Our industry has evolved for the past 1900 years and continues to do so to this day. TAPPI exists to serve our members and as our members develop, so does TAPPI. Within TAPPI we have many Divisions, Local Sections, Student Chapters and International Chapters. One of these dynamic divisions is NET (for Nonwovens Engineers and Technologists and formerly known as the Nonwovens Division).

One of the most active contributors to NET is Dr. Behnam Pourdeyhimi of North Carolina State University (NC State). In a recent visit to the university, I met with Dr. Pourdeyhimi and Genevieve Garland, Director of Marketing & Business Development for The Nonwovens Institute (NWI) at NC State. NWI was launched in 2007 as the world's first accredited academic program for the interdisciplinary study of engineered fabrics.

Based at the NC State's Centennial Campus in Raleigh, NWI is an innovative global partnership between industry, government and academia. NWI traces its history to 1991, when the Nonwovens Cooperative Research Center (NCRC) was established as a State-Industry-University Cooperative Research Center with matching grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the State of North Carolina, and several industry partners. In 1998, upon conclusion of NSF grant funding, NCRC continued to enhance its technology and research capabilities while growing membership to become North America's largest State-Industry-University Cooperative Research Center. NCRC now serves as NWI's core research and discovery arm.

Operating on an Open Innovation platform, NWI engages experts from industry and higher education in building next-generation nonwoven applications while providing training and guidance to the field's future leaders. In order to prepare these future leaders, NC State offers an interdisciplinary graduate certificate in Nonwovens Science and Engineering.

In addition, NWI supports more than 30 Ph.D. students whose research ranges from materials to surface engineering to modeling and simulation. These students are drawn from Fiber & Polymer Science, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Textile Engineering, and other units. NWI also supports students at other institutions and has created a global network of professionals engaged in the field of nonwovens.

For more information on NWI go to www.thenonwovensinstitute.com or nonwovens@ncsu.edu. For more information on TAPPI go to www.tappi.org.

There are two types of people in our industry, TAPPI members and those who should be.

Until next time -- Larry

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TAPPI is pleased to announce the 2010 recipients of the Gunnar Nicholson Gold Medal Award, Herman L. Joachim Distinguished Service Award, and the Paul W. Magnabosco Outstanding Local Section Member Award:

• Richard J. Kerekes, PhD., Professor Emeritus, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, will receive the 2010 TAPPI Gunnar Nicholson Gold Medal Award.
• Willis J. Potts, Jr., retired from Temple Inland, Rome, GA, USA, will receive the 2010 TAPPI Herman L. Joachim Distinguished Service Award.
• Empire State TAPPI/NY Canadian PIMA Local Section Member Scott Frasca, Senior Account Manager, RohmNova, Sidney, ME, USA, will receive the 2010 TAPPI Paul W. Magnabosco Outstanding Local Section Award.

In addition, the following nine individuals have been named 2010 TAPPI Fellows:

• Gerald M. Dykstra, Retired Buckman, Bartlett, TN, USA
• Martin A. Hubbe, PhD., Associate Professor, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
• John C. Husband, PhD., Lead Scientist, IMERYS Minerals Ltd., Cornwall, United Kingdom
• Cheryl M. Lamb, Retired from Buckman, Ellenton, FL, USA
• Patrice J. Mangin, PhD., General Director, Centre Integre En Pates Et Papiere, Trois-Rivieres, Canada
• Frank J. Sutman, Global R&D Platform Lead, Ashland Hercules Water Technologies, Wilmington, DE, USA
• Jukka H. Tiitinen, President, Metso Paper North America, Atlanta, GA, USA
• Ronald L. Van Gilder, Research Fellow, Sappi Fine Paper N.A., Westbrook, ME, USA
• Mark T. Watkins, Senior Vice President, MWV(MeadWestvaco) Corporation, Glen Allen, VA, USA

The 2010 award winners will be honored at the Tuesday evening, May 4, 2010, awards dinner during the 2010 PaperCon Conference at the Hyatt Regency, Atlanta, GA, USA. The new TAPPI Fellows will be honored at the TAPPI Fellows Luncheon, Sunday, May 2, 2010, at the Hyatt Regency, Atlanta, GA, USA in conjunction with the 2010 PaperCon meeting.

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Date: Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Location: Dreyfus University Center, Stevens Point, WI, USA

In this one-day program, twelve sessions will provide insight on innovative technologies in stock preparation and wet end chemistry. A special segment will be devoted to research and development at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. The overall focus of this meeting will be on new or emerging technologies to promote value added grade development, cost optimization, and quality improvements.

Who should attend? Product Development Engineers, Paper Machine, Stock Prep, Coating Prep, Operators, Process Engineers, Superintendents, Supervisors, Lab Personnel, Suppliers, and Students, as well as others interested in learning more about technology, and process troubleshooting.

