We want to thank our Volunteers for all of your hard work and dedication to TAPPI. Your investment in TAPPI and the industry is the driving force behind all that we do!

It is especially fitting then to applaud your efforts this week, April 10 – 16, as the country celebrates National Volunteer Week. Nowhere is its theme, "Celebrating People in Action," more appropriate than when applied to TAPPI members. Your willingness to go that extra mile for your colleagues is what makes us the leading association for the worldwide pulp, paper, packaging, and converting industries.
So no matter if you serve on a Committee, share your knowledge with fellow members, act as a mentor, actively participate in developing Standards & TIPS, or are currently waiting for the right opportunity to join in, we want to say thanks!

And, as always, if you have ideas, questions or suggestions regarding TAPPI membership offerings, don't hesitate to contact us! We look forward to hearing from you.

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Presenting a chemist's perspective on the papermaking process, The Chemistry of Modern Papermaking is an extensive collection of data that combines the organic chemistry of paper with its potential applications. Within each chapter, paper chemicals are organized based on their chemical structure.

After an introduction and brief history, the book explores the papermaking process, retention aids, temporary wet strength resins, wet strength resins, dry strength resins, internal sizing agents, creping adhesives and softeners, and chemicals for paper surface treatment.  Included are over 3000 references to facilitate further study. It's scheduled for a summer 2011 release.

Pre-order your copy now!

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In just over a month, the world's largest and most premier event for the pulp and paper industry, SPCI 2011, opens in Stockholm, Sweden. The event is held at Stockholm International Fairs (Stockholmsmässan) on May 17-19. Companies from around the world will exhibit the very latest industry technology and services in the largest exhibition hall at Stockholmsmässan. Visit www.spcievent.com to pre-register your visit free of charge.

The event features a new concept for SPCI which brings the conference program down to the exhibition floor. Three activity squares will be a part of the exhibition and offer a full conference programme with key note speakers, shorter presentations with a technical orientation as well as entertainment. The entire event is free to all visitors.

For more information regarding the event, conference program, list of exhibitors, etc., please visit www.spcievent.com

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The TAPPI Lean Manufacturing – Flexo and Die Cutters Course – offered May 24-26 in Norcross, Ga., focuses on two aspects of machine calibration that help our box plants manage costs and improve throughput:

1. Centerlining – Gives the plant the necessary tools to sustain board caliper in the converting process. It assures proper ECT numbers.

2. Time & Register Calibration – This is the calibration tool that Dick Target terms the "One-Box Set Up" calibration, which can certainly reduce plant waste.

View coverage about this course in the recent Corrugated Today magazine.

Industry veteran Dick Target of "On Target Consultants" leads the Course Schedule, which offers 1.5 CEUs.

Target's content also covers:

• Methods on how to Zero the Gear Train in the Press

• Proven, effective "One Box Set Up" techniques • Ink management for consistent color and proper wash-up procedures

• Measuring TIR (Total Indicator Runout) settings for pull collars, scoring and slotter heads

• Anilox roll care and maintenance schedules

• Implementing a successful Five-S Program (sort, set in order, shine, standardize and sustain)

• Identifying tools for effective waste reduction

• Simulating the presentation of technical and commercial contracts to printing plate and cutting die suppliers

• Calibrating machines to OEM specifications

• How tooling should be purchased and used in a cost-effective manner

Don't linger because this course will sell out at 25 seats. Register before April 29, 2011 to get a discounted rate.

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TAPPI's OpEx Maintenance Seminar: Operating Excellence through Advanced Asset Management is an important two-day seminar, taking place May 2-3 during PaperCon 2011. It is designed for mill maintenance and reliability supervisors who are interested in bringing the latest reliability techniques and best practices back to their mill. Organized by TAPPI's Asset Management Committee, speakers include mill personnel, consultants and suppliers.

Attendees will bring practical ideas back to their mill; meet and network with world class asset management experts and suppliers; and attend a roundtable of maintenance superintendants from TAPPI's Ohio Local Section. Up-to-date program information is available.

Learn more about this event and all PaperCon has to offer.

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Approaching the 40 year mark in membership, M. Hassan Loutfi knows what he's talking about when it comes to extolling TAPPI benefits – in three languages, no less! In 1974, Hassan was nearing completion of his second Master's Degree in Chemical Engineering when he started looking for useful ways to supplement his education and expand his presence in the industry. Originally drawn to TAPPI's educational elements, he felt sure he would benefit from the many networking opportunities he might find at the conferences, workshops and committee meetings. He also says receiving the numerous publications that come with membership enticed him as well. He considers his longtime relationship with TAPPI to be one of the best career enhancing moves he made and key to building his network of professional contacts and resources. Find out the reasons why by reading this month's Member Spotlight.

