Named a TAPPI Fellow in 1985, member Michael Kocurek, Ph.D., has been an extremely active participant in TAPPI for nearly 50 amazing years.  In 1992, that dedication was recognized with TAPPI's Distinguished Service Award, the second highest honor bestowed on members. 

Recently retired as a professor and former head of North Carolina State University's Department of Wood and Paper Science, Dr. Kocurek spent his entire career dedicated to the P&P industry, educating its future ranks and preparing them to serve as the next generation of leaders.  Still actively involved in TAPPI, he continues to teach some of TAPPI's perennially favored courses, including Introduction to Pulp and Paper, which he has been doing continuously since 1974, Introduction to Kraft Pulping and Bleaching, Linerboard and Medium Manufacturing, and Tissue Properties and Manufacturing . Find out more by reading this month's Member Spotlight.

Spotlight participants are recommended by fellow members and staff.  If you would like to nominate a member just send 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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If you manage anyone at your facility, you bear a significant role in maintaining a competitive edge in the industry. Workforce training is a big responsibility, especially facing an ever-changing workforce, emerging technologies and tighter budgets.

Your employees are the backbone of the business and only as viable as their abilities and knowledge. Keep their skills strong this summer.

Coming up in August...

TAPPI has prepared an entire month of training courses for nearly every facet of the industry for both beginner- and advanced-level employees. You can be confident that your employees are getting stellar instruction. Course curriculum is always developed by industry professionals with years of experience, credentials, and recognition. Presentations are never "canned" and are specific to the attendees' work.

Click here for a complete list of events coming up in 2012

August's upcoming events:

• TAPPI Introduction to Kraft Pulping & Bleaching - Aug. 13-14
• TAPPI Tissue Properties and Manufacturing - Aug. 15-16
• TAPPI/PPSA Safety Management and Leadership - Aug. 15-16
• TAPPI Improving Paper Machine Performance - Aug. 21-13
• TAPPI Extrusing Coating - Aug. 27-29

TAPPI courses are better on the budget!

TAPPI offers group discounts where your facility can save on course fees per person by registering three or more employees from the same location. 

Since 1915, the industry's leaders have turned to TAPPI to train and educate their facility's workforce.  Why?  Because TAPPI consistently delivers the most highly regarded resources for superior education and training for the pulp, paper, packaging, and converting industry.

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Only a few seats remain for the TAPPI Introduction to Kraft Pulping and Bleaching Course, but if you register now, you may be able to snag a place among other peers. This course takes place at TAPPI Headquarters August 13-14.

This introductory course compiles two full weeks of material into two days of expert instruction in kraft pulp mill operations. Join peers from companies that already have taken advantage of this training, such as Domtar, MeadWestvaco, Andritz, and Weyerhaeuser.

Who Should Attend?

This course is ideal for anyone new to the kraft pulping process, particularly process engineers and operators.

View the Course Schedule to find out exactly all that you'll be depositing into your valuable bank of knowledge.

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 The 2012 TAPPI Tissue Properties & Manufacture Course is coming to TAPPI Headquarters in Norcross, Ga., USA., on August 15 -16. This two-day course is a comprehensive overview of the entire tissue manufacturing process taught by leading industry experts.

The focus of the course is on learning ways to improve tissue manufacturing operations and produce a higher quality final product.The Tissue Properties & Manufacture Course will provide participants with more confidence in understanding tissue performance properties and how they are achieved, steps to improve tissue manufacturing, and preparation for more advanced topics.

The course will be taught by Michael J. Kocurek, PhD, Professor Emeritus at North Carolina State University, along with a faculty of experienced industry professional. Last year, more than 95% of Tissue Properties & Manufacture Course participants reported that they had increased their ability to impact tissue performance and design by attending the course. Participants enjoyed the opportunity to learn and network with industry peers and receive instruction from multiple instructors.

The Tissue Properties & Manufacture Course is designed for professionals with limited or intermediate experience including;

• Tissue Mill Operators
• Technical Process Engineers
• Non-Technical Professionals
• Tissue Manufacturing personnel.

