Approx. $11.4 million will be invested in maintenance projects including upgrading the Maine, USA based Rumford mill's Recovery Boiler C, which involves completely replacing the 35-year-old generating bank. An additional $4.5 million in capital investments will be made in Q2 (with $1.8 million invested in Q1).

 

This competition gives students hands-on experience in repurposing empty milk or juice cartons to build or enhance their school gardens. "Encouraging students to learn more about eco-friendly practices is one of the reasons we are committed to programs such as Carton 2 Garden," said Katie Simmons, marketing manager for Evergreen. "Each entry highlights connections between sustainability and recycling, and it was amazing to see the different approaches applied by each school team..."

 

Found among the studies, consumers who read about a company on heavy, high-quality coated paper had more positive feelings about the company and understood and remembered the content significantly better than those who read the exact same content on either lighter, lower quality uncoated paper or on a computer screen.

 

The workshop, July 21-22, will guide cross-functional, multi-disciplined management participants through "hands-on" scenarios to better understand and eventually better manage their overall Asset Reliability Maintenance functions. Participants in the workshop experience critical interactions from other departments’ perspectives and learn where the "hidden" opportunities to save real dollars are in their organizations.

 

The survey will allow those who participate to see how their compensation and benefits compare with others in their industry. You will also have a chance to win a $100 gift certificate from TAPPI for your time.

 

On June 9, you can learn about a new sensor that eliminates the need for a traditional basis weight sensor with a nuclear source. Mills are now saving time and money previously needed for nuclear safety training, licenses, and specialized service and safety requirements.

 

"There have been some great contributions to the advancement of tissue and converting," says Scott Springmier of TAPPI, "and our TAPPI volunteers have decided we are long overdue to recognize them." The Tissue Division is establishing three new awards to recognize outstanding contributions in the industry.

 

TAPPI and its divisions recognize member achievement through various awards and appreciations. The deadline to submit nominations for the TAPPI 2016 major awards is August 1, 2015. Nomination forms can be submitted by email, faxed to the attention of the Awards Department at +1-770-446-6947, or mailed to TAPPI.

 

With inventory levels increasing 1% since March, overall, shipments were down compared with 2014 with a mixed bag of import results for the different grades of P&W paper. Uncoated free sheet papers increased slightly in imports in March but more significant was coated free sheet, up 13%. Mechanical paper importation was down. Some exports in this sector did increase significantly.

 

World-20 pulp shipments were up 3.1% y/y in April, and were up 5% YTD. BSK (bleached softwood kraft) stocks were down three days, while BHK (bleached hardwood kraft) stocks were down one day.

 

Total solid bleached boxboard and liner production increased compared with April 2014 and increased compared with last month. Recycled boxboard decreased compared y/y and decreased compared with last month. Unbleached kraft boxboard production increased y/y and increased compared monthly.

 

The Double Tree Gila Bend Mill in Ariz., USA produces sanitary tissue as well as a variety of other tissue products. The company recently created additional job positions (such as process engineers) in preparation for the new machine operation.

 

The Constellation technology introduces an innovative four-roll winding system designed and developed by the Perini Group. Following a study and design period, the rewinding concept was tested on a reduced-scale pilot machine. Industrial-scale production was launched after the rewinding concept was successfully proven on the pilot machine.

 

The enMotion system this rewinder is built for is a touchless paper towel and dispensing system that reduces waste 30% versus standard folded towels, and contains at least 40% post-consumer recycled fiber. The dispensers are found in office buildings, schools, restaurants, medical facilities, retail stores, and many other locations.

 

The mill, located in the Rania Industrial Belt in Kanpur, India, stopped production for only a "temporary period." While the mill is down, it allows time to maintain and upgrade components. As well, the new Olympic appointed management team has time to review and possibly suggest revisions to the mill’s current operational practices as it reopens.

 

The company’s owner, 35-year-old Jackson Widjaja, who lives in Vancouver, doesn’t give interviews, and up until this month, the company’s deputy CEO had not spoken publicly about the company’s investments in B.C. and the rest of Canada.

 

This expansion is expected, over the coming years, to bring $400 million to $500 million in capital investment, along with up to 200 jobs. (Trade press reports indicate a second 70,000 metric tpy tissue-toweling paper line will be installed by 2017.)

 

Tony Lyons, the mills' spokesman, told a local television station that the temporary shutdown decision was "directly market related." It is currently not known if ownership plans to restart the machine simultaneous to implementing efficiency upgrades (see article above in Weekly Spotlight section).

 

"The mill will help Indonesia’s pulp and paper industry compete globally. We are now ranked eighth but we have the capability to be in the top three," Sinar Mas Managing Director Gandi Sulistyanto told a regional news portal.

 

The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would not raise competition concerns because the parties' combined market shares will remain moderate and the merged entity will continue to face competition from a number of significant competitors or because the increment in market share brought about by the transaction is highly limited.

 

Metsä Board Corp., Finland, part of the Metsä Group, reports that it has closed the sale of 100% of its shares in Metsä Board Zanders GmbH to mutares AG and its partner company. The sale had been previously announced late last month.

