The American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA) issued the following statement regarding COVID-19: We have heard member interest in the continuing need for scientific information and guidance from authorities on the safety of packaging, paper and other products from COVID-19 risks. This memorandum provides an update in response to these concerns. 

Valmet and Orora Limited have signed a multi-year Mill Maintenance Outsourcing (MMO) agreement to continue taking care of the site maintenance of Orora’s Botany B9 board making line in New South Wales, Australia.

Production at the sawmill is set to begin during the third quarter of 2022. The pre-engineering phase of the Kemi bioproduct mill continues, and Metsä Group expects to be ready to make a decision on this approximately EUR 1.5 billion mill in the autumn of 2020.

Kruger Specialty Papers today announced the temporary shutdown of its Brompton facility, effective Friday, April 3, for an indefinite period of time. The Company came to this difficult decision due to unfavorable market conditions that deteriorated very rapidly with the COVID-19 outbreak, affecting the Mill’s operations and financial performance.

Year 2019 was record-breaking for forest machine manufacturer Logset Oy. The turnover was 48.0 million euros (2018: 40.1 million euros) and the operating profit landed on 2.5 million euros (2018: 1.6 million euros). The turnover and result were higher than ever.

Forest 2 Market reports that the sense of uncertainty that has gripped the entire globe over the last few months is unprecedented in modern history. But in the fight to contain the COVID-19 virus, drastic times call for drastic measures.

Despite a significant drop in market prices for paper and pulp, Heinzel Group recorded the second best result in the company’s history in 2019 and is therefore well equipped for the current Corona crisis. While production volume was further increased to slightly over 1.6 million metric tons, net sales, at EUR 1.92 billion, fell short of the all-time high of EUR 2.1 billion in the previous year. 

Pulp and Paper Products Council vice president Timothy Brown on March 25 made the following announcement about the cancellation of International Pulp Week 2020

Valmet will supply a new sizing section with a hard nip sizer to Asia Paper Manufacturing at Sihwa Mill in the Republic of Korea. The main target for the rebuild of paper machine PM 1 is to increase strength properties of produced container and gypsum board grades. The start-up of the rebuilt paper machine is scheduled for the second half of 2021.

Iggesund Paperboard’s paperboard mill in Workington, UK, did not have a single accident that led to absence during the whole of 2019. Quite an achievement, especially considering that more than 320 people work there, in a heavy process industry.

Vancouver, BC, based Canfor Pulp Products will curtail production at its Northwood Pulp Mill. This is only one of a package of actions the company announced in reaction to the Covid-19 pandemic and resulting economic uncertainty.

International Paper (NYSE: IP) has entered into an agreement to sell its Brazilian corrugated packaging business to Klabin S.A. for R$330 million, with R$280 million to be paid at closing and R$50 million one year thereafter, subject to certain adjustments.

Greif, Inc. (NYSE: GEF, GEF.B), a global leader and industrial packaging solutions provider, announced today that it has completed its previously announced divestiture of the Consumer Packaging Group (“CPG”) business for $85 million in cash to Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE: GPK).

Valmet introduces a renewed Valmet IQ Quality Management System for pulp, tissue, paper, board, and converting industries. The renewed system lets papermakers optimize quality through the entire value chain from fiber to finished product, enabling improved process performance and increased savings through the process.

Bags made of BillerudKorsnäs’ paper Xpression E-com can reduce fossil emissions by 50 percent compared to virgin plastic, and lead to a net removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. That is the result from a new independent study that compares the environmental impact of different types of online retail packaging.

Learn the basics of how to make your home more energy efficient from the comfort of your couch. TAPPI’s Nonwovens, Engineers and Technologists (NET) Division brings you “The Science Behind Energy Efficient Homes” next Thursday, April 9.

TAPPI offers flexible options in training to help you continue strengthening your professional skills, knowledge and confidence… because business as usual isn’t so usual anymore.

New resource from TAPPI Press can help you avoid unscheduled shutdowns of the boiler.

TAPPI is partnered with IDCON to present a combined set of courses designed to help you improve manufacturing reliability and lower costs - now available online.

Hunt, Guillot & Associates, LLC is accepting applications for a Senior Process Engineer for its Catawba, South Carolina, USA location.