This is an introductory-intermediate level course. If you are looking for an advanced course on tissue, consider the next TAPPI Tissue Runnability Course scheduled for this November 7-9, in Neenah, Wi., USA.

There are only 25 spaces available for this popular course, so please register today at the course website.

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TAPPI and the Pulp and Paper Safety Association (PPSA) are pleased to announce their new course on workplace safety leadership and modern safety management principles...

The Safety Management Leadership Course.

This course will be held at TAPPI Headquarters on August 15-16.

The papermaking, conversion, and paper recycling industries have traditionally suffered from high workplace accident rates. Through a concentrated industry effort, the number of workplace injuries in the paper and pulp industry between 1994 and 2010 declined at a faster rate than the national rate for all private industries.

The Safety Management Leadership Course will provide managers and leaders with the best practices in safety for the paper and packaging industry that should help further reduce these workplace safety incidents. The course is designed for anyone involved in workplace safety including human resources, training, safety supervisors, team leaders, plant managers, project leaders, frontline supervisors, and safety committee participants.

The course will be led by industry expert and course chair Matthew Kanneberg from RockTenn.

"Participants in the course will be able to understand the fundamentals of safety and safety management principles, including recordkeeping, incident investigation, safety culture, managing change safely, understanding safety behavior, risk management, and measuring performance," says Kanneberg.

Course registration is limited to 30 participants so please register today! Visit the course website.

Early registration discounts are available.

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TAPPI Headquarters in Norcross, Ga., USA, will host the annual Improving Paper Machine Performance Course August 21-23. This course provides students the tools needed to evaluate the performance of their paper machines against industry standards and evaluate ways to improve performance and optimize efficiencies. This year the course schedule has been expanded to include an important area of operation- evaluating energy savings.

Dick Reese of Dick Reese and Associates will help attendees learn how to evaluate energy consumption. Reese has completed energy evaluations on more than 125 paper and pulp machines in 56 mills. Several mills have reduced annual energy cost by $1 million-plus by implementing recommendations from the energy evaluations.

After successfully completing this course, participants should be able to:

• Explain how to establish a paper machine performance audit
• Improve performance and optimize energy conservation and efficiency of your paper machine
• Determine the tools needed to benchmark paper machine operations
• Identify areas of PM performance that are sub-standard.

The educational material has been designed as an intermediate or advanced course for process engineers and mid- to upper-level manufacturing managers. Service technicians, sales personnel, and engineers within the chemical and equipment categories will also benefit by attending this course.
 
A degree in engineering or other technical field is suggested, but not required. A good working knowledge of the paper machine is recommended (this is not an introductory course). Please bring your laptop computer for this working course. If you don't have one you may share with another course participant.

There is only room for 25 course participants, so please register today.

For more information, please visit the course website.

Early registration, travel, and lodging discounts are available.

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Join us on Tuesday, August 14 at the Mid-Valley Country Club in De Pere, Wis., USA.  An afternoon shotgun scramble golf outing is planned with dinner to follow. 

Your participation will help fund scholarships for local TAPPI and PIMA programs.

Multiple Prizes will be awarded and individual pin events will be held.

Those submitting registration with their fee, postmarked by August 9, will be assigned holes on a first-come, first-serve basis. Later registrations will be assigned as space is available. Foursome sponsors and all singles will be notified of their hole assignment at the course on the day of the event. 

Check-in registration will be at the main entrance of the golf course club house. Golf clubs will be unloaded, tagged, and placed on golf carts for your assigned hole. 

Beverage carts will also be available throughout the day on a cash basis.  Lunch will be provided prior to tee-off, with the standard fine cuisine of brats, hamburgers, and beverage. 

If you have any questions about this event, please contact Chris Wolslegel.

Full event information and registration details are available online.

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Join us on Tuesday, August 28, at the Grand View Lodge, Preserve Course, in Pequot Lakes, Minn. A morning shotgun scramble golf outing is planned with lunch to follow.

Please remember, your participation will help fund scholarships for Lakes States TAPPI/North Central PIMA's Scholarship programs. Prizes will be awarded along with a putting contest and a raffle.

