COVID-19 Impact
Could the Delta Variant Create a Paper Shortage?

Over the Wire

TAPPI

Thursday, October 7, 2021 - members edition
Buckman
As the COVID Delta variant remains persistent, so does the news surrounding it — which has recently focused on the impacts the virus has had on certain segments of the paper industry.
 
Weekly Spotlight
UPM Completes Sale of Shotton Newsprint Mill to Eren Paper
UPM has permanently closed paper production at its Shotton newsprint mill site in North Wales, United Kingdom. The site and all related assets will now be transferred to Eren Paper Ltd, a subsidiary of Modern Karton Sanayi Ve Ticaret A.S., the containerboard and corrugated packaging business of the Turkish industrial conglomerate Eren Holding ("Eren"), thereby closing the transaction announced in May 2021.
 
International Paper Completes Sylvamo Corporation Spin-Off
International Paper Company announced the completion of its previously announced separation and spin-off of its global printing papers business, now operating as Sylvamo Corporation (NYSE: SLVM).
 
Ahlstrom-Munksjö to Acquire Majority of Chinese Decor Paper Producer Minglian
Ahlstrom-Munksjö has entered into an agreement to acquire 60% of Chinese decor paper producer Minglian New Materials Technology Co., Ltd. and form a joint venture, comprising a state-of-the-art decor paper plant in the city of Xingtai, Hebei Province, China.
 
Extended Uptime in Contaminated Environments: Molded-Oil™ Bearings.
NSK Americas®
Under conditions of liquid or dust contamination, even sealed conventional bearings will fail prematurely. Molded-Oil Bearings with DDU seals from NSK deliver continual, clean, no-leak lubrication for dramatically increased service life and maintenance intervals.
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Merichem Company
Market Roundup
Stability, Growth, and Innovation on Horizon for Specialty Papers Market, New Smithers Data Says
Accounting for 25.09 million metric tons in 2021, the specialty papers market is dynamic and will present multiple lucrative diversification opportunities across the next five years.
 
UPG Unified Purchasing Group
Pulp & Paper
Metsä Tissue Announces Plans for New Tissue Mill in the UK
Metsä Tissue announced plans to invest in a new tissue mill in the UK. The plan consists of 240,000 tons of tissue paper production capacity, built in several phases during the upcoming decade. The plans are part of the company's Future Mill program to drive world class environmental performance in tissue production.
 
Sofidel Selects Valmet Advantage ViscoNip Press to Improve Paper Properties and Runnability
High efficiency, runnability and improved tissue quality were key factors for Sofidel when they decided rebuilding their TM 3 in Kisa Sweden. Valmet was granted the order thanks to the Advantage ViscoNip press well proven flexibility and capability to increase runnability, uniformity and paper properties.
 
Kuraray America, Inc.
Containerboard/Packaging
Asia’s Largest Containerboard Manufacturer Nine Dragons Orders Five New BlueLine OCC Lines from Voith
Nine Dragons, Asia’s largest manufacturer of recycled containerboard, has commissioned Voith to deliver five BlueLine OCC stock preparation lines and two wet end process (WEP) systems for its plants in Malaysia and other regions.
 
One of Ukraine’s Largest Paper and Cardboard Producers Eyes Massive Expansion in Years to Come
Kiev Cardboard and Paper Mill (KKBK), one of Ukraine’s largest paper and cardboard producers will invest over 20 million euros in the development of new capacities on the territory of the Verkhnedneprovsky powerful radio engineering plant.
 
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Hydro-Thermal Corp®
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Legislative
California Procurement Bill Threatens Canadian Forestry Jobs and State Social Housing Initiative
California Governor Gavin Newsom currently has on his desk a state procurement bill (AB 416) that threatens Canadian forestry jobs as well as a recently tabled and critical State social housing initiative.
 
New Products
Ahlstrom-Munksjö Launches "PureBarrier" Compostable Oxygen Barrier Mono-Material
Ahlstrom-Munksjö recently released a mono-material oxygen barrier technology made of 100% cellulose fibers — PureBarrier™. The technology is based on Genuine Vegetable Parchment and boasts numerous attributes including oxygen and gas barrier properties as well as natural wet strength.
 
The Paper Lid Company and Metsä Board Introduce 100% Recyclable Paperboard Lid for Beverage Cups
A long-term collaboration between Finnish startup The Paper Lid Company and Metsä Board has led to the development of a 100% recyclable paperboard lid for use with takeaway cups.
 
New Wet Strength Paper Shopping Bag From Mondi
Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, and Taurus Packaging have developed a fit-for-purpose reusable shopping bag that can carry groceries and meet the needs of the demanding Southern African retail marketplace. Mondi’s Advantage Kraft Plus with wet strength makes this paper bag a great alternative in a market where plastic bags have traditionally been used.
 
Michelman Inc.
Sustainability
Essity Begins Tissue Production Using Wheat Straw-Based Pulp
Essity is presenting a breakthrough in sustainable tissue production and is beginning production based on pulp from wheat straw. The plant in Mannheim, Germany, is the first of its kind in Europe and the first on a large-scale tissue production in the world.
 
Metsä Group Launches a New Program to Support Biodiversity
Metsä Group launches a program to be implemented between 2021 and 2030 to provide financial contributions and expertise to support regionally relevant and effective development projects that improve biodiversity and the state of waters in Finland.
 
People
Körber Appoints James Wreath as New Vice President of Sales - North America at Körber Business Area Tissue
Körber announced that James Wreath has been appointed Vice President Sales North America at Körber Business Area Tissue and will report directly to the President North America, Pete Augustine.
 
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TAPPI News

 
PPSA Conference Offers Relationship-Building Opportunities
Re-connect with safety leaders at the 77th Annual Safety and Health Conference.
 
Interactive Events to Grow Your Career and Share Your Knowledge as a Flexible Packaging and Extrusion Subject Matter Expert
Learn or share the latest on recyclability, coating options, barrier solutions and more at TAPPI’s International Flexible Packaging and Extrusion Events in 2021 and 2022.
 
Not Your Typical Career Fair! Save Money on Recruiting
Get to know potential new recruits at the TAPPI-PIMA Student Summit; meet face-to-face with qualified interns and co-op candidates.
 
Start the Year Off Right with Kraft Recovery Training in January
Learn how to tackle common and costly issues in kraft recovery operations.
 
Make plans now to attend the January offering of TAPPI’s Introduction to Pulp and Paper Technology Course!
You may have heard already that this training is the most comprehensive short course offered on these topics in the industry.
 
Specialty Papers US: November 2-3, 2021
Industry Growth, Brand Sustainability, PFAS, and more Discussion-Leading Panels coming to Specialty Papers US 2021.
 
Naylor Association Solutions