Over the Wire

Uncoated paper in the U.S. has records of production levels and demand in recent months and years consistently pointing downwards. Mechanical (CM) paper is the only P&W grade paper sector showing signs of maintaining current market levels or perhaps even rising slightly, as numbers have indicated over consecutive months. Imports of (CM) papers are also down considerably as of Jan. 2015.

 

Prices for globally traded hardwood chips for the production of pulp and wood-based panels have trended downward for much of the past three and a half years. However, this trend broke in late 2014 and early 2015 when prices slowly started to increase.

 

Unbleached kraft boxboard production percentages decreased nearly the same month vs. month as last year, and decreased again compared with last month. Total solid bleached boxboard and liner production is more of a mixed bag.

 

Environmental concerns and the need to reduce pollution have led to an increased emphasis on the use of recyclable and biodegradable materials for packaging, especially the use of plastic resins derived from renewable resources. Paper packaging and cellulosic/nanocellulose sectors' growth potential for biodegradable packaging in commercial sectors is predicted to be some of the highest in the allied industries throughout the rest of this decade.

 

According to the report, paper and paperboard packaging is an emerging trend in the overall packaging industry. It is gaining importance in many regions as it is environment friendly and cost-effective. This report covers the APAC region, Europe, North America, and the ROW.

 

The move allows Fibria to implement a second line at Três Lagoas by 2017 and take advantage of an expected increase in demand for pulp in Asia and some emerging markets nations. According to Valor, rival El Dorado also has plans to increase capacity at a mill it owns in Três Lagoas, which is located in the country's midwestern region.

 

Final delivery contracts will be signed if Metsä Fibre decides to build the mill. If the prerequisites for the investment are met, the decision on the construction of the bioproduct mill will be made this spring. The facility would be located in Äänekoski, Finland.

 

The Voith (Germany) NipcoFlex T shoe press and EvoDry Y yankee cylinder enable high speeds at lower energy consumption. An increased dry content, which reduces the thermal energy requirement by up to 20%, is achieved downstream of the press section. The PM 7 produces super soft toilet tissue and kitchen paper.

 

Kotkamills, located in Kotka, Finland, is a producer of specialty papers and wood-based products. Financial terms were not disclosed. Acquired from Stora Enso in July 2010, Kotkamills represents one of the most complex carve-out and transitions for OpenGate Capital to date.

 

Resolute Forest Products Inc. Montreal, Que., Canada, this week announced its strong endorsement of the Alliance forêt boréale call for a working group to address recent issues regarding some Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) certificates in the Province of Quebec. Resolute strongly supports this initiative and requests that industry also has the opportunity to participate in the process.

 

The biomass steam turbine will not sell power to the Maine, USA, grid, said a co-owner, who declined to comment on how much the improvements will save his company. They also made water reduction and fiber recovery improvements to their operations during this time. The mill suffered a recovery boiler explosion in 2013, but owners feel they are back on track and the market they are catering to will be bullish despite challenges ahead.

 

The focus area for the award this year was environmental efficiency. Salam is awarded for his work on modified hardwood pulp for tissue production. The objective of Salam's work has been to develop a method to provide unique tissue characteristics using only natural materials. By modifying hardwood pulp, it can be cross-linked with a biodegradable product to greatly improve absorbency properties.

 

The new EUR 70 million facility and the associated investments in the new plant at the future Business Park A24 location has the purpose of providing a positive and, most importantly, sustainable corporate development for Schur Pack Germany within Europe.

 

Following the completion of more than EUR 160 million of acquisitions in the Americas in 2014, the acquisition of CYBSA will further enhance SKG’s presence in the region, providing it with an packaging footprint across 12 countries from the southern U.S. to Argentina.

 

This decision is in contradiction with both U.S. Congressional law as well as the interests of the paper industry. A paper packaging company president representing a North Carolina company asking for petitions against this decision says significant jobs in the industry could be lost. Patient/Pharmacy issues in rural issues may become a complication. We may also pose future cyber-attack threats without a hard copy (paper) backup system.

 

Applications requiring safety technology, such as in the pulp, paper, and allied industries, benefit from integrated safety functions such as "Safe Torque Off" (STO), which can be activated via a fail-safe input or via Profisafe without needing additional monitoring components. The motor-integrated drive comes with integral USS/Modbus RTU, Profibus, and Profinet/EtherNet/IP communication.