Reservation preference will be given to foursomes. Groups of two or less will be placed into foursomes pending availability. We will limit the number of participants to 128.

Entries will only be accepted with full payment. For entries received after August 16, the cost is $135.00 per person. Check-in registration will begin at 8:00 am.

If you have any questions about this event, please contact: Wfrawley@new.rr.com

Full event information and registration details are available online.

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Edited by:  A. Mimms, M.J. Kocurek, J.A. Pyatte, and E.E. Wright

Liberally illustrated with over 130 diagrams and photographs, this book includes basic formulas and diagrams to explain the structure of wood, variables affecting the quality and handling of wood chips, pulping chemistry and equipment, the pulping process, and black liquor recovery. Includes a glossary of frequently used terms.

View the Table of Contents.

Preview Sample Pages.


Product Code: 0101R171

TAPPI Member Price: $58.00

Non-Member Price: $87.00

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The paper coating community will be converging in Atlanta, Ga., USA, Sept. 10-12, 2012, for TAPPI's 12th Advanced Coating Fundamentals Symposium. This biennial event attracts the world's foremost experts in coating technology and is the preeminent symposium for leading-edge research.

Your next opportunity will not come until 2014!

As a special added bonus and for your convenience, the Advanced Coating Fundamentals Symposium (ACFS) will be co-located with the 16th International Coating Science and Technology Symposium (ISCST) providing you with insights into coating research in non-paper applications. Your TAPPI registration will allow you extended access in to any of the ISCST presentations. It will also include full printed proceedings of the TAPPI program.

The ACFS Technical Program will focus on what it takes to commercialize an innovation  -- and includes more than 20 peer-reviewed papers covering novel paper coatings, mechanics of printing,  new and emerging technologies, and nanotechnology in paper coating.

In addition to learning about all of the latest developments, your registration includes an evening of fun and fellowship with coating colleagues from around the world at the Advanced Coating Fundamentals dinner, scheduled at a distinctive Atlanta venue.

Click here to view the program.

Click to learn more about ACFS 2012.

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Every mill is capable of improving its reliability and maintenance practices. This is a critical function in mill operation that affects the bottom line. Training to keep up with changing technology and new procedures is absolutely essential for maintaining profitability and productivity.

The 2012 Preventive Maintenance and Essential Care & Condition Monitoring Course shows participants how to set up a cost-effective process and provide practical exercises and techniques. This training takes place September 12-13, 2012, in Raleigh, N.C., USA.

IDCON's Root Cause Problem Elimination Seminar focuses on eradicating problems. You will learn how to tie cause and effect together while applying logical thought processes to arrive at the problem's core.

You stand to benefit from this training if you:

• Plan preventive maintenance work
• Execute preventive maintenance tasks (operations and maintenance)
• Manage preventive maintenance
  
• Work with reliability improvements
• Manage and/or supervise maintenance personnel
• Work with a computerized maintenance management system
• Work as a maintenance or reliability engineer
• Coordinate PM tasks between E/I, mechanical and operations
• Manage operator essential care and inspections.

TAPPI and IDCON are pleased to partner for this course so that you and your maintenance teams can get expert advice from the industry's leaders in reliability and maintenance.

Click Here to Register.

Remember, seats will fill quickly for this essential training program!

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Are you someone who could benefit from an overview of the entire pulping and paper-making process?

If so, The 2012 TAPPI Hands-On Workshop for Pulp and Paper Basics might be the perfect course for you to learn about the fundamental processes and operations of the pulping and paper-making industry. This year's workshop runs from October 1-5 at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. Reserve your place now so that you can:

• Find out how different processes affect paper properties
• Perform hands-on laboratory experiments to support your understanding of the process
• Run a pilot plant paper machine
• Solidify your knowledge from close interaction with professors in small, interactive groups

Be among the first 32 people to register for this five-day workshop, and you will gain an invaluable overview of pulping, bleaching, chemical recovery, recycling, paper-making and converting. You'll receive course notes, an accompanying CD-ROM, and your own polo shirt. You will also have the opportunity to earn 3.7 CEUs.

