Verso Paper Corp., Memphis, Tenn., USA, this week said it would buy privately held NewPage Holdings Inc., Miamisburg, Ohio, for about $900 million in cash and bonds to form a more cost-efficient company that can cope with increasing pressure from digital media

 

The TAPPI Board of Directors elections began on December 1, and will conclude on January 15

 

After 10 years at the helm of CEPI, the Brussels, Belgium-based Confederation of European Paper Industries, Teresa Presas has decided to leave the organization at the end of May this year

 

Pöyry PLC, Finland, reports that it has concluded the statutory employee negotiations started in November 2013 in the industry-related business units of the company’s Regional Operations and the Industry Business Group in Finland

 

By William D. Correll and Kirk J. Williams

 

Russia’s production of wood pulp and pulp from fibrous materials decreased by 6.7% in January through November of 2013, year-over-year, totaling 6.6 million metric tons

 

Printing and writing (P&W) paper shipments in the U.S. were down 6% in November 2013 compared with November 2012

 

Ahlstrom, Finland, has completed the sale of its converting operations of the company’s West Carrollton plant in Ohio, USA, to West Carrollton Parchment and Converting Inc.

 

Domtar Corp., Montreal, Que., Canada, this week announced the closing of its acquisition of privately-held Laboratorios Indas, SAU (Indas), pursuant to a definitive agreement announced this past November

 

Fibria, São Paulo, Brazil, reports that it has concluded an agreement to sell land assets located in the Brazilian states of São Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul, Bahia, and Espírito Santo to Parkia Participações S.A., of Brazil

 

Minerals Technologies Inc., Bethlehem, Pa., USA, will build a satellite precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) plant on site at the UPM-Kymmene Corp. (Finland) paper mill in Changshu, China, located in Jiangsu province

 

Various maintenance partners, including the IHK-Bildungszentrum Cottbus, the IBS–CEMES Institut, and the WVIS Wirtschaftsverband für Industrieservice in Europe have introduced a new professional qualification

 

Norske Skog, Norway, has agreed to sell the remaining 49% of its shares in Norske Skog Pisa in Brazil to Papeles Bio Bio SA (formerly Norske Skog Bio Bio), which is controlled by Group BO/Pathfinder, a consortium of Chilean investors

 

The Sateri Fujian VSF plant consists of four identical production lines, each with an annual design capacity of 50,000 metric tons

 

According to a report by EUWID Pulp and Paper (Germany) this week, French union Force Ouvrière (FO) said that Stora Enso is planning to close its Corbehem mill in northern France in June

 

Suzano Papel e Celulose SA, São Paulo, Brazil, has started up its new pulp production unit in Imperatriz, Maranhão, Brazil, on schedule

 

The 100% Recycled Paperboard Alliance (RPA-100%), Washington, D.C., USA, this week announced that it has launched an industry-first certification program solely focused on providing substantiation of the recycled fiber claim associated with the manufacture of 100% recycled paperboard

 

RockTenn, Norcross, Ga., USA, reports that all of its CRB (coated recycled board) mills have achieved certification under the 100% Recycled Paperboard Alliance's (RPA-100%) newly launched certification program

 

Smurfit Kappa, Ireland, was named Company of the Year at the Business and Finance Awards 2013 that took place in Dublin, Ireland, last month

 

GF Piping Systems, Tustin, Calif., USA, has introduced Double-See™ in response to market demand for an improved pressure-rated double containment system for transporting hazardous liquids

 

PMT Italia S.p.A., Italy, reports that its subsidiary, YDS Worldwide Ltd, has begun activities at its new site at Wigan, U.K., providing yankee dryer services

 

Kemira Oyj, Finland, has appointed Jari Rosendal, M. Sc. (engineering) its president and CEO, effective May 1

 

Rune Sollie has been named CFO of Norske Skogindustrier ASA, Norway

 

The Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI), Brussels, Belgium, this week announced the appointment of Gary McGann as its new chairman

 

This January 23 webinar will present a case study on how advancements in instrumentation have opened new avenues for effective use of vacuum table elements to control sheet consistency for a variety of papermaking applications.

 

The Certified Occupational Safety Specialist (COSS) Course is coming February 17-21 to the TAPPI Training Facility in Metro Atlanta, Ga., USA.

 

Member benefits from TAPPI Networking, Library.

 

This advanced-level course will provide real world examples of paper mills that have made major improvements in their operations by implementing many small improvements throughout the mill.

 

TAPPI member since 1988 , Small formed his own executive and management recruiting firm, J.L. Small Associates.

 

All TAPPI Members are encouraged to vote – it’s easy and important! The TAPPI Board of Directors elections began on December 1, and will conclude on Jan. 15, 2014.

 

This TAPPI webinar, hosted by Linda Robertson of International Microbial Associates, will discuss freshwater treatment and the impact water system closure has on paper and board.

 

This is the second part of a series covering the various methods used to produce nonwoven materials. Nonwovens Processes Part II, being held January 16 at noon EST, will continue to explore the various processes used in nonwovens manufacturing and will provide an overview of commonly used nonwovens language.

 

Wall sized (measuring 3' x 5’) and laminated, this map is ideal for display in executive or mill offices, reception areas, or conference rooms. Each map is shipped in a protective tube, ready for display.

 

A call for papers has been issued for IPBC, with a deadline of March 31, 2014.