Session Chairs include:

• Don Guay, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
• Kelly Klaas, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
• Danielle Mortag, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
• Nancy Ross Sutherland, USDA Forest Service

The pre-registration fee is $110.00; on-site registration is $135.00. Students and retirees qualify for reduced rate if pre-registered: $25.00 / $45.00 on-site. Send pre-registration fees by February 12, 2010, to Membership Services Administrator: Clark Schabo, W5562 Center Valley Rd., Black Creek, WI, 54106. Phone: 734-5073; Fax (credit cards only): 920-830-9610.

For further details on this program, call Don Guay at 715-346-4746 or visit Lake States TAPPI website.

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Long-time TAPPI members may already know some of the many treasures available from the TAPPI bookstore. A new hard copy catalog for 2010 is coming out that will highlight some of our more popular offerings.

The 2010 TAPPI Catalog features:

• Over 8 new releases
• Best seller items categorized by industry segment
• Web and Computer based training
• Sale/ Discount items
• Complete index of all TAPPI PRESS products

The 2010 Catalog is included in the Jan./Feb. issue of Paper360° and can be pulled out as a stand-alone publication. If you want to get a sneak peek, it is also available online at www.tappi.org/bookstore.

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The Texas Tech University (TTU) System has awarded the Chancellor's Council Distinguished Research Award to Seshadri Ramkumar, an associate professor of nonwovens and advanced materials at The Institute of Environmental and Human Health at TTU. The Chancellor's Council Distinguished Research Award is the highest award given by the TTU System to a faculty member who has excelled in research. The TTU System awards a top researcher at each of its three component universities, TTU, TTUHSC and Angelo State University with this highest research award. The award is highly competitive and candidates are evaluated at several levels by committees before the final award is made.

Ramkumar's award was announced by TTU University System Chancellor Kent Hance in December 2009. With the distinguished research award, Dr Ramkumar received a medallion and cash award for his research on nonwovens and technical textiles.

Dr. Ramkumar manages the Nonwovens and Advanced Materials Laboratory at The Institute of Environmental and Human Health at TTU, Lubbock, USA. The special focus of his laboratory is to find value-added applications for cotton and other natural fibers using emerging technologies such as nonwoven technologies, plasma, and nanotechnology. Dr. Ramkumar has been playing a leadership role for the past five years in promoting the technical textiles sector in India.

Dr. Ramkumar is an active member in TAPPI's NET (Nonwovens Engineers and Technologists) Division. He can be reached at (806) 445-1925 or s.ramkumar@ttu.edu.

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Tony Knoezer, Vice President of Packaging Advanced Research, Frito-Lay and Christa Martin, Vice President Product Development and Management, MBE (a UPS company) will be the keynote speakers at the 2010 PLACE Conference. It will occur April 18-21, 2010 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, and is sponsored by TAPPI's Polymers, Laminations, Adhesives, Coatings and Extrusions (PLACE) Division. The conference is tailored for attendees from all areas of the flexible packaging and converting industries.

Knoerzer is responsible for research that will deliver greater performance and value through the creation of new materials, formats and technologies. He also leads the development of sustainable food packaging by coordinating a global team. 

Martin joined Mail Boxes Etc., Inc. (MBE, A UPS Company) in April 2008 as Vice President of Product Development and Management. MBE is the franchisor of The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. Martin has more than 20 years of sales, marketing, operations and product development experience.

The 2010 PLACE Conference is the premier North American event for the flexible packaging industry. The theme of this conference is "A PLACE to Soar." It will include multiple peer-to-peer networking opportunities with a wide range of technical professionals working in flexible packaging, polymers, laminations, adhesives, coatings, and extrusions.

Complete information, including the technical program, schedule of events, sponsorship opportunities and registration, is available online. TAPPI's PLACE Division is made up of hundreds of technical professionals working in flexible packaging, laminations, adhesives, coatings, and extrusions disciplines.

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The Association of Suppliers to the Paper Industry (ASPI) invites all ASPI members to reconnect with peers at the 2010 Spring Meeting, scheduled for February 18-19, 2010 in Naples, Florida, USA. This meeting delivers meaningful business content while providing a unique forum for senior business leaders to meet and interact with their peers serving the pulp and paper industry supplier community.

A key reason that business leaders attend is that they learn directly from guest speakers who represent their customer base. The speakers are senior executives who address pressing issues that affect how participants conduct business today and tomorrow. The connection is direct without any filtering layer of analysts or intermediaries. This meeting's presenters include J. Patrick Maley III, President, COO, and Director for Temple-Inland; Mike Edwards, SVP Pulp & Paper Manufacturing for Domtar; and Butch Johnson, CEO of Flambeau River Biofuels.

