Cascades announced the closure of its mill in Auburn, Me., USA, yesterday, saying the mill had low potential to integrate with its other operations as the overall market has dwindled for P&W paper and deinked, or recycled, pulp. Plans are to end production at the mill July 8, and close by July 15.

 

Port Hawkesbury Paper said more than half of the mill's 330 employees will be affected by layoffs starting this week. Poor market conditions at the site in Nova Scotia, Canada, for P&W grade paper have also led to a week-long shutdown with the temporary layoffs. Company officials are confident workers will be called back.

 

The production process preserves the strength and biodegradability of cellulose while rendering it transparent and flexible. Cellulose infused with zinc chloride has calcium ions added to cause the cellulose chains to become tiny fibers known as nanofibrils, greatly increasing the material’s tensile strength.

 

A recycling specialist estimated that newsprint machine conversions to containerboard production had amounted to some 2 million short tons in the past two years alone, and perhaps 5 million short tons across the last decade. One EU expert now predicts we will, as a result, see more overcapacity in packaging capacity.

 

The new tool, called The Greenest Workforce Job Match Tool, will provide those looking for work with one-stop access to job openings in Canada’s forest products sector and allow them to post resumes and search for jobs across the country.

 

P&W paper demand was down 5.7% y/y in May, according to the PPPC. uncoated free sheet May imports were off 48% y/y, and were down 36% through the first five months of 2016.

 

IndustryARC made public to a reporting service the research group's value of the industry after previously releasing a preview of their report that was more brief and did not contain this number. Information also added includes a much more detailed summary of expected performances in the dominant APAC region.

 

Shipments were up 4.5% y/y in May, according to data released by the PPPC. Shipments rose 3.4% ytd, and BSK pulp stocks were down 1 to 27 days.

 

Manufacturers have recently been involved in extensive R&D to produce the synthetic paper, which is water and tear resistant, scuff resistant, and provides easy printability, according to the report.

 

New information released in an expanded sample of a for-purchase report said North America and Europe have many established waste management service providers, because of willingness of companies in the region to take up capital-intensive projects, along with availability of technical expertise.

 

"We are very pleased to have reached this agreement with the city and we appreciate the recent efforts made to bring this important matter to a conclusion," said the mill GM. "...this agreement addresses the City’s immediate financial constraints while recognizing the mill’s need for competitive industrial taxes over the long-term."

 

"We have decided to revive the mill. We will do whatever possible to set up an adequate number of industries in the Northeastern region," an industrial minister told reporters. "Growth of industries and development of infrastructure in the resource rich Northeastern region is a priority of the central government," he added.

 

A Canadian judge agreed with Kruger's Corner Brook Pulp and Paper that it should be allowed to apply for a stay of proceedings. The company’s argument is that alleged local flooding from a shared industrial canal has claims limited to an arbitration process that would have to be followed before any class-action lawsuit.

 

System helps minimize unscheduled downtimes due to roll failure or sealing strip wear or defects. The technology is one of Voith’s innovations from its Papermaking 4.0 range and enables paper producers to also take a significant step towards "smart factory" conversion.

 

General public is invited to visit the corporate headquarters in Chicago, Ill., USA, to shop discounted paper, envelopes, gifts, office supplies and other Paper Source items.

 

The plant will extract biorenewables and be close to industrial size, located at Sappi`s South African Ngodwana mill. The demonstration plant will make it possible to study the next generation dissolving cooking process and test new ideas in mill scale. Startup is scheduled for the beginning of 2017.

 

Voith has successfully converted the existing Hedemora disc filter in the stock preparation unit to the latest BaglessPlus filter technology. The Finnish coated paper mill's disc rebuild has also substantially improved the performance of fiber material removal and reduced maintenance costs

 

Specially trained technicians help customers reduce downtime and improve productivity.

 

The Helsinki, Finland District Court ordered Metsähallitus, a Finnish natural resource manager, to pay compensation for legal expenses. The group had been in a drawn out legal battle with the pulp and paper, packaging, and forest product manufacturers since 2009, claiming they had paid underprice on a contract.

 

Incada Silk 260 gsm board was the award winner at the Australian Media Print Awards, used in Rooster IMC for its Herbanica Hand & Body Cream packaging. Incada is often used in the premium sectors as it is renowned for its consistency, excellent printing qualities, and for being a great all-round packaging board.

 

The company's plan will see investment of more than EUR 250 million in corrugated production machinery at 34 European locations, including EUR 60 million investments in the U.K. and Ireland.

 

At the ceremony, Shorr employee-owners, along with David Shorr, CEO, and Craig Funkhouser, president and COO, welcomed several local dignitaries and officials, including Congressman Randy Hultgren, Congressman Bill Foster, and DuPage County Board Member Tonia Khouri.

 

The Wall Street Journal wrote a special feature on Pratt Industries' very large Staten Island paper recycling operation (it processes half of the city of New York's paper waste) including detailed pictures of how paper waste is turned into 100% locally recycled pizza boxes and an interview with Chairman Antony Pratt.

 

The main goals of modernization are to increase capacity by 30% and improve quality. The board machine will be able to produce 130,000 metric tpy of corrugating medium and testliner from OCC in a basis weight range of 90 – 200 gsm. The rebuilt machine will launch sometime in Q3 of this year.

 

Order follows the recent startup of Valmet IQ QCS on Husum's new BM 1 board machine and off-line coater at the Swedish site. Machine operators will be able to monitor products using one single system and combine different views to guarantee efficient and consistent production.

