Paper 360
…in case you missed it in TAPPI’s weekly electronic newsletter
MANUFACTURERS
Burrows Paper Corp. has agreed to sell its Packaging Division operations to Novolex and to sell its Paper Division operations to Twin Rivers Paper Co.
Elopak has launched a new package for aseptic products, the Pure-Pak® Sense Aseptic carton, with an asymmetric top allowing different sizes of closures. The top fin can also be printed.
First Quality Tissue is planning construction of two new state-of-the-art tissue machines: one in the Anderson, SC, facility (expected to begin production in 2018) and another in the Lock Haven, PA, facility (expected to begin production in 2019).
Fortress Paper Ltd. announced a major investment to advance its strategic project of using birch to manufacture dissolving pulp at the Fortress Specialty Cellulose Mill. The project will ensure a better use of the mixed forest in the local region.
Grupo Gondi, Mexico City, has completed its acquisition of Aluprint Folding Cartons from Constantia Flexibles, Austria.
International Paper presented Mid-South Food Bank in Memphis, TN, with US$1.25 million as part of the company’s philanthropy strategy.
Metsä Board has been recognized by CDP as a global leader in sustainable water management. This is the second consecutive year Metsä Board has made the CDP Water A List; only 4 % of companies disclosing were accepted.
SCA and Fotografiska (The Swedish Museum of Photography) in Stockholm will partner on efforts to show how hygiene and health affect human well-being. The partnership will support photo exhibitions.
Tolko Industries Ltd. has sold its Manitoba kraft paper mill and sawmill to Canadian Kraft Paper Industries Ltd., a company affiliated with American Industrial Acquisition Corp.
Velvet Care is investing PLN160 million (US$38.3 million) to build new production capacity at its tissue mill in Klucze, Poland, which will raise output capacity by about 70,000 metric tpy.
Verso Corp. plans to reorganize into two strategic business units: graphic paper and specialty paper. Corporate headquarters will be consolidated to its Miamisburg, OH, location.
Wepa Professional Hygiene, Germany, has awarded a contract to ABB to boost the energy efficiency of its tissue production facility in Piechowice, Poland.
SUPPLIERS
Ahlstrom Corporation will merge with Munksjö Oyj. The combined company will have preliminary combined annual net sales of approximately EUR2.2 billion (US$2.3 billion.)
Andritz has received an order from Cartulinas CMPC S.A to upgrade the complete bleaching system at its mill in, Maule, Chile, which processes 100 percent radiata pine for the production of softwood BTMP.
Archroma received the Award for Eco-innovation from WWF Pakistan at that organization’s Annual Green Office Network Meeting. The award recognizes Archroma’s continuous efforts to foster sustainable innovations in water conservation and energy use reduction.
BOBST and BHS Corrugated will supply 11 new production lines for Grupo Gondi. Equipment will be installed at existing Grupo Gondi facilities in Mexico, as well as at greenfield sites, over the next two years.
Eaglewood Technologies has introduced Laserlox, an intelligent, environmentally safe way to maintain clean anilox rolls. Laserlox Systems are designed for flexible packaging and narrow web converters to complement the Sanilox Systems. The Laserlox Flexi is an adaptable cleaning system that can clean multiple narrow web rolls or a combination of rolls and sleeves up to 88 in. in length with one machine.
FITNIR Analyzers will supply an online analyzer system for measuring green and white liquor properties to Södra Cell Mönsterås.
FPInnovations, in partnership with FITNIR Analyzers, has developed a new product using near infrared technology (NIR) to efficiently analyze the kappa number of kraft pulp.
Nationwide Boiler Inc. has signed a formal representation agreement with Superior Boiler Works, manufacturer of Scotch Marine Firetube Boilers and associated boiler room equipment.
OCME offers the new VIRGO rotary weight filler for edible oil, which features a high degree of flexibility and high filling precision.
Paper Converting Machine Company (PCMC), part of Barry-Wehmiller, will provide a full tissue converting and packaging line for Bedford Paper’s facility in De Pere, WI.
Pöyry, YIT and VR Track have signed an agreement with the City of Tampere (Finland) for implementation of the Tampere light rail project. The revised cost estimate for the implementation stage is EUR238.8 million (US$253.4).
Siemens:
• has extended its high-voltage motor portfolio to include Simotics HV HP to cover a power range of up to 70 megawatts.
• is complementing its industrial operator control and monitoring devices with new Simatic Flat Panel monitors and Simatic Panel PCs in multi-touch, 16:9 widescreen format.
Valmet:
• has received a repeat order for a Valmet IQ Process and Quality Vision system (PQV) from Stora Enso Sunila Mill in Kotka, Finland.
• will supply a headbox upgrade and two headbox recondition service packages to Green Forest (QingXin) Paper Industrial Limited paper mill in Qingyuan, China.
• has been recognized for its actions and strategy to mitigate climate change and awarded a position on the 2016 Climate A List by CDP.