ASPI meeting attendees will also hear industry and market segment overviews by Stephen Atkinson, Managing Director for Paper & Forest Products for BMO Capital Markets. Joining him is Paul Leclair, VP and Chief Economist with the Pulp and Paper Products Council. ASPI is also pleased to announce that Tim Mescon, President of Columbus State University will be speaking. Mescon has an outstanding reputation as a speaker on management and leadership issues.

The ASPI 2010 Spring Meeting offers opportunities for informal networking, an ASPI Golf Tournament on Friday, February 19th, and a Spouse/Guest program. The venue is The Inn on Fifth in Old Naples, Florida  ASPI has negotiated preferred hotel registration rates for ASPI attendees.

Prospective participants are encouraged to make reservations. They can visit the ASPI website, www.aspinet.org for full details now and can visit the site periodically for program updates. Further background is available from Colleen Walker, ASPI Director of Member Relations, at cwalker@aspinet.org or by phone at +1 770 209-7349.

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Date: March 15-19, 2010
Location: North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina

Need to know more about pulping, bleaching, chemical recovery, recycling, papermaking and converting to do your job better? Gain an excellent overall view of the basic concepts in pulp and paper manufacturing while increasing your understanding through hands-on laboratory exercises.

Using a combination of balanced lectures and laboratories, this workshop will provide you with an easy-to-learn and lasting introduction to pulp and paper technology, operations, and markets, including:

• Overview knowledge of the entire pulping and papermaking process
• How different processes affect paper properties
• Hands-on lab experiments to enhance your understanding of process
• Run a pilot plant paper machine
• Close interaction with Pulp and Paper Professors in small groups

Learn more about the course and register to attend here. You can also download the complete course brochure.

CEUs available. This course will also be held June 7-10, 2010; and October 4-8, 2010.

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TAPPI's NET (Nonwovens Engineers & Technologists) Division is pleased to announce that it is planning a 2010 Nonwovens Technical Conference for this fall. The conference will provide updates on current challenges and cutting-edge solutions for the nonwovens industry. Last year, leading experts from the nonwovens field addressed hot topics such as sustainability and "green" concerns, advanced binders and additives, and new technologies affecting the industry. Additional details on this year's program will be announced later this spring. 

"TAPPI and the members of NET are excited to expand our commitment to the nonwovens industry by organizing this conference," said TAPPI's President and CEO Larry N. Montague said. "By providing attendees with access to important technical knowledge and a network of people who can leverage that knowledge, TAPPI's 2010 Nonwovens Technical Conference will advance the science and its application within this dynamic field. This event is a critical gathering for those dedicated to broadening their knowledge of nonwovens technology."

Operating as a division of TAPPI, NET is the only professional society in the nonwovens industry and is the international association home for nonwovens experts from diverse markets and disciplines. Members work collaboratively in volunteer groups to share knowledge with peers throughout the world in all segments of the nonwovens industry -- from hygiene and fabrics to filtration, insulation and more.

NET is led by Division Chair Behnam Pourdeyhimi, who is Associate Dean for Industry Research & Extension, William A. Klopman Distinguished Professor and Executive Director of The Nonwovens Institute for North Carolina State University. "Technical societies such as TAPPI's NET Division provide a great service to the industry and return in spades actionable ideas to the individuals who volunteer, " said Pourdeyhimi. "TAPPI's 2010 Nonwovens Technical  Conference provides an exciting opportunity for NET to further nonwovens science and manufacturing applications through peer-reviewed papers and collaborative activities among organizers and attendees."

To learn more about participating in the development of the 2010 Nonwovens Technical Conference, please contact  Craig McKinney, Program Manager, at +1-770-209-7294 or cmckinney@tappi.org.

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The upcoming Best Practices in Corrugator Operations Short Course is sold out and has surpassed capacity for TAPPI's training facility. The course will now be held February 16-19, 2010, at the Holiday Inn Select in Norcross, Georgia, USA. Last held in 2004, this course is back by popular demand and teaches participants how to understand each element in the corrugating process, which will lead to higher productivity, better quality, and waste reduction.

Participants will learn the basics of how each component in the corrugator system works and how to run each component with optimum settings for peak performance. Both old and new equipment will be covered. Participants will develop an understanding of the critical properties of the raw materials that are vital to guarantee acceptable quality board. The course instructors will teach participants how the "Centerline Process" can be adopted in their plant and achieve a product that is consistent every day and on all shifts. Learn more.

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TAPPI has announced the dates and location for its 13th European PLACE Conference as 30 May - 1 June, 2011. It will be held at the internationally famous Festpielhaus on Lake Constance in Bregenz Austria. This biennial European event brings together professionals in the flexible packaging industry. It attracts managers, packaging engineers, technical personnel, technical directors and other key decision makers.

