After several months of laboratory work by its research and development team in Bordeaux, France, Tembec, Montreal, Que., Canada, has developed a very high viscosity cellulose grade. Just days ago, the production of this new grade, called Biofloc XV20, took place at the Tartas Specialty Cellulose (dissolving pulp) Mill in France. It is a significant success because a new world record for viscosity of a wood pulp was achieved.

Christian Ribeyrolle, EVP of the Tembec Specialty Cellulose Group, noted that "our customers in this segment needed a replacement for cotton linter pulp by a product which is less affected by market cycles but is of equivalent quality. Biofloc XV20 is now part of our product portfolio."

Tembec said that many customers have expressed a strong interest in Biofloc XV20, and the product will be shipped from the Tembec Tartas warehouse in just a few days.

Tembec is a producer of forest products—lumber, pulp, paper, and specialty cellulose—and a global leader in sustainable forest management practices. Principal operations are in Canada and France. Tembec has approximately 3,000 employees and annual sales of some $1.5 billion.