Three Mondi plants in Germany (Halle, Steinfeld and Gronau) are set to produce and donate 10,000 protective gowns to workers in local nursing homes and retirement facilities.

Leader Paper Products, a leading supplier of premium envelopes and other specialty paper products, has launched a community campaign, called “A Million Thanks!” As part of the initiative, the 119-year-old Milwaukee-based company designed and produced one million thank you cards to be given to those on the COVID-19 frontlines.

With the novel coronavirus whipping across the U.S., ND Paper tapped its global roots to source critical personal protection equipment to the U.S. – both for our 1,400-strong workforce and for donation to frontline first responders.

Food banks around the world are experiencing dramatic increases in demand for food assistance driven by the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, more than ever, food banks need support. International Paper (NYSE: IP) is responding with one of its essential products — corrugated boxes. The company has committed to donating two million corrugated boxes to hunger-relief organizations.

The Fibre Box Association (FBA), an industry trade association representing the manufacturers of corrugated cardboard boxes, has created a video thank you to the industry’s essential workers. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, corrugated box manufacturers have been working to keep transport packaging flowing to makers of products including packaging for food and other consumer products, medical and pharmaceutical products, tissue and hygiene products and more.

Smurfit Kappa has launched a portfolio of products designed to help businesses, schools and offices resume operations in accordance with safety guidelines as Covid-19 lockdown restrictions start to be reduced. 

The graphic paper market is in structural decline and this development has even intensified since the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis. Verso Corporation has therefore decided to implement downtimes and curb production.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) today released the 60th Annual Survey of Paper, Paperboard and Pulp Capacity, reporting that while overall U.S. paper and paperboard capacity declined 0.5 percent in 2019, some sectors rose, including tissue paper, containerboard and boxboard.

The Palm Group has selected Heimbach as co-supplier for forming fabrics, press felts, shoe press belts and transfer belts for its new PM 5 corrugating base paper machine. With this decision, the Aalen-based family-owned company has placed its trust in the expertise and technical know-how of the experienced machine clothing specialist Heimbach.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) today released its April 2020 Packaging Papers & Specialty Packaging Monthly report.

In February 2020, PMP (Paper Machinery Producer) has signed a contract for delivery of (2) new Intelli-Jet V® Hydraulic Headboxes for Smurfit Kappa’s paper machine (PM5) located in the Uberaba mill in Brazil.

Metsä Fibre, part of Metsä Group, signed a preliminary agreement with ABB to supply electricity systems to the bioproduct mill in Kemi, Finland. The degree of Finnish origin for the delivery is high, more than 60%. It is estimated that for the entire Metsä Fibre bioproduct mill project the domestic content will be approximately 70%.

International technology Group ANDRITZ has received an order from Kookil Paper (Zhangjiagang) Limited Corporation to supply a complete 305 bdmt/d stock preparation line including approach flow system, broke handling and fiber recovery to the mill in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu Province, China. Start-up is scheduled for the first quarter of 2021.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) today released its April 2020 Containerboard Monthly report.

Hamburger Containerboard said that it has rescheduled the start-up of its new containerboard machine, PM2, at its mill in Spremberg, Germany, for the first week of September.

RunEco EP Turbo Blowers are known for their capability to operate efficiently across a wide range of vacuum levels and air flows. During the past decades, paper mills have optimized vacuum levels while taking advantage of the higher efficiency a blower has over a traditional liquid ring pump system.

As part of the European Green Deal, The European Commission published today its new Biodiversity Strategy, titled "Bringing nature back into our lives". The document presents the key points for the protection of biodiversity in Europe, including a proposal for land protection, which is set to increase from 26% today to at least 30% by 2030. One third of the whole network of protected areas should be covered by strict protection. This suggested increase in protection targets for land would come on top of existing measures and good practices.

The Swedish logistics company VSV Frakt and the developing company Biosorbe have started working together to help the environment. Haulers are testing a new kind of forest-based absorbent to clean up oil spills from vehicles in a climate-smart way.

Stora Enso has appointed Katariina Kravi as EVP, Head of Human Resources and a member of the Group Leadership Team. She will start on 1 September 2020 and be based in Helsinki.

Bonus! TAPPI Press Spring Savings Event saves you an additional 30%

Last week, TAPPI’s Spring Yankee Dryer Safety and Reliability Committee Meeting was held virtually due to current health and safety concerns.  This meeting facilitated a record number of participants comprised of members and guests from the multiple countries.

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.

Register today for TAPPI's latest free webinar, Flash Mixing Wet End Additives to be held on Thursday, June 4th at 12:00 PM EST. Join Presenter Jouni Matula, CEO of Wetend Technologies Ltd., as he explores wet end mixing processes.

The final report from APPTI’s 2019 Advancing Commercialization of Nanocellulose: Critical Challenges Workshop has been released and is available for you to view online.