This workshop is ideal for new process engineers, manufacturing operators and technicians, sales and service personnel, machine operators, and maintenance personnel. Everyone who wants a better understanding of the basic operation of the pulp and paper business will benefit from this course.

This course typically fills quickly, so don't wait long.

We look forward to seeing you in Raleigh this October!

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The NCSU Financial and Strategic Analysis Workshop, October 3-5, 2012, Raleigh, N.C., USA

You will learn basic and sophisticated tools to analyze business operations, estimate financial outcomes, and support decision making. In this workshop, you will also discover how to:

• Understand the critical role of reinvesting in pulp and paper mill assets to ensure long term survival and prosperity
• Study basics of capital budgeting, cost of capital (cost of debt and cost of equity), and financial indicators to allow you to use these tools to build financial analyses and sell your ideas, products and services
•  Appreciate the importance of cost structure and how you can increase your competitive advantage by managing your costs
• Explain in financial terms the impact of your operation, research, new technique, or new product
• Build an entire financial analysis from scratch with the assistance of recognized Business Operation Instructors with decades of experience in business operations in the pulp and paper industry
• Learn the basis for strategic planning and decision-making.

Who Should Attend?

 This workshop is especially beneficial for:

• Managers at pulp and paper mills and business units responsible for strategic planning
• Engineering consultants who provide strategic studies to pulp and paper mill clients
• Sales and service personnel who want to sell their ideas to customers and upper level management
• Superintendents and engineers who want to understand how to measure profitability and costs in their operations
• Managers who want to understand the financial outcomes of process improvements and capital projects
• Research and development engineers and scientists looking to calculate the potential financial impact of their research
• Engineers who are new to the pulp, paper and related industries Register today to apply your new skills in business and financial analysis and take your job performance to the next level.

Register today to apply your new skills in business and financial analysis and take your job performance to the next level.

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Pulp and Paper mills often find themselves spending millions of dollars inspecting, repairing, and recovering from unexpected leaks in their boiler tubes, tanks, pressure vessels, exposed and buried pipeline, stacks, bleach towers, etc...

Here's your chance to learn how to substantially reduce these costs! Corrosion probe Inc.'s FEMOS Workshop training shows maintenance staff how to rationally manage the mechanical (containment) intregrity of all types of fixed eqpment with a simple, rigorous system utilizing disciplines and procedures by vendors who specialize in the maintenance of rotating equipment.

What do you gain from attending?
This workshop to be held October 14, 2012, 8 am - 5 pm EDT in Savannah, Ga., USA, will teach attendees how to implement a mill-specific program by using a transparent and disciplined process to systematically design the right inspection plan for each major piece of fixed equipment based on its' materials of construction, present condition, and service conditions. The basic concept employs proven, high-value practices from refining and petrochemical industries for risk based inspection, customizing inspection plans to possible damage mechanism and using fitness-for-service engineering assessments to define damage limits.

Who is leading the workshop?

Corrosion Probe Inc.'s workshop will employ experienced and renowned TAPPI participants Dave Bennett, David Browe, and Doug Sherman. They will train up to 20 people in a 1-day (6-Hour) workshop. Training is presented so attendees can use their new knowledge to immediately implement FEMOS at their mill. Many working examples are provided and students are invited to bring their mill's costliest fixed equipment inspection and maintenance concerns for case analysis.

The FEMOS workshop takes place just before the 2012 TAPPI PEERS Conference and the 2012 IBBC conference. Those attending the FEMOS Workshop can also attend these important events.

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On Nov. 7-9, 2012, TAPPI will conduct its Tissue Runnability Course at Neenah, Wi., USA.

This special course is being taught by technical experts in each area of the machine from wet end operations through creping and process control. The experienced, highly qualified faculty for this course will provide a thorough understanding of the entire tissue making process and current best practices in each area.

