Jack McAneny, Procter & Gamble's Associate Director Global Sustainability, will present PaperCon's Coating & Graphic Arts Program Keynote on Sunday, May 1, in Covington, Ky., (Greater Cincinnati) and will focus his address on Sustainability.

In his 15 years at Procter & Gamble, McAneny has had a variety of assignments in the Health, Safety & Environment and Technical External Relations functions. In his current role, he helps to coordinate the implementation of Procter & Gamble's Sustainability Strategy and leads several cross-functional and cross-business unit teams that focus on key sustainability issues.

Learn more about PaperCon.

Back to top

TAPPI announces the Call For Papers for the 2011 NETInc Technical Program. NETInc stands for the Innovative Nonwovens Conference and is organized by the Nonwovens Engineers and Technologists (NET) Division of TAPPI. NETInc is the perfect forum for a new constituency of industry and academic researchers, the professionals from the nonwovens and affiliated industries and the academic community to enable connections and synergies that support capability development and innovation for industry growth. The conference will be held in Atlanta, Ga., USA, at the Hyatt Regency September 12-15, 2011.

Benefits of speaking Include:

• Widespread recognition from industry peers
• Opportunities to share your knowledge and ideas
• Valuable new information and solutions from other presenters
• Profitable networking opportunities with top industry professionals to grow your business or enhance your professional career

Authors interested in presenting a paper on these or related topics should submit an abstract electronically at speakermanagement.tappi.org. Abstract submissions should be 1-2 paragraphs in length and are due on or before March 18, 2011; authors will be notified in mid April regarding acceptance. Extended abstracts will be due in early July.

Back to top

The U.S. Renewable Fuels Mandate ... "Ethanol Will Not Get Us There"

The U.S. doesn't have the infrastructure to consume more fuel ethanol. Significant increases in cellulosic and next-generation "drop-in" biofuels may be the only route forward.

In a special session at BioPro Expo on Tuesday, March 15, in Atlanta, Ga., 9 to 10 a.m., representatives from Purdue University and Auburn University, together with other biofuels experts, will explore why and how this infrastructure dilemma has happened, and what we can and must do to get over the blending wall and make real progress toward our national renewable fuels goals.

Surprising new studies done by research teams at Purdue University and other institutions clearly show that the U.S. is now at the "blending wall" or saturation point for ethanol use. Even with the national ethanol blending percentage in gasoline increased to 15 percent, together with projections for increased flex-fuel vehicle production and E85 fuel pumps, the country will not be able to consume more ethanol than is being currently produced, based on analyses using the latest DOE and EPA data.

One of the more promising technologies according to session speakers, thermochemical biofuels could quickly become the favored approach to meeting the Renewable Fuel Standard. These fuels are similar enough to gasoline to allow unlimited blending and would increase the amount of biofuel that could be used. These "drop-in" biofuels could be directly absorbed into the existing transportation fuels infrastructure, directly replacing petroleum crude oil and/or refined petroleum fuels and products.

"Producing the hydrocarbons directly doesn't have the infrastructure problems of ethanol, and there is no blend wall because you're producing gasoline," Professor Wally Tyner of Purdue University says. "If that comes on and works, then we get there. There is significant potential to produce drop-in hydrocarbons from cellulosic feedstocks."

The "ethanol quandary" will be further explored during the Business Leaders Forum, being conducted together with BioPro Expo. At this unique forum, biofuels technology developers, producers, consultants and leading bioenergy equipment and systems suppliers will explore hurdles, opportunities, progress and routes forward in the global bioenergy arena.

Back to top

TAPPI's PIMA Division has unveiled another tremendous program for PaperCon 2011, May 1-4, in Covington, Ky., USA (Greater Cincinnati). This year's speakers include superintendents, mill managers and senior executives who will challenge attendees to rethink paper by focusing on lean manufacturing, operational excellence and environmental performance.

Highlights include Keynote Speaker John Williams, Domtar CEO, an Executive Panel, State of the Industry address, a session on Lean and Green Energy and Fiber, a Superintendents' Roundtable, and PaperCon's Young Professionals Program.

For more information, go to www.papercon.org

Back to top

TAPPI announces the line-up of keynote presentations for the 2011 TAPPI International Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials, June 6-8, 2011, at the Sheraton Crystal City in Washington, D.C., USA (Arlington Va.).

Attendees will hear from industry leaders including:

Mike Jackson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Verso Paper Corp. -- Importance of Nanotechnology/Nanomaterials to the Forest Products Industry of the 21st Century

Vicki Stone, Director of the Nano Safety Research Group, Heriot-Watt University; Director of Toxicology for SAFENANO; and Editor-in-chief of the Journal Nanotoxicology -- Assessing the Potential Toxicity of a Variety of Nanomaterials

Mike Roco, Senior Advisor for Nanotechnology at the National Science Foundation (NSF) -- NSF Programs and the Future of Nanotechnology Research and Development

Dr. Leo Christodoulou, Director, Defense Sciences Office, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

Tom Lindström, Director of the Biofibre Materials Research Centre (BiMaC Innovation), Royal Institute of Technology (KTH); Senior Research Scientist, Innventia AB -- NanoCellulose Research and Developments at Innventia

Learn more about this event including details about the networking dinner cruise and registration information at the website.

Back to top

The National Center for Pulp and Paper Technology Training announced that Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC), Green Bay, Wis., joined The National Network for Pulp and Paper Technology Training (NPT2). The Network is a national partnership of community colleges and industry representatives that arms students with the training and experience necessary to meet the increasing demand for advanced technology workers in the pulp and paper industry. The Network is part of the Technologically Advanced Workforce (TAW) platform supported by TAPPI and the American Forest and Paper Association's (AF&PA) special project group, Agenda 2020.

