Dissolving Pulp Forum at TAPPI PEERS Attracts Overflow Attendance
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The Dissolving Pulp Forum at TAPPI's PEERS Conference this week in Portland, Ore., USA, had overflow, standing-room-only attendance at both the Sunday, October 2, and Monday, October 3, sessions. The half-day Sunday program explored evolving technology developments and new dissolving pulp process approaches, while Monday's bridge session with the PEERS program took a close-up, in-depth look at trends and drivers in the global marketplace.
On Sunday, Andritz's Eric Wiley and Metso's Paul Flickinger provided updated insight into process modifications and new system design routes some companies are taking to install both greenfield dissolving pulp capacity and to repurpose existing paper grade pulp capacity. Pierre Mouyal and Freddie Sandel of the dp Group served as session "hosts" on Sunday, bringing a collective 70-plus years of mill and related dissolving pulp production experience into the discussions and helping answer frequent questions asked by the attendees. Mike Meredith of Jacobs Engineering represented the consulting engineer's perspective. His presentation, especially appreciated by attendees, examined specific questions and concerns companies should carefully consider before entering the dissolving pulp race.
Monday's market focused presentations by David Fortin of RISI and Gordon Floe of Poyry International looked at historical developments in the chemical cellulose sector and focused directly on the recent dissolving pulp "gold rush" that pushed prices and demand to record levels worldwide. Both presentations closely examined the direct relationship between cotton crop yields/pricing and dissolving pulp market outlook, and made realistic projections for capacity growth and market demand into the foreseeable future.
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