As of Wednesday (July 15) 84% of organizations have removed Greenwash following the latest Two Sides Anti-Greenwash Campaign. It is important, when organizations promote products and services, that they do not damage the print and paper industry and jeopardize the livelihood of the many thousands of people employed therein with possibly misleading statements.

 

When a poll was recently conducted, 87% of respondents said that they like the idea of plastic currency. It may be up to those who think a little deeper to help defend the currency paper industry—because when actually put under scrutiny, plastic bills have several problems that holders are beginning to identify and write about, from stickiness to excessive amounts of pollutants left over when destroyed.

 

The Government of Canada is investing $380 million in federal laboratories and research facilities for major repairs and upgrades that will improve the ability to perform leading-edge research. Since 2007, the Government has invested a total of $1.8 billion in support of the ongoing renewal of Canada's forest sector. Budget 2015 maintains this momentum by investing $86 million over the next two years.

 

"Just because the union calls the strike a ‘ULP strike’ does not make it so... KapStone maintains that no unfair labor practices have occurred, and we will defend that position during this hearing," KapStone labor relations manager Matt Gaston said this week in an email to all Wash., USA employees. Companies are allowed to hire permanent replacement workers under an economic strike, but are barred from doing so under ULP strikes.

 

Believing strongly that today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders, the TAPPI Foundation endowed the William L. Cullison Scholarship fund in honor of TAPPI's fifth Executive Director. The application deadline has been extended to August 1. You have only 15 days left to submit applications to TAPPI.

 

The Tissue Italy network of 12 companies behind IT’s Tissue have confirmed that, due to the enthusiastic international response, the third edition of IT’s Tissue will take place in 2018. The 12 companies forming the Tissue Italy network are: A Celli, Elettric 80, Fabio Perini, Futura, Gambini, MTC, Omet, PCMC, Pulsar, Recard, TMC and Toscotec.

 

Tissue 101, scheduled for November 17-18 at TAPPI’s Training Facility in Peachtree Corners, Ga., USA, is designed to improve understanding of tissue properties and how they are impacted by the manufacturing process. Registration is now open and available online.

 

"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.

 

U.S. BSK (bleached softwood kraft) pulp imports were down 5.7% y/y thru May, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census. The BHK (bleached hardwood kraft) pulp import total was up 2.7%, with BEK (bleached eucalyptus kraft) pulp from Brazil up 11%.

 

U.S. bleached kraft pulp exports were up 4.3% y/y thru May, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census. BSK (bleached softwood kraft) pulp was up 2.1%, and BHK (bleached hardwood kraft) pulp was 19% higher.

 

Converted product shipments 2.0% higher y/y (+2.0% 5 mo. YTD), parent roll production increased 1.7% y/y (+1.7% 5 mo. YTD). Higher operating rate percentages reported.

 

Voith GmbH & CO KG has been selected as key supplier at the mill in Skåpafors, Sweden. This will be the second installation of a new technology in the world and the first in Europe. With this investment, Rexcell will have the ability to develop a new quality standard for tissue napkins. The plan is to have the new technology installed during the second quarter of 2016.

 

This brings to 20 the number of paper mills that have commercially adopted the novel Fulfill E-325 technology to reduce costs by replacing pulp with filler and to improve paper machine runnabilty. This unique high-filler technology provides significant cost savings in reduced fiber consumption by increasing PCC filler usage.

 

The machine takes paper made in local mills and converts it into sizes commonly used by businesses and consumers. "We are, as some have termed it, the ‘hidden secret’ in Maine that gives the mills an advantage to supply product to their customers in a timely manner with sizes of paper that are not produced efficiently at the mills," NEPW's GM said.

 

The group has been named Ingevity and is expected to become a separate, publicly traded business by the end of the year. If the deal is completed, WestRock shareholders would get the stock through a tax-free handoff.

 

Clickable Paper by Ricoh Europe, London, U.K, provides immediate one-touch access to multiple online resources such as video, websites, e-commerce sites, and social networks by simply pointing a smartphone or tablet at any printed surface. It allows printed materials to be repurposed without marking, editing, or reformatting the source documents.

 

"Due to global market conditions, Sappi North America's (Boston, Mass., USA) Cloquet (Minn., USA) paper mill will be taking one week of downtime later in July," a company statement said Tuesday. "The downtime will not have any impact on Sappi's ability to supply coated paper to our customers, as we have ample production flexibility to meet their needs."

 

"We are very pleased to be able to acquire this top quality asset from Sappi (Johannesburg, South Africa). It will strengthen our position in the market as a service-oriented company that offers packaging solutions and will further help us to achieve our goal of creating lasting team-based partnerships with our customers," said South African based Golden Era Group CEO Kishor Chhita.

