly-Clark, and Ken Hill, Kadant.

 

Interested speakers should submit an abstract electronically to TAPPI's Speaker Management System no later than November 10.

 

This intermediate-level course combines the skills and knowledge from 14 internationally recognized kraft experts who will help you improve efficiency, minimize operating costs, and reduce environmental impact. Save more than $900 if you register by December 7.

 

TAPPI PRESS in conjunction with Green Bay Packaging, is pleased to announce a new and improved training application on How Boxes Are Made.