 

"Longview’s liquid packaging board is our main supply to NPI’s liquid packaging business, and its quality is highly (valued) among Japanese users, being de-facto standard in the market," a Nippon spokesman said, explaining one reason there's full capacity value with the newly acquired plant despite having four in Japan.

 

AWPPW represents 450 employees at the sold liquid packaging plant and expects its contract to be honored on successor language. The union will have to work to find matches for Weyerhaeuser’s health insurance and 401(k) plans. AWPPW optimistically welcomed Nippon, but had filed 24 NLRB complaints in 2007-2014.

 

China’s white "cardboard" is reported as divided into three levels. A is defined as having a whiteness of no less than 92%, B is not less than 87%, and C is not less than 82%. China's growing cardboard market, with APAC regional growth, give these definitions reason to be noted for easier trading and selling purposes.

 

Digital Press for Corrugated uses KODAK Stream Inkjet Technology and aqueous based food compliant inks, to continuously deliver more than 50 billion ink drops per second from four CMYK print units. The press can match a broad range of the Pantone gamut and print at speeds of up to 200 m/min. at very high quality.

 

The government council agreed to renew the Canadian Wildland Fire Strategy, and discussed ways in which the forest sector can contribute to Canada's climate change objectives. They discussed the softwood lumber file and reaffirmed the importance of achieving a managed trade agreement with the U.S.

 

The U.S. Senate is considering an Interior Appropriations bill that includes a provision to recognize the carbon benefits of biomass energy. Most biomass, the association's president argues, comes in the form of manufacturing residuals, the use of which avoids up to 181 million metric tons of CO2 emissions each year.

 

"Our customers are telling us that having stocked products in 100% pcrf, 30% pcrf, and virgin fiber for immediate delivery add value to their operations. It also allows them to pursue new market opportunities – especially for the print needs of brands and organizations focused on sustainability..." explained the VP.

 

New Synplicity line features full-synthetic lubricants, formulated to provide superior lubrication solutions at an economical price.

 

ConsistencyEye is a new product for faster measurements and calibration of sensors for different process streams. Particularly suitable for measurements of low consistency streams, e.g. in paper and board machines’ stock. The module is of interest to mills with many consistency sensors to be calibrated regularly.

 

FN3415 is the company's newest addition to its ECOsine family of Passive Harmonic Filters, for 60 Hz, 480, or 600 VAC applications.

 

Products in the Ice range withstand temperature fluctuations, smoothly adhered in humid refrigerated storage, and stay free from edge-lift, bubbles, and wrinkles, even when submerged in ice. Products in the Ice Premium range have a level of wet opacity that ensures the label remains as solid and vibrant as when dry.

 

New adhesive is available with a range of clear film as well as paper-based label faces, and an RP62 EUL variant enables missing label detection by luminescent detector.

 

Silver digital is a two-side dou­ble coated pa­per that is specif­i­cally suit­able for toner-based digital print­ing. It en­ables what is described as bril­liant, clear-cut color re­pro­duc­tion on front and back. It is avail­able in gloss and matt and in gram­mages from 115 to 350 gsm.

 

The two Swedish operations have been working together since the 1980s on district heating. Under the renewed agreement, Södra Cell's pulp mill will supply heat from biofuel production to Karlshamn Energi’s district heating network. An improved system allows for increased energy supplies of electricity and biofuels.

 

"...we are committed to follow the strictest standards in health and safety management for our employees, but also customers and stakeholders. By achieving this milestone, Stenay mill has aligned its practices and processes with continuous improvement in line with the Group’s expectations." said VP, Health and Safety.

 

Metsä Tissue issued a statement that the company's baking and cooking paper products do not contain any fluoro compounds, and fluoro chemicals are not used in the company's paper production whatsoever. Certain types of fluro chemicals possibly used in the sector previously were a degree of some public debate.

 

In addition to chairing the World Containerboard Organization, Willée is CEO, packaging paper, at the Mondi Europe & International Division. He started his professional career at the BASF Group, where he held various positions, from manager in staff functions to Group VP, including a three year assignment in Brazil.

 

Antti Jääskeläinen has been appointed EVP of UPM Raflatac, effective July 1, 2016. He will become a member of UPM's Group Executive Team on the same date.

 

Simons was selected by a group of investment analysts and portfolio managers who cover the North American and global pulp and paper industry. The criteria for the award include leadership, vision, and strategic accomplishment.

 

The association would like to remind everyone who receives this newsletter that all items in the TAPPI News section are available in full detail for both members and non-members! Just remember to click the link to "learn more..." to get full information about each TAPPI News story.

 

TAPPI resources help her help others. Click to learn more about what she relies on to help get the job done as effectively and efficiently as possible as a paper and board technical manager.

 

Ron Sasine, industry expert in the global packaging market, is set to present at SuperCorrExpo® in Orlando, Fla., USA, this fall as a keynote speaker. And, be sure to catch his upcoming interview in the July/August issue of Corrugated Today Magazine.

 

Build financial confidence and help improve the bottom line.

 

Join expert instructor, Dr. Roland Gong, assistant professor of paper science and engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, for this course on July 21-22.

 

Be part of the growing bioeconomy. Learn now to leverage renewable materials from biomass at IBBC.

 

Register by July 12 for early bird discounts. You can earn 1.3 CEUs for completion of the two-day curriculum August 9-10.

 

TAPPI is known worldwide for its high quality, technical Offline training. Now, TAPPI Academy’s eLearning delivers unsurpassed technical training ONline, provided by proven industry experts, anytime and anywhere.

 

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