 

The new PrimeLineST C8 machine by Andritz (Graz, Austria) has a design speed of 1,900 m/min and a width of 2.85 meters. The all-steel yankee cylinder has a diameter of 18 ft. In combination with its head insulation and the steam-heated hood, the yankee dryer enables a high drying capacity at reduced energy costs.

 

The company's mill in Gruvön, Sweden, had the existing roll press was taken out of the second position and installed in the first press position. A new NipcoFlex shoe press is being used as the second press. The Voith, Heidenheim, Germany, NipcoFlex package delivered to BillerudKorsnäs is the first one which can achieve lineloads of up to 1,700 kN/m.

 

This decision was made to close the Jonquiere, Que. mill as a result of a thorough assessment of the facility's manufacturing capabilities, associated costs, and market demand for its products. The closure affects approximately 140 employees.

 

In past years, International Paper’s Arktika GC1 board and Alaska GC2 board were also awarded a European Medal. "Alaska Plus represents a new generation of our GC2 board and we are honored to receive such an acknowledgment after the first year of its launch to the market" said Marek Krzykowski, mill general director at the Kwidzyn mill in Poland. The product is notably lighter for GC2 board.

 

Klaipedos kartonas AB, Vilnius, Lithuania, and Voith Paper S.A., which belongs to the Voith GmbH Co. (Germany), have signed a supply agreement for new equipment amounting to EUR 9.3 million and have already launched the first stage of the modernization project.

 

In its tax abatement request to the city, Premier Packaging, Lousville, Ky., USA, said it has already acquired the building and plans to spend $4 million on new manufacturing, technology, and logistics equipment for the facility. The plant would employ 60 workers making an average wage of $25 per hour before the end of 2017.

 

The expansion of the new U.S. headquarters will bring continuous hiring, adding over 100 additional jobs within the next seven years. With Shorr's established, 100% employee-owned enterprise, each new job adds substantial value to the company's Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).

 

Super Shield boxes by Volk (Biddeford, Maine, USA) are 100% sustainable, giving them a market advantage over waxed boxes, which have to be separated from conventional cardboard in the recycling stream. Super Shield boxes are being used by several clients, including Cape Seafoods, Inland Seafood, and Cozy Harbor Seafood, to transport lobsters and other seafood.

 

After criticizing the current policy, Polquin said he was pleased to see that his "commonsense amendment" was added to the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, as it will stop the EPA from reaching beyond some of the biomass emission rules already being enforced by the regional EPA offices and the state environmental authorities."

 

After two years in development Andromeda by Futura, Lucca, Italy, demonstrated all of the key areas of process continuity, overall equipment effectiveness, safety, productivity, layout, manpower reduction, and finished product quality. The new system redraws boundaries for tissue roll products, converting for the benefit of customers.

 

Appleton Coated’s (Combined Locks, Wis., USA) executive director, publishing papers, explained "we have three exciting developments to share. Appleton Coated is now manufacturing Utopia Book® Inkjet with 50% Post Consumer Recovered Fiber (PCRF) and with Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC® (FSC® C007796) certification..." The enhancements are standard and not subject to upcharge.

 

According to a Ministry of Science and Technology statement, this has been the first attempt in India to develop such a product using odor sensors that make use of intelligent software to identify odorous molecules. It is also possible to train the software by feeding information based on observation of experts.

 

Introduced last month at IT's Tissue in Italy, this is a newly developed washing system for flexo plates in the printing section of tissue converting machines. Water pumping in the pipes fully eliminates processing waste, increasing the printing quality level. RACCOON was among several major new innovations introduced by OMET at IT"s Tissue this year.

 

Sonoco-Alcore S.a.r.l., Brussels, Belgium, will raise prices for paper-based tubes and cores by at least 5.5%. "...supply has become constrained and naturally prices are rising. The most recent sustained moves have been in Italy and Finland. While we have not yet announced changes in Finland, we continue to monitor this situation closely," said Karsten Kemmerling, director of sales and marketing, Tubes and Cores, Europe.

 

Effective in early August, the newly formed WestRock will raise coated recycled paperboard prices by $50/ton. This price increase follows a trend of price increase on coated recycled board prices as a result of higher costs of materials in recent months

 

Environmental assessments have demonstrated that wheat straw requires 65% less land to create one ton of paper than virgin paper sourced from conventional managed tree farms. There is also the potential to turn what is commonly considered a source of farm waste into a valuable new revenue source for local communities and paper companies.