"We are excited to bring the same caliber of information and experts to Austria as we drew to our successful 12th European PLACE event in Budapest Hungary in 2009," said TAPPI President and CEO, Larry N. Montague. "The high quality of programming and the convenient location on Lake Constance bordering Switzerland, Austria and Germany promises to attract attendees from all over Europe."

The Invitation to Present will be extended in the coming months. Continue to check www.tappi.org for new details.

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"Optimizing Chemical Recovery Technology for Today's Marketplace" is the theme of the 2010 International Chemical Recovery Conference, which will be held March 28-April 1, 2010 in Williamsburg, Virginia USA.  Held every three years, the conference is a major event that addresses the needs of industry and academic professionals with interests in chemical recovery technology in the pulp and paper industry. The updated program schedule features more than 65 presentations. The event is designed to provide delegates an update on new technologies from around the globe while also showcasing ways to improve existing technology.

The 2010 International Chemical Recovery Conference will include several key components:
- A comprehensive Plenary Session
- Special colonial Groaning Board Banquet in historic Williamsburg, VA
- Peer-to-peer networking that connects diverse groups of chemical recovery experts
- Sponsorship opportunities designed to fit a range of marketing needs or budgets

Online registration is available for prospective delegates. Those who register before March 1, 2010, receive the best registration rate and save hundreds of dollars (U.S.) versus the full fee that applies after that date. Members of TAPPI (international), PAPTAC (Canada), Japan TAPPI, ABTCP (Brazil), and PI (Finland) receive preferential pricing for all registration options. Group discounts are also available, offering substantial savings for multiple registrants from a single location.

More program content is available at www.icrcmeeting.org. Those interested in sponsorship information can contact Craig McKinney at +1 770 209-7294 or cmckinney@tappi.org. Information is also available through TAPPI's Member Connection Center, 1 800-332-8686 (US), 1-800-446-9431 (Canada), +1-770-446-1400 (worldwide), or via email at memberconnection@tappi.org.

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A Call for Presentations/Posters has been issued for the 2010 TAPPI International Conference on Nanotechnology for the Forest Products Industry, 27-29 September, 2010, in Espoo, Finland. This annual, internationally recognized event brings together leading researchers, industry experts, government representatives, and other stakeholders to share  advances and perspectives on nanotechnology-based products for the forest products and related industries.

To leverage research advances and offer participants new opportunities for knowledge sharing, the 2010 Technical Program Committee invites contributions from participants working with nano-enabled bio-materials, products, and their processing. Analysis of challenges and trends in emerging markets for forest products that are based on nanotechnology are sought to provide a foundation for new research and industrial activities. The organizers also  encourage submissions on other aspects of nanotech products including law, policy, economics and environmental health and safety. View the Call for Papers.

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TAPPI and Pira International are collaborating to provide key insight into the future of the paperboard industry with the Paperboard Packaging Conference, 22-24 June, 2010, in Budapest, Hungary.

The event will bring together leading minds in paperboard and associated industries, creating a forum where the current challenges and opportunities facing converters, mills and end users involved in paperboard will be discussed and real solutions proposed.

In this forum you will hear:

• Market forecasts by geographic region, material type and end use over the next five years
• Consumer, retailer and brand owner future requirements and expectations
• Sustainability challenges and opportunities for paperboard packaging
• Latest innovations in printing and decoration technologies
• Regulatory and legislative landscape for the future Advances in paperboard manufacture and converting

Learn more about the Paperboard Packaging Conference, including the Draft Program at www.paperboardpack.com.

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Nominations are now open for management level awards through PIMA's prestigious and well-established industry awards program. All the awards recognize accomplishment and expertise in the field of management. The first three highlight leaders who have made significant contributions to the paper industry over time. The deadline for submission is January 31, 2010.

Nominations are open for the following awards:

• PIMA'S Executive of the Year: PIMA's highest honor, traditionally presented to senior-level executives in the pulp, paper or converting industries for excellence in management and outstanding contributions to the industry as a whole.
• Mill Manager of the Year: Recognizes the mill manager who has best demonstrated outstanding leadership, management, and organizational skills leading to improved results at the facility for which he or she is responsible.
• The Brookshire Moore Superintendent of the Year: Recognizes the mill superintendent who has shown high personal standards and professional management qualities that contribute to the betterment of those under their management and in their company.
• Technologist of the Year
• Ray H. Cross Community Service Award
• Delano L. "Del" Boutin Local Section Service Award
• Thomas F. Sheerin, Sr. Service Award
• IT Service Award
• Kenneth H. Phillips Specialist Group Award
• Student of the Year Award

The one-page Nomination Forms are available online, in both a printable PDF format or as an interactive online form. Complete award descriptions are also available online. Honor your peers, coworkers, and managers, and help promote management excellence in our industry, by making your nominations for PIMA Awards.

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