Wednesday's (November 7) classes will focus on stock preparation and wet end operations, while Tuesday's (November 8) classes cover pressing, drying, and doctoring. Wednesday (November 9) classes examine technologies and latest developments in hoods, TAD (through-air drying), and other dynamics of the tissue machine dry end,

The 2012 TAPPI Tissue Runnability Course is designed for process engineers, machine supervisors, and reliability professionals who have to maximize uptime and saleable production. It is also an excellent tutorial for suppliers who support tissue making customers. It will help attendees:

• Improve tissue quality and consistency
• Understand contributors to waste and downtime
• Learn reliability and maintenance best practices
• Diagnose and troubleshoot problems quickly.

After successfully completing this course, attendees will specifically be able to:

• Diagnose the impact of recycled furnishes on tissue properties
• Make changes to wet-end chemistry to improve machine operations
• Improve cleaning and conditioning of fabrics
• Troubleshoot runnability problems in the press, Yankee, and creping systems
• Identify improvement opportunities on the dry end
• Pinpoint productivity opportunities in Yankee steam, coating, and hood systems.

TAPPI will award CEU credits to participants who attend at least 80% of the educational sessions and complete a final program evaluation.

The 2012 Tissue Runnabilitry Course includes advanced process instruction. If you are looking for an introductory-intermediate tissue course, consider the upcoming 2012 Tissue Properties and Manufacturing Course at TAPPI Headquarters in Norcross, Ga., USA, on August 15-16.

Attendance for the 2012 TAPPI Tissue Runnability Course is limited, so please register today at the course website.

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The 2012 TAPPI PEERS Conference, October 14-17 in Savannah, Ga., USA, has announced a detailed technical program. Five programming tracks of peer-reviewed sessions, Pulping, Engineering, Environmental, Recycling, and Sustainability, will answer the most pressing business and technical questions faced by pulp and paper companies as they manage raw materials, assets, regulatory requirements, and production assets. 

Register now and save.

In addition to the in-depth, peer-reviewed technical program, Keynote Speaker Don Roberts, vice chairman of CIBC World Markets, will present "A Whirlwind Tour of Investment Trends and Issues in the Global Bio-Energy Space." PEERS will also offer exclusive networking opportunities and insight into new technologies that can help you optimize your mill operations. 

The TAPPI PEERS Conference will be co-located with the International Bioenergy and Bioproducts Conference, creating a value-added opportunity for you  to expand your learning, networking, and resources by attending both events. See you in Savannah!

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The 2012 TAPPI PEERS Conference October 14-17 in Savannah, Ga., USA, features a detailed technical program that includes peer-reviewed papers, expert speakers, exclusive networking opportunities and new technologies that can help you optimize mill operations. Of special interest to mills is the Engineering Program which is organized into three sessions/tracks:

• Energy, Power, & Recover - parallel sessions so that one is focused on energy management and power house equipment and the other features chemical recovery process and liquor cycle chemistry topics
• Corrosion and Materials Engineering - This combination of technical sessions, a workshop and a panel discussion are of direct value to mills, providing information on controlling the cost of corrosion through material selection, inspection and knowledge of mechanisms
• (NEW!) Operational Excellence (OpEx) Maintenance and Reliability - This one-day program explores the latest reliability strategies today's mills are implementing to stay in-tune and competitive under progressively lean operating conditions.
  

Pulp and Paper companies get discounted registration!

TAPPI offers a discounted registration to pulp and paper mills and their corporate offices to attend PEERS Conference. Bring an unlimited number from your mill or office to visit for one day, one hour, or just drop in to see the Trade Fair.

Register for PEERS 2012 now and save.


The 2012 TAPPI PEERS conference will be co-located with the 2012 International Bioenergy and Bioproducts conference, creating a value-added opportunity for you to expand your learning, networking, and resources by attending both events. See you in Savannah!

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Operating Excellence (OpEx) Maintenance and Reliability Seminar at PEERS

This is a first-time program for the 2012 TAPPI PEERS Conference.

Maintenance and reliability continue to be critical to the efficient operation of pulp and paper mills worldwide, just behind fiber and labor as top production cost factors.

This one-day seminar explores the latest reliability strategies today's mills are implementing to stay in-tune and competitive under progressively lean operating conditions.