 

From a sustainability standpoint as it relates to the industry, this type of advancement represents a major step towards achieving absolutely safe biodegradability with a fully organic fiberboard product. Some of the current synthetic adhesives in the fibers contain chemicals that some environmentalists are contending may create certain health hazards.

 

This process can make a suitable transport fuel after upgrading as well as crude used for the production of chemicals and resins for use in the agricultural and emissions control industries, as well as an effective adhesive for bio-based adhesives. Some of the resulting crude oils can be mixed with petroleum crude up to 3% and refined together.

 

Norske Skog, Oslo, Norway, announced this morning it plans to build biogas facilities at its mills, utilizing bio-waste from paper production to convert to renewable energy. Norske Skog Saugbrugs will invest NOK 150 million in construction of a biogas facility in connection to its effluent plant. The biogas facility will contribute to gross operating earnings in 2016 and be at full run-rate contribution in 2017.

 

Pfeffer has had a long-time interest in Berlin's corporate culture and utilized the company as a case study in his 1998 book, The Human Equation: Building Profits by Putting People First, which was published by Harvard Business Review Press.

 

Born in 1968, Eger joined the Italian company in 2002, holding the position of CFO and GM, after previously gaining important professional experience at both Benetton Group and KPMG.

 

Following a successful career in the energy industry spanning five years, Koskela brings to Flowrox, Lappeenranta, Finland, a wealth of experience and knowledge in global product management, along with a strong reputation for delivering results. "The industries we serve are in a constant state of change and Flowrox will always be leading the way to create solutions that meet their needs," said Koskela.

 

Marlow joins Greif , Delaware, Ohio, USA, from global manufacturer Cummins Inc., where she oversaw a team of 140 HR professionals across five continents. There she worked in various business units and advocated on behalf of the businesses' needs to improve performance management and ensure the successful integration of two joint ventures in Latin America.

 

Tero Huovinen has been working as VP, investor Relations in Kemira (Helsinki, Finland) since 2010. He will also continue in his current position on an interim basis until the appointment of a new head of investor relations. Leena Lie, Kemira's current SVP, communications and corporate responsibility, will leave Kemira to take up the position of SVP, communications, at Cargotec Oyj.

 

Take your recruiting efforts to the next level at the industry’s leading career fair event. This is the only event bringing students from paper and packaging schools together to reinforce their interest in the industry. Session topics have included Nanotechnology, Printed Electronics, and the State of the Industry, topics not regularly taught as part of their curriculum.

 

Bill Lucy earned his education doctorate at the University of Maine in 1971, and subsequently served UMaine for 25 years until his retirement in 1996. He participated in countless committee activities, and developed and taught courses in scuba diving and outdoor education and recreation.

 

Dr. Don Satchell, technology director and manager for Situ Biosciences LLC will present on analyzing the methods of compostability for pulp products that are enhanced with color, gloss, and preservatives at Specialty Papers 2015. Register now to save $200 off the full conference registration rate. The deadline to register at the discounted rate is Friday, August 14.

 

The only Improving Paper Machine Performance Course to be held in 2015 is scheduled for October 13-15 in Peachtree Corners, (Atlanta) Ga., USA.

 

LanzaTech uses novel gas fermentation technology that converts industrial gases to fuel and chemicals. TAPPI's International Bioenergy and Bioproducts Conference (IBBC) will be held October 28-31, in Atlanta, Ga., USA.

 

This unique workshop held August 3-7 provides attendees an overall view of the fundamental principles of environmental life cycle analysis (LCA) for a product or service.

 

Formerly known as the TAPPI Linerboard Medium and Manufacture Course, this August 18-20 course has been re-designed to include more case studies, tips for benchmarking liner and medium machine performance, and will have an increased focus on OCC single source grades, recycling processes and how to improve control of stickies.

 

For a limited time this newly revised text is not only available for the substantial TAPPI member discount but also comes with a special promo code discount being made available to readers of OTW this week. Don't miss your chance to get a full 50% off of the listed member and non-member price.

 

You will practice the concepts learned in class using common components, equipment, and processes. You’ll receive IDCON’s "Preventive Maintenance Essential Care and Condition Monitoring" book with your registration for this Sept. 14-15 course.

 

The Introduction to Kraft Pulping and Bleaching course, taught by Dr. Michael Kocurek, will take place August 4-5 at TAPPI’s Headquarters. Seats will sell out at 25. Registration is now open.

 

Written by two of the world's leading packaging experts, this technical book investigates the laws and liabilities associated with manufacturing, labeling and shipping packages. For a limited time, both members and non-members will be eligible to pick up this particular text for the same great discount.