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The new ZELLCHEMING Conference "Cellulose Based Materials - From Science to Technology" reflects the growing importance of a bioeconomy strategy based on renewable raw materials. Cellulose, the main component of plant cell walls and thus the most abundant organic compound worldwide, will play a key role in the future.

AVAPCO, a subsidiary of GranBio Technologies, announced that it has been awarded $500,000 in funding from P3Nano, a public private partnership between the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities and the USDA Forest Service (USFS), along with an additional $230,000 from the USFS Wood Innovations program to advance scale-up and commercial introduction of the Nanocellulose Dispersion Composite (NDC™) rubber masterbatch for the tire and rubber goods markets.

KaMin LLC, a global performance minerals company owned by IMin Partners, and BASF announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement in which KaMin will acquire the BASF kaolin minerals business. Currently, the kaolin minerals business is part of BASF’s Performance Chemicals division.

Paper Excellence B.V. and Domtar Corporation jointly announced that they have received Canadian Competition Act approval for their business combination whereby Karta Halten B.V., an affiliate of Paper Excellence, will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Domtar common stock for $55.50 per share in cash pursuant to an agreement and plan of merger dated May 10, 2021.

Paper Excellence announced the temporary curtailment of operations at its Catalyst Paper tiskwat mill in Powell River, British Columbia, Canada. The mill produces high quality specialty papers that are used in catalogues, magazines, newsletters, inserts, flyers, high-volume weekend newspaper magazines and food packaging papers.

Stora Enso announced that its bio-based battery material Lignode® has won the Metsä360 award in Finland. The EUR 30 000 prize, funded by the Marjatta and Eino Kolli Foundation was announced at the Lahti Science Day on November 18, 2021.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) has released its October 2021 Printing-Writing Monthly report. According to the report, total printing-writing paper shipments increased one percent in October compared to October 2020.

Sawmills in Europe and North America enjoyed record profits during the first half of 2021, but fell in the 3Q when lumber prices plunged.

International technology group ANDRITZ has received an order from Alizay Papier SASU to supply a complete OCC line – including a reject treatment system – with a capacity of 1,400 bdmt/d to the mill in Alizay, France. Start-up is scheduled for the end of 2022.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp on Nov. 12 announced Celadon Development Corporation ("Celadon") will invest more than $155 million in opening a North American headquarters and a state-of-the-art recycling and advanced manufacturing facility in Chatham County, creating 117 jobs in the Savannah area. This represents Phase 1 of Celadon's major investment project in Georgia.

Russia posted a significant increase of production and exports of pulp and timber this year, according to recent statements, made by the country’s Deputy Prime Minister Victoria Abramchenko.

The Schumacher Packaging Group, one of Europe's leading manufacturers of corrugated and solid board packaging solutions, is planning the biggest ever investment campaign in the company's history. Between now and 2025, around 700 million euros will be invested – 300 million euros of which will be invested in Germany alone.

Stora Enso is extending its packaging offering with a new portfolio of bio-based foams from wood. The products are fully recyclable and can be used for protective and thermal packaging. Lightweight wood foams address the need for climate-friendly, renewable and circular cushioning materials in inner packaging.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Heidi Brock issued the following statement in response to the U.S. House of Representatives' passage of the Build Back Better Act framework.

Lesosibirsk Sawmills and Woodworking Plant , part of Segezha Group, has signed a contract with AS Hekotek, Estonia, for supplying a set of equipment for its pellet production facility. The launch of the facility is planned for Q2 2023.

Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, launches IQ EXTRALIGHT. The new opaque paper solution is produced at Mondi Neusiedler, Austria, and targets the uncoated premium segment in opaque paper for inserts of medications and cosmetics, operating manuals, catalogues, directories or legal text application.

Sulzer announces the launch of the world’s biggest medium-consistency pump, the MCE93-400. The new MCETM pump size is Sulzer’s answer to the customers’ demand for bigger production rates in pulp mills.

Mondi, a leading global packaging and paper company, is investing €20 million to further improve the sustainability of its pulp production at the Frantschach mill in Austria. The mill, which is celebrating its 140th anniversary in 2021, has already been self-sufficient in terms of energy for many years and supplies surrounding communities and industrial companies with surplus heat from the pulp production process.

Metsä Tissue, in cooperation with AFRY, has calculated the carbon footprint of toilet paper in its eight European mills, and also explored the differences in the footprints of toilet papers made of fresh (virgin wood fiber) and recycled fibers. The results for the products analyzed by the company indicate that a roll of toilet paper made of fresh fiber has a carbon footprint that is approximately one fifth smaller than a roll made of recycled fiber.

The Two Sides North America (TSNA) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the election of four new Board members to serve two-year terms beginning January 1, 2022.

Cepi announced that Ilkka Hämälä, President and CEO of Metsä Group, will become the new Chairman of Cepi as of January 2022. Mr. Hämälä succeeds Ignazio Capuano (Burgo Group), who has served as Cepi's chairman since January 2020.

Motion Industries, Inc. announced the promotion of John Watwood to Vice President of Operations Integration, effective immediately. Mr. Watwood moves to this position from Vice President/Group Executive for the Southeast, to which he was promoted in 2019.

Please view the list of Upcoming December Webinars and Events.

Shine the spotlight on your colleagues for their contributions to TAPPI and the industry by nominating them for a TAPPI Division Award.

Showcase your product and/or service at PEERS/IBBC 2022

Register today for the Wood Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies webinar held Monday, December 13th 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (EST).

Expand your network in 2022 by being a Mentor or Protégé with TAPPI Connect Mentor Match.

Learn ways to address evaporator fouling, scaling and lime kiln ringing and more with a large panel of instructors.

TAPPI’s Introduction to Pulp and Paper Technology Course in January helps you understand how all the major processes in operations fit together.

The Dow Chemical Company is looking for applications to fill the position of Research Scientist in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. Are you interested? If so, apply today.