Voith has improved and refined its paper machines for all paper grades. The machines from the new XcelLine offer fast and easy startup, excellent value for money, pioneering technologies, ease of use, and integrated solutions.
PEOPLE
Michael D. Hsu, Kimberly-Clark Corp. group president, North American consumer products, has been named president and COO and has joined K-C’s board of directors, effective Jan. 1, 2017.
The Paper Science and Engineering Foundation at Miami University is interviewing for the position of executive director. The executive director is the foundation’s key operating officer and is responsible for all functional aspects of the organization. Those interested in applying may direct inquiries to the chair of the PS&E Foundation Nominations Committee: Peter J. Flynn, Kadant Black Clawson Inc. at [email protected].
Lon E. Pschigoda II, a Western Michigan University alumnus and paper industry veteran, has been appointed to lead the university’s paper, coating, printing, and recycling pilot plants on campus. He replaces Joel Kendrick, who held that position for 12 years before his death in 2015.
EVENTS
• International Woodfiber Resource and Trade Conference: Feb. 13-15, Da Nang, Vietnam. events.risiinfo.com/wood-fiber
• PaperWeek Canada, Feb. 13-17, Montreal, QC. paperweekcanada.ca
• RISI European Conference: Mar. 6-8, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. events.risiinfo.com/european-conference
• TAPPI PaperCon 2017: Apr. 23-26, Minneapolis, MN. papercon.org
• International Pulp Week: May 7-10, Vancouver, BC. internationalpulpweek.com
• RISI Asian Conference: May 22-24, Shenzhen, China. events.risiinfo.com/asian-conference
• TAPPI International Nanotechnology Conference: Jun. 5-8, Montreal, QC. conference.tappinano.org
• Pulp and Paper Safety Association (PPSA) Annual Conference: June 18-21, Charleston, SC. ppsa.org/2017-conference
Reliability for Results at PPRM
The 27th Pulp and Paper Reliability and Maintenance Conference (PPRM) concluded on September 22, 2016. The PPRM conference brought together 115 corporate reliability, maintenance, operations, and industry solution providers as attendees from 10 countries heard topics ranging from building a business case for reliability to new techniques for condition monitoring.
The conference kicked off with Torbjorn Idhammar, president of IDCON, presenting “Results Oriented Reliability and Maintenance 2016.” IDCON, a reliability and maintenance consulting firm for the paper and forest industry, has been the managing partner of the PPRM conference since the early 1990s. Other conference presentations included mill case studies in reliability, leadership presentations, and technical “how-to” sessions and workshops to improve skills. The conference included an exhibit, networking events, and a facility tour of the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
The next PPRM conference will take place in March 2018. Any interested speakers, exhibitors, or corporate reliability meeting planners should contact IDCON at 919-847-8764 or visit the conference website at www.pprm.net.
Proposed Paper Bag Fee Will Cost Consumers, says AF&PA
The plastic bag ban outlined by Boston City Councilor Matt O’Malley contains a fee on paper bags that will cost Boston consumers millions of dollars, said Gretchen Spear, director, packaging for the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) in a recent press release. “A five-cent paper bag fee will cost Bostonians millions of dollars, hitting hard working families at a time they can ill afford it…Consumers who are sensitive to environmental concerns opt for paper bags because paper bags are recyclable, compostable, and made from a renewable resource.”
O’Malley, a district councilor from Roslindale, chaired the Plastic Bag Ordinance Task Force and recently unveiled legislation banning thin, single-use plastic bags from being used by grocery stores and other retailers. O’Malley maintained plastic bags are harmful to the environment and clog up landfills for hundreds of years. However, despite no evidence of environmental benefit, his bill also calls for a five-cent fee on paper bags. The surcharge will go directly to retailers and not be directed for programs to benefit the public.
“The City of Boston should look carefully at the proposed fee and reject it based on both economic and environmental factors,” Spear said. “Nearly every other municipality in Massachusetts that has considered a bag ordinance has turned down a paper bag fee. The Task Force’s proposal simply goes too far.”
FRC Plans 2017 Symposium
The 16th Pulp and Paper Fundamental Research Symposium will be held September 3-8, 2017, at Pembroke College in Oxford, England. Held only once every four years, the program is planned and hosted by the Fundamental Research Committee (FRC) and will include invited presentations from eminent scientists and engineers. Topics and presenters for 2017 will include:
• Fiber-fiber bonds—Ulrich Hirn and Robert Schennach, Graz University of Technology;
• Forming of advanced structures in paper—Sören Östlund, KTH Royal Institute of Technology;
• Barrier coatings for packaging—Lars Järnström and Magnus Lestelius, Karlstads University;
• Non-woven structures—Joel Pawlak, North Carolina State University;
• Creasing and folding—Doug Coffin, Miami University and Mikael Nygårds, Innventia.
Four international industry organizations—APPITA, PAPTAC, PITA, and TAPPI—co-sponsor the event. To learn more about the program, or about sponsorship opportunities, visit ppfrs.org.
