Bob Vyse Winner of 2013 TAPPI Gunnar Nicholson Gold Medal Award

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Robert (Bob) Vyse has been named the recipient of TAPPI's 2013 Gunnar Nicholson Gold Medal Award, the highest honor that the Association can bestow upon an individual. The award will be presented to Vyse at the 2013 PaperCon Conference Awards Dinner on Tuesday, April 30, in Atlanta, Ga., USA.

"TAPPI is very pleased to announce that Bob Vyse will receive the 2013 Gunnar Nicholson Gold Medal award in recognition of his many significant contributions to the development and application of cross-machine control technology," notes Larry N. Montague, president and CEO of TAPPI. "His work in advancing the science of CD control actuators and process technology has provided great benefit to the industry by improving paper quality and paper machine operations. This prestigious award recognizes the importance and the impact of this work."

Vyse, a native of Vancouver, B.C., Canada, began his career with MacMillan Bloedel in Vancouver and Powell River, B.C., followed by 10 years as VP and projects manager of Omni Continental Ltd. He then joined Devron Engineering (which subsequently became Measurex – Devron, Honeywell Measurex Devron, and Honeywell) where he was director of R&D and process control for more than 20 years before retiring in 2008. He was involved in the development and application of various CD control actuators and technology, in particular the combined application of steam and induction energy devices in advanced finishing technology.

 An active member of TAPPI and PAPTAC conferences, Vyse authored numerous papers on papermaking technology, particularly on CD weight, coat weight, moisture, and caliper control. He also lectured at UBC, TAPPI pressing and drying courses, and PAPTAC papermaking technology courses. In 2010, Vyse was honored with the TAPPI Process Control Division Award. His education includes BASc, MSc, and PhD degrees in Engineering Physics and Physics from the University of British Columbia, as well as a postdoctoral Fellowship at Centre d'Etudes Nucleaires de Saclay in France.