The OpEx Maintenance and Reliability Track, included in your PEERS registration at no extra cost, is part of the Engineering Program.

If you are only interested in attending the OpEx Track, select the Single Day PEERS Registration for Thursday, October 18. This year's PEERS Conference includes a full program of educational opportunities for maintenance and reliability personnel, including:

• Sunday, Oct. 14: Fixed Equipment Maintenance Optimization System Course (Additional Fee)
• Monday, Oct. 15 - Wednesday, Oct. 17: Corrosion & Materials Engineering Track
• Thursday, Oct. 18: OpEx Maintenance and Reliability Track.

In addition, 2012 TAPPI PEERS Conference, October 14-17 in Savannah, Ga., features a detailed technical program. Five programming tracks of peer-reviewed sessions, Pulping, Engineering, Environmental, Recycling and Sustainability, will answer the most pressing business and technical questions faced by pulp and paper companies as they manage raw materials, assets, regulatory requirements and production assets.

Register now and save.

The 2012 TAPPI PEERS Conference will be co-located with the  2012 International Bioenergy and Bioproducts Conference, creating a value-added opportunity for you to expand your learning, networking, and resources by attending both events.

See you in Savannah!

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Greetings fellow nano-advocates!

It's time again to update you on some projects in development, as well as exciting new opportunities to get involved in and help this division grow. Our member benefits include our E-library, Standards, Event & Education Discounts, access to the Membership Directory, and much more. Visit the TAPPI Nano Website for more information and to learn how to join.

The mission of the International Nanotechnology Division is to serve as the leading global forum for the community of individuals, organizations and institutions seeking to collectively advance the use of nanotechnology within the forest products industry, and support the development, production and use of renewable or sustainable nanomaterials for all industries. To put it more simply, we are here to:

• Advance R&D in the field of nanotechnology
  
• Educate and network
• Develop applications, standards and resources

The 2012 Conference in Montreal was a great success. With over 200 registered attendees, representing 20 countries, 20 poster presenters and 60 speakers (including 5 Keynote speakers representing IBM, CelluForce, Bell Helicopter, and Health Canada), and an eye opening tour of the cellulose plant, attendees experienced the wide breadth for nanotechnology potential.

During this year's conference we got to see some excellent presentations covering a range of near-commercial applications.  If you missed it, members can access conference presentations on the website, and nonmembers can purchase the CD at the TAPPI website.

Also at the 2012 Conference, another International Standards Workshop was held.  Progress on the Roadmap developed after last year's conference was reviewed, as well as work on the first standard in this area:  Standard Terms and Their Definition for Cellulose Nanomaterial. 

In July, a new pilot facility for producing nanocellulose materials was opened at the USDS/FS Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, WI, USA.  This new facility can produce cellulose nanocrystals for use by academia and industry alike for research into new products.  For information on this visit the Forest Products Laboratory website.

Finally, The Division "teams" have also been busy and needs your input. The Technical Team, has begun planning for the 2013 Annual Conference. If you are interested in getting involved in next year's conference, please contact one of the conference co-chairs: Bruce Lyne, Ulla Forsstrom, or Phil Jones. If you're interested in helping create ideas for symposiums and courses, please feel free to contact one of the team leaders - Robert Moon, USDA Forest Service, or Yaman Boluk at the University of Alberta.

The Marketing & Promotions team is hard at work to improve the division website and explore student & industry outreach, industry trends (our knowledge needs), and Membership needs. if any of these interest you, please contact team leaders John Cowie, Agenda 2020, or professor Bruce Lyne, Royal Institute of Technology.

The Product Resources & Development Team, is looking for ideas for Press & Publications (books, manuals, newsletters, webcontent, webinars), and will work collaboratively with the Marketing team on the website. A division newsletter is also in the planning stages. Please contact Mike Bilodeau, University of Maine, if you are interested in helping on these projects.

Don't forget to visit TAPPI's Nanotechnology website for more information and to learn how to join.

Until next time,

Sean Ireland
TAPPI International Nanotechnology Division Chairman

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