Digital communication and processes can never fully replace personal contact or the human factor. Just how helpful virtual solutions can be, however – when face-to-face encounters are suddenly impossible – is illustrated by the current pandemic.

Across all environmental issues related to the manufacture of paper-based products in North America, the harvesting of trees for wood fiber is arguably the most familiar, yet also the most misunderstood. Decades of misguided marketing messages that suggest using less paper protects forests along with deliberate anti-paper campaigns by environmental groups that twist scientific facts to suit their own agendas have left many feeling guilty for using products that are inherently sustainable.

AstenJohnson is pleased to announce a new investment in its Kanata Ontario Dryer plant. This investment will address the increased demand for locally supplied Dryer fabrics in the US and Canadian markets.  

New-Indy JV Corp. announced that it has reached an agreement with Georgia-Pacific to acquire Southern California-based Reliable Container. The acquisition includes converting plants in Santa Fe Springs, California, and Tijuana, Mexico.

Valmet announced on September 29, 2020 that it has approached the Board of Directors of Neles with a proposal to start discussions on a potential statutory merger between the two companies. The Board of Directors of Neles has this morning announced a negative response to Valmet’s proposal.

A new study conducted by iTotem Technologies Ltd. for the BC Council of Forest Industries (COFI) and released [Oct. 8] found that in 2019, COFI member companies purchased $7 billion worth of goods and services from nearly 9,900 B.C.–based companies and Indigenous suppliers located in every region of the province.

Sonoco announced it is implementing a $50/ton (USD/ST) increase on all domestic and export corrugating medium grades shipping from its Hartsville, South Carolina paper mill.

In early 2017, Voith received an order for six BlueLine OCC stock preparation lines from Nine Dragons, the largest manufacturer of packaging paper in Asia. With the recently commissioned PM 41 at the customer’s Hebei site, five Voith BlueLine OCC lines, each with a production capacity of 2,000 tons per day, have now been successfully launched. The handover of the sixth line is planned for 2022.

Two Toscotec-supplied AHEAD 2.0L tissue machines came online at Sofidel America’s mill in Inola, Oklahoma. Shortly after start-up, the two lines met Sofidel’s quality standards, and have been running at a high operation efficiency, producing premium quality tissue.

China's Belt and Road Initiative is a global infrastructure development strategy adopted by the Chinese government that aims to invest in nearly 70 countries and international organizations. The initiative is poised to boost international trade, and it has the potential to accelerate economic growth across Asia, Central and Eastern Europe.

Cascades will progressively and permanently close tissue production and converting operations at its Ransom and Pittston plants, located in Pennsylvania, between December 7 and January 31st of 2021. The two paper machines at the Ransom plant have a total annual production capacity of 50,000 short metric tons of tissue paper.

Greif, Inc. (NYSE: GEF, GEF.B), a global leader in industrial packaging products and services, today announced it has been awarded a Gold Rating in sustainability performance by EcoVadis for the third year in a row.

Metsä Board, the leading European producer of premium fresh fibre paperboards and part of Metsä Group, is delighted to announce that five cartons produced using its quality paperboards were selected as winners at the 2020 European Carton Excellence Awards at a virtual ceremony organized on 7th October.

Green Bay Packaging Inc. (GBP) has acquired Third Dimension Inc. The acquisition was effective October 1, 2020.

Voith now offers a new screen plate design for pulpers used in recovered paper pulping. The CurvedBar screen plate extends service life in Voith's IntensaPulper IP-R by more than 50 percent and improves the quality of fiber suspension. For mills, its implementation means less maintenance effort and material use, as well as fewer downtimes, leading to a more efficient overall process and lower costs.

Stora Enso is introducing its new eco-friendly take-away bowls for food service packaging, PureFiber™ by Stora Enso. The products are free from plastic and PFAS and are designed to help customers replace plastic on-the-go food packaging.

Cascades (TSX: CAS), a leader in eco-friendly recycling, packaging and hygiene solutions, is launching the first 100% recycled and recyclable thermoformed cardboard tray designed for fresh food packers using automated equipment in North America.

Smurfit Kappa, a FTSE 100 company and leading provider of paper-based packaging solutions, has extended its range of sustainable and biodegradable products for the agricultural sector with the launch of BanaBag®.

Norwich City and Kotkamills are delighted to announce their sustainability partnership, the first ever in the club’s history.

Kimberly-Clark Corporation  (NYSE: KMB) today announced that Sandi Karrmann will join the company as Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, effective October 26, 2020.

TAPPI’s Company Classroom program delivers flexible training in virtual or onsite formats.

Popular workshop goes virtual! This introduction level workshop, designed for both technical and non-technical individuals that seek to better understand the basics

Come on! Can pizza boxes really be recycled? Of course they can. Learn how these high-volume boxes can become a large part of the OCC market at PEERS 2020. Register today.

New offering features conversations with innovative leaders in the pulp, paper, tissue, packaging, and converting industries

Mentor Match, TAPPI’s popular networking platform can help new engineers learn key technical concepts, identify useful technical resources, and give advice on career development.