"We are very excited to add NWTC to our network of community colleges offering Pulp and Paper technology training across the country," said T.J. Murphy, executive director of The National Center for Pulp and Paper Technology Training. "NWTC has state-of-the-art facilities, award-winning instructors, and one of the premier Engineering and Mechanical programs in the country."

"Northeast Wisconsin Technical College's partnership with NPT2 will strengthen our existing technical programs and prepare students for the high-skill, high-pay jobs of pulp and paper industry in Wisconsin," said Pam Mazur, associate dean, Trades and Engineering Technologies at NWTC. "This partnership will enrich NWTC's mission of providing education, training and life-long learning opportunities for individuals and businesses leading to the development of a skilled workforce."

Joining NPT2 makes NWTC a conduit for pulp and paper training in Wisconsin. It also gives NWTC access to curriculum materials related to the pulp and paper industry, which should be especially valuable in closely related degree programs like Electro-Mechanical Technology, Automation Engineering Technology and the new Applied Engineering Technology.

Specialized facilities at NWTC make it ideal for delivering the technical training that the network provides to two-year colleges. The Manufacturing Technology Center features PLC simulators, both instructor-led and self-paced learning areas, and integrated manufacturing equipment to provide students with hands-on experience in the highly technical, networked systems typical of a modern manufacturing environment.

Founded in 1912, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is recognized as one of the nation's fastest growing two-year colleges, serving about 42,000 students and employed adults annually. With campuses in Green Bay, Marinette, and Sturgeon Bay, and five regional learning centers located throughout Northeast Wisconsin, NWTC offers nearly 200 degrees and certificates, and transfer agreements with 28 colleges and universities.

Back to top

TAPPI has joined forces with Reed Exhibitions to develop the technical program for Reed's flagship converting show - SinoCorrugated 2011. These two organizations will co-host a one-day TAPPI Symposium on "Trends, Technology, and Management Issues in Box Plants Worldwide" on April 7, 2011, at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre.

This international symposium is expected to attract at least 200 delegates, about half of whom are expected to be from beyond the borders of Mainland China. The program includes:

• Global Outlook for Containerboard Packaging, Dr. Graham Moore, Strategic Consultant, PIRA International, UK
• Effective Box Plant Management – A Manufacturing Focus, Tom Pearce, President, Pearce Corrugated Consulting
• New Corrugated Products and Global Applications, Pankaj Shah, Director, SUPAK International, Pvt. Ltd.
• New Technology Showcase, Moderated by Dan Brunton, NV Publications
• and a panel discussion of International Corrugated Issues.

"This will be a unique opportunity for visitors to SinoCorrugated from both China and abroad to explore and understand issues directly concerning modern box plants in developing countries and ways to improve them," said TAPPI's Corrugated Division Manager Kristi Ledbetter.

"SinoCorrugated is a leading exhibition for the corrugated industry, and we welcome this collaboration with TAPPI to bridge and forge business opportunities globally,"said Josephine Lee, vice president of Reed Exhibitions East China.

SinoCorrugated 2011 will take place from April 6-9. The Symposium, which will run concurrently with the exhibition at the same venue, marks an important collaboration between Reed and TAPPI.

SinoCorrugated is one of the world's largest business platforms for the global corrugated manufacturing industry. The exhibition not only highlights the latest global corrugating equipment and consumables on the market, it also helps box manufacturers make informed purchasing decisions by alerting them to new products, the latest technologies and emerging market trends.

For inforamtion about TAPPI's technical program, visit the website.

Back to top

You are invited to participate in a special program for Pulp and Paper Managers from USA and Canada, organized by the Swedish Pulp & Paper Technology Group, the Embassy of Sweden and the Swedish Trade Council. The aim is to get an opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience on new technologies and environmental aspects of pulp and paper manufacturing today.

Event Title: North American Pulp and Paper Delegation to Sweden
Event Date: May 15-20, 2011
Event Location: In Conjunction with SPCI 2011 

Register

The program includes mill visits in Sweden, technical presentations, business discussions and a visit to SPCI 2011 conference and exhibition in Stockholm, May 15-20, 2011.

Each delegate pays his/her return airfare to Stockholm, Sweden, while the expenses for the program in Sweden (lodging, local transportation and most meals) are courtesy of the Swedish Pulp & Paper Technology Group. Participation is on a first come - first served basis, with a total upper limit of 20 persons.

The Swedish Pulp & Paper Technology Group is an association of member companies, supplying technology to the world pulp and paper industry, see www.pptgroup.se. SPCI is the world's leading conference and exhibition for the pulp and paper industry, see www.spcievent.com.

For questions please contact Mr. Magnus Andersson, Trade Commissioner for Sweden at +1 416 640 7475, or magnus.andersson@swedishtrade.se

We look forward to welcoming you in Sweden in May.

Back to top

PPMA, the human resources association for the paper industry, has organized an exceptional the program for its Annual Meeting and Conference, April 7-8 in downtown Milwaukee. With the theme "Wisdom to Plan, Strength to Prevail," it features speakers on:

• Challenges presented by the new health care law
• Dealing with an aging workforce
• Pending changes in labor law
• Preparing supervisors to properly handle employee relations
• Assuring business continuity when major disruptions occur at your company

Full program and registration information

PPMA (Pulp and Paper Manufacturers Association) is also celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. Based in Appleton, Wis., the association provides high quality human resource services to its member companies. For more information, visit www.ppmausa.com.

Back to top