 

What is unique about the Regina paper towels is that they can be disposed of directly in the WC (bathroom) without clogging up the waste system. This is where this product differs from any other similar tissue.

 

Sappi Europe announced it is no longer supplying paper sold under the Galaxi Keramik brand. However, this exact paper, according to the company, continues to be available on the market under its new mill brand name Magno® satin through Magno merchant partners Igepa in Germany, France, and Switzerland, as well as through Papyrus in France.

 

The price increases will affect all masking tape products manufactured globally and will become effective April 1. The increase will be up to 7%, depending on markets as well as the product and the agreements in place. Specific details will be discussed with each customer individually by the appropriate sales teams in the near term future.

 

Sappi attributed the price increases, effective April 15, to significant cost increases of raw materials, particularly pulp.

 

PaperNuts are manufactured using 100% recycled paper and represent a viable replacement for eco-harmful products such as polystyrene foam peanuts, corn based fillers, expanded foam, and other plastic material that have been the industry standard for many years. In addition to being eco-friendly, reusable, and SFI compliant, PaperNuts have several other key properties that make them ideal for any loose-fill packaging application.

 

Scheduled to begin commercial operation in June 2017, the 50 MW plant will provide 100% of steam, and up to 60% - 70% of total energy used to make Bounty paper towels and Charmin toilet tissue at P&G’s Albany, Ga., facility. It will more than double the current boiler's renewable power available to the mill. It will be fueled from biomass that would otherwise have been left to decay, burned, or potentially sent to landfill.

 

John Lamb will take the leadership role at Pope Resources and its subsidiaries Olympic Resource Management and Olympic Property Group, which own or manage 193,000 acres of timberland and development property in Washington, Oregon, and California, USA. The company and its predecessor companies have owned and managed timberlands and development properties for more than 160 years.

 

In today’s competitive environment, pulp mills are continuously searching for cost effective solutions to improve profitability. TAPPI members and affiliates within our PEERS network offer great opportunities for serious innovation work in pulp, paper, paper packaging/board, tissue, new energy and efficiency options, and more... Check out some upcoming highlights of this year's conference.

 

P&P producers and corrugators from different companies will come together to benefit from interactive learning about the corrugating process from top, trusted industry experts. Learn how linerboard and medium are produced to improve test performance, and runnability on the corrugators at this very uniquely styled intro. to intermediate-level course (designed to benefit all who focus) at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel in Appleton, Wis., USA. Register by April 21 and save $200. Join/renew your TAPPI membership for the very best rates!

 

The TAPPI Troubleshooting "Flexos" and "Die Cutters" Sustain Board Caliper & Improve Printing Course, May 12-14 in Appleton, Wis., USA, is designed to get down to the science of industry problem solving and equipment maintenance/improvements in this area. Register by April 14 for the best rates!

 

This popular book series has been updated; second editions are out. The most comprehensive books ever written on pulp and papermaking are now available in electronic versions! TAPPI members save an additional 10% off list price.

 

"This course is ideal for health and safety personnel who are looking for primary information on industrial hygiene," said Sue Cooper, M.S, CSP, Manager of Safety/Ergonomics at Weyerhaeuser. "It will provide an introduction to IH principles along with practical information on hazard identification and methods of measurement and control that is sure to be of great value to all attendees." Register by April 6 to save $100!

 

Authors interested in presenting should upload their abstract to TAPPI's Speaker Management System by April 1. This is an extended deadline. TAPPI would like to remind presenters interested that they can demonstrate a well-prepared Power Point Presentation and that a formal paper is not required at this time.

 

Offering the most comprehensive program, exhibits, networking opportunities, and access to industry leaders. Don't miss out on this big event April 19-22 in Atlanta, Ga., USA.

 

This two-day event, April 18-19 in Atlanta, Ga., USA, is designed for those who need to understand how to heighten print quality, attend and conduct print trials, and troubleshoot quality problems.

 

Applying the concepts taught in this course, April 23 at the Omni Hotel in Atlanta, Ga., USA, can enable to you to determine steps toward immediate and lasting payback, as well as smoother operations.

 

Members will save $70 dollars off list price for this important text on recently completed research to create high strength nano-fibers. Nanotechnology as it relates to modern forestry methods, potential, and advanced cellulose production is now a strongly emerging and highly advanced topic of interest the global allied industries.