As consumers and brands become more conscious of the environmental impacts of the products and packaging we use; paper and paper packaging are increasingly recognised for their unique sustainable features: made from renewable raw materials, recyclable and biodegradable.

Wood fiber costs fell in most regions of North America during the first six months of 2019, with the biggest declines in Western Canada and the U.S. Northwest, according to the Wood Resource Quarterly. Prices for pulplogs and wood chips in the U.S. South bucked the trend, with softwood fiber moving up to its highest levels in three years and hardwood fiber prices hitting an all-time-high.

Complete reject treatment system will include two Universal Rotary Shears UC1300 and one Universal Shredder FRX2000. The system will be able to handle light rejects and pulper rags processed without any manual intervention shredded directly at their point of origin underneath the pulper. Centerpiece of the sludge handling system is a Sludge Screw Press SCS.

The paper machine, with a total capacity of 500,000 tons per year, will produce both brown and white top test liner. The PMA systems for the top and back layers will be equipped with ANDRITZ ShortFlow Deaeration systems, comprising deaerators, the corresponding vacuum pumps, as well as the proven ModuScreen HBE screens for stock and dilution water screening.

Company looks back at its strategy of evolution and its ability to respond to more informed consumer choices over the past two decades, especially with a growing trend of moving away from plastics.

Purchase price on a cash and debt-free basis is EUR 1.15 billion. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2020. “DIC pursues ambitious growth plans and has announced to further develop the business in the coming years. We are convinced that the pigments business will be able to unfold its full potential within DIC.”

In addition to the key objective of optimizing the production of low weight specialty paper grades with a Smarnip shoe press, the rebuild targeted improvements in energy efficiency and the reduction of CO2 emissions at the German mill. Installation was completed on schedule by Italian paper machinery manufacturer PMT SRL.

Heimbach management announced this week that the proposed transaction to merge the Heimbach and AstenJohnson paper machine clothing businesses has been called off. While both companies have a high level of respect for each other and saw great potential to merge, the obstacles proved too great to overcome at this time.

Interfor this week announced a plan to reconfigure its B.C. Coastal business, including the permanent closure of its Hammond sawmill, located in Maple Ridge, B.C., and the reorganization of its forestry and woodlands operations.

The Washington state factory was shuttered in April 2017 by Nippon, putting 150 employees out of work. McKinley will hire about 100 workers and is collecting applications, General Manager Edward Bortz said last week.Workers are dismantling long-dormant equipment to make way for $6.1 million in new improvements. 

Bracell has awarded Pöyry with an EPCM assignment to develop the BoP (Balance of Plant) of the Star Project at its Brazil mill. Pöyry's services include interconnections between all process areas, turbo generators and steam distribution systems, the water cooling center and other complementary systems.

Companies will design and build seven vessels for sustainable sea transport for UPM in Europe. “This arrangement is a consistent step in UPM’s logistics strategy. It will safeguard a sustainable, competitive and reliable shipping solution for our businesses and customers on long term,” said Lauri Rikala, Director at UPM Logistics.

BillerudKorsnäs invests in the area of recycling as it acquires a minority holding in the innovative company Recycl3R. The company has developed a digital solution to increase recycling rates of single use packaging. A product that can be used globally.

The total investment amounts to SEK 7.5 billion over a five-year period. The investment replaces necessary reinvestments in Obbola, Sweden of approximately SEK 2.5 billion. The investment will be mainly financed by operating cash flow, complemented by regular group financing acitivities.

Toscotec will supply 24 TT SteelDryers, with a maximum operating steam pressure of 10 bar and a design speed of 800 mpm. The testliner machine's dryer section’s driving system with obsolete gears will be replaced by a silent drive system. The scope also includes the lubrication unit for the new dryer section and it will be especially designed for the high-temperature working environment of the mill.

The hallmark of our democratic system — the ballot — is rushing into an uncertain digital future. As Americans are becoming aware of the constant threat of election interference from foreign actors, the lack of paper ballots is a clear weakness.

“The expanded range of Extia® delivers a comprehensive product portfolio that will set the new benchmark in terms of filtration media for air pollution control cartridge applications”, says Giuseppe Costa, VP Product Development Filtration and Performance.

Not only is the hugely popular inkset, which has achieved double digit sales growth across Europe each year since its launch, fully compliant with all existing food packaging legislation worldwide, but it has also been independently tested to prove the high level of its environmental sustainability.

The combination of Valmet Hard Coating Solid and the perforated Valmet Uhle Box Cover have proven to increase dewatering at current vacuum levels, or reduce vacuum needs at many mills.

Increases are due to continuing shortages in key raw materials required to produce polyacrylamides, force majeure situations and unexpected maintenance shutdowns have resulted in significant cost increases over the last months.

Kerry Cesareo,WWF's SVP of forests, leads a portfolio of strategic forest management initiatives in pursuit of World Wildlife Fund’s goal to conserve the world’s most important forests, including the rainforests in the Amazon, which have drawn public attention because of widespread fires. The "Outside Voice" series is presented by Domtar.

Last year, PEFC revolutionized forest certification by moving it out of the forest. Now, people and organizations owning or managing trees growing outside of forests can achieve PEFC certification of their sustainable management practices. This is a big leap forward. But what does it really mean on the ground?

Norbert Nettesheim was born in 1962 and has a degree in business administration from the University of Cologne. He has extensive experience in project business and spent by far the greater part of his career in managerial positions with increasing responsibility at Voith.

BillerudKorsnäs Sustainability Director Malin Ljung Eiborn will on the 1st of October take place in the Executive Leadership Team of BillerudKorsnäs. Sustainability thus becomes a separate function at group level instead of, as previously, part of the communication department.

Bjørn Einar Ugedal has been appointed new Managing Director at Norske Skog Skogn AS effective October 15. He has extensive experience from a number of positions in the process- and power-intensive industry. Until recently, he was the CEO of Ferroglobe Mangan Norway in Mo i Rana, which produces manganese alloys.

The two elected members, duly appointed by the Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, are Fred Towler (International Paper); and Jonathan Kraft (New-Indy Containerboard). Both will take office on January 2020 for a three-year term.

“Mike Schultz was a natural choice to step up and lead Sappi’s manufacturing division here in North America,” said CEO Haws. “Throughout his tenure at the Cloquet mill, Mike has been the driving force behind highly successful sustainability, environmental and employee safety initiatives. I know that Mike’s experience and proven track record will ensure a thriving future for the Sappi North America manufacturing organization.”

Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) is the United States’ first regulatory program focused specifically on security at high-risk chemical facilities. Managed by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the program works with facilities to ensure they have security measures in place to reduce the risks associated with certain hazardous chemicals, and prevent them from being exploited in a terrorist attack.

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TAPPI’s Tissue 101 covers tissue properties and how they are impacted by manufacturing processes.

The paper and pulping industry is challenged more than ever to stay relevant in a fast-changing digital world with increasing environmental concerns. Staying abreast of new technologies, best practices and the latest advancements is vital in order to maintain competitiveness. With added pressure for sustainability and optimization, mills must utilize all resources available to them. TAPPI’s Pulping, Engineering, Environmental, Recycling and Sustainability (PEERS) Conference is one such resource.