Spotlight participants are recommended by fellow members and staff. If you would like to nominate a member (or even yourself!) just send their name (or names) to MemberSpotlight@tappi.org. We will forward a Spotlight Questionnaire to fill out and return. We look forward to seeing you in the Spotlight!

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There is no doubt that the forest sector is in economic stalemate, and that one of the leading solutions for revenue diversification is the forest biorefinery. Whereas corporate executives, mill management, leading equipment suppliers and consultants are aware of what the biorefinery potentially offers, there is an important need for identifying viable implementation strategies for such a transformative change.

TAPPI is offering its first week-long course on the biorefinery, May 16-20, 2011 in Norcross, GA, involving leading biorefinery experts from across North America – shedding light on the key issues facing companies considering biorefinery implementation. With a course format designed to facilitate exchange between faculty and participants, it is sure to provide important value for your company.

Six key factors that companies considering a biorefinery implementation must consider (and that will be addressed in this course) include:

1. Which biorefinery products (wood pellets, biofuels, or biochemicals...) will provide sustainably good margins over the long term?
2. Which emerging biorefinery processes are the most promising for making these products?
3. What is their efficiency and operating costs today and what will they be in 5 years from now after the process technologies have matured?
4. How do we best make-use of our existing mill infrastructure when implementing the biorefinery?
5. Can we implement the biorefinery, and at the same time lower the unit costs of our wood, pulp and paper products?
6. What might be the role of government policy relative to key issues such as stumpage fees, biorefinery capital cost reduction, and other incentives such as greenhouse gas reduction policy?

How You Can Benefit From Attending This Course

This course will seek to provide the knowledge and tools for forest industry leaders, technology providers and consultants to develop biorefinery strategies and better understand emerging biorefinery technologies and their design/implementation in a business strategy. The course syllabus will be delivered by more than 20 experts from across North America, treating both strategy-setting and design issues related to transformation to the biorefinery.

Course Instructor

This course will be led by Paul Stuart, Consultant and Professor, Ecole Polytechnique. Paul Stuart has a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from McGill University, after which he worked in process design consulting as Company Associate and Manager of Process Engineering at Beak Consultants Limited, as Partner and Manager of Environmental Services at Simons Environmental Group, and as Director of Process and Environmental Engineering at H.A. Simons Limited in Montreal (later AMEC). Since 2000, Paul has been a Professor in the Chemical Engineering Department at École Polytechnique of the University of Montréal, where he is Chairholder of an NSERC Environmental Design Engineering Chair entitled Process Integration in the Pulp & Paper Industry (www.pulp-paper.ca). Paul is Co-Founder and Principal Consultant of EnVertis Inc, who seeks to be a leader providing strategic and multidisciplinary consulting services consistent with new business paradigms such as the biorefinery that provide sustainable enterprise value in the longer-term, for the forest industry and its partners.

Learn more about this course and register to attend at the TAPPI website.

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The Pulp and Paper Safety Association (PPSA) will hold its 68th Annual Safety & Health Conference at the Hyatt Regency in San Antonio, Texas, on June 19-22, 2011.

Program highlights:

• Meet and make valuable safety contacts within Forest Products Industry
• Hear first hand from companies like yours with outstanding safety records
• Find out what the latest OSHA activity and direction is
• Learn new accident avoidance techniques
• Learn about new industry specific training programs
• Find out what is on the cutting edge and currently available from safety suppliers
• Learn from both the positive and negative experiences of others in our industry

For more information download the conference program or visit the website.

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The 2011 TAPPI International Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials is scheduled for June 6-8, 2011 at the Sheraton Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia USA. The comprehensive Technical Program includes over 60 papers and five keynote presentations.

The event's Poster Session will feature findings from the leading researchers from around the world as well as a Student Poster Competition! Abstracts that focus on new and novel uses are highly encouraged. Analysis of challenges and trends in emerging markets for renewable nanomaterials are sought to provide a foundation for new research and industrial activities. Abstracts for the Student Poster Competition must be submitted by April 4. Prizes and certificates will be awarded to the first and second place winner.

Learn more about the event.

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