 

The Tetra Top with Separable Top was recognized for providing consumers with a balance between functionality and sustainability. The Tetra Prisma Aseptic 1000, a carton package made from plastics derived from sugarcane combined with paperboard, was also recognized for its use of bio-based materials.

 

Two facilities with aggregated sales of EUR 113 million in 2014 constitute the major part of Walki's industrial packaging business, producing primarily packaging material for the paper industry as well as for the corrugated board industry. This move enables Walki to focus all resources on the markets of energy saving laminates and membranes for building purposes, as well as on selected segments of consumer packaging.

 

The new legislation, which is designed to regulate plastic carrier bags less than 50 µm thick, opens up a great opportunity for paper carrier bags. Producers are now preparing for an increase in demand for their products when fossil-based plastic bags in supermarkets and other shops have to be replaced.

 

Nanocrystalline cellulose has many interesting properties. It can be used, for example, as a building material in biocomposites, printed electronics, and dye additives. The operation in the pilot plant is based on technology developed by an Israeli startup company, Melodea.

 

The BOBST digital printing press is unique in that it offers both personalization and speed, on short-run and high volume work. This sheet-fed press delivers excellent quality, variable-data printing at exceptional speeds—up to 200 meters per minute—and can handle sheets up to a maximum size of 1.3 x 2.1 meters.

 

"The rolls technology team has developed this new generation of polyurethane for those demanding nip conditions where conventional covers suffer from premature groove closure. Blue Diamond’s exclusive formulation delivers stable performance and long life, which is especially important on covers with grooved and drilled patterns for enhanced dewatering performance," said Bill Butterfield, EVP and CTO of Xerium.

 

FJV-3 Series high pressure filters use porous metal felt filter elements that employ filter media of thin filaments of non-woven stainless steel, making them ideal for highly corrosive, highly viscous ,or radioactive applications. Because it is highly porous (up to 85%), metal felt media provides very high flow rates of up to 20 times those of other media...

 

"This price increase is in response to rising material and manufacturing costs and price adjustments occurring in the Italian market," said Phil Woolley, director, Paper Europe. The price change is effective with shipments on or after June 15.

 

Total consideration for 100% of the pellet producing company amounts to EUR 104 million on a cash and debt free basis. The transaction is expected to close this July, provided that certain closing conditions are fulfilled.

 

Katri Kauppila (M.Soc.Sc.) has been appointed VP, communications for Metsä Board, Finland, effective June 1. In this role Kauppila is responsible for the company’s internal and external communications, excluding investor relations.

 

"Mike has led our company's transformation into a global, pure-play vertically integrated paperboard and packaging company. He has successfully managed numerous international and U.S.-based acquisitions and significant divestitures," said CEO David Scheible.

 

Due to the changes currently occurring in the PaperlinX business in the U.K., the Benelux, and across the European region, the CFO position is no longer required to be based in continental Europe.

 

Screens are used in every area of a mill for contaminant removal. This June 17 webinar will cover the basics of screening including barrier screening vs. probability screening, key components of a pressure screen, housing, baskets (holes vs. slots) rotors, and basic mode of operation / controls.

 

2015 PEERS features keynote speaker, John D. Williams, CEO and president of Domtar. Three special all-day workshops are also being offered prior to the start of the 2015 PEERS Conference, October 25-28 in Atlanta, Ga., USA. Each presents an opportunity to expand your knowledge and learn from our industry’s best.

 

From 1964 to 1975, Coulson was a contract coordinator for Huyck Drying Products and from 1975-1980 he was an applications engineer for Huyck, specializing in the dryer section. This 45+ year member of TAPPI would later work for Valmet as a sales manager.

 

The Gulf Coast TAPPI Local Section will be hosting its 2015 Annual Meeting, June 10-13, at the Seascape Resort and Conference Center in Destin, Fla., USA, with two days of technical workshops and one day devoted exclusively to fun and recreational activities.

 

From general safety orientations to mill-specific classes, our direct eLEARNING courses are designed with both student and our industry's employers in mind. Select courses are now available and can also be customized.

 

In addition to discussing the industrialization of nanocellulose, this one-hour free June 3 webinar will explain how microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) will be used in the future to enhance barrier at high humidity with clay and oxidized nanocrystals. Sponsored by the TAPPI Nanotechnology Division.

 

Online registration is now open for this annual event that supports the section scholarship fund. Spots do fill quickly! Checks and all major credit cards are accepted for this June 12 event in Auburn, Maine. Deadline for entry is June 5.

 

Coming off a record breaking year in 2014, including a 40% growth in attendance, Specialty Papers 2015 will bring together experts from across the specialty papers supply chain on the most topical content relevant to this sector of the industry. Sponsored by TAPPI and Smithers Pira, this year's conference will return to "The Brew City" (Milwaukee, Wis., USA) this September 15-17.

 

This glossary defines hundreds of terms commonly used in flexographic printing and pre-press operations. It will be a valuable reference for everyone involved in converting and printing. TAPPI members have a chance to purchase this useful text for less than $30.00.

 

The conference "Engaging the Heart and Mind" will be held June 7-10 in Savannah, Ga., and will focus on bringing together safety and industry professionals, as well as lawyers and OSHA experts to navigate the ever-changing field of pulp and paper industry safety. Learn who PPSA has announced as their Keynote speaker...