An estimated 17,000 U.S. pulp and paper mill jobs will be lost if EPA's proposed changes to the existing regulations on industrial boilers are finalized, according to a study conducted by Fisher International, South Norwalk, Conn., USA. The new Boiler Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) Rule would also jeopardize nearly 72,000 jobs in surrounding communities, many of which serve to supply the mills in these areas, the study adds.

In the pulp and paper sector alone, the Boiler MACT rule would force nearly 30 mills to close and put 16,888 Americans out of jobs, marking a 14% decrease in industry jobs, the Fisher study suggests. As the rule applies to the entire manufacturing sector of the U.S., the total number of jobs lost as a result of facility closures will be much higher. Furthermore, if all of EPA pending air regulations come to pass, job losses are set to explode to 43,666 in paper mills alone and up to 185,581 in communities that rely on these mills.

"These staggering job losses can be prevented if the EPA will develop a more flexible approach to regulating boiler emissions," says Michael Draper, VP Western District –United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America and chairman of the Forest Products Industry National Labor Management Committee. Draper adds that "by setting more realistic standards, we can protect both jobs and the environment."

The eight-page study, commissioned by AF&PA, and two-page summary are available online.

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Chemrec AB, Sweden, on September 9 is inaugurating the world's first plant for production of the renewable fuel BioDME in Piteå, Sweden. BioDME is a "climate neutral" biofuel produced from forestry feedstock, and is primarily intended for use in heavy vehicles. The fuel allows greenhouse gas emission reductions of up to 95% compared with conventional diesel fuel. The global potential for BioDME, Chemrec notes, is around 30 million tons of diesel equivalents per year, enough to fuel a million heavy trucks.

The BioDME pilot plant is built at the Smurfit Kappa pulp and containerboard mill in Piteå, and uses the pulping process by-product black liquor to produce the fuel. The biofuels process is based on gasification technology from Chemrec AB and fuel synthesis technology from Haldor Topsøe A/S. Volvo Trucks, Swedish fuels company Preem, French oil and gas giant Total, auto parts company Delphi, and local research institute ETC are also participating in the project. The BioDME produced is used in a truck test fleet from Volvo. Operators of the vehicles include DHL, Green Cargo, and Posten Logistics.

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The U.S. pulp industry had 2009 revenues of approximately $4.8 billion, with an estimated gross profit of 33.6%. Imports were valued at $2.4 billion from 32 countries, representing approximately 50% of the value of total U.S. pulp production, according to a new report by Research and Markets, Dublin, Ireland.

The report, titled Pulp Mills Industry in the U.S. and its International Trade (2010 Edition), shows that the industry also exported $4.3 billion worth of merchandise to 112 countries. Adding import value to and subtracting export value from the industry's shipment value, the total domestic demand for the industry in 2009 was $2.9 billion.

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Market pulp prices fell an expected $30 - $50/metric ton across the globe in August, Mark Wilde, senior analyst with Deutsche Bank, reports. In the U.S., softwood grades (down $30/metric ton m/m) are holding up better than hardwood grades (down $40 - $50/metric ton m/m).

"Overall, the price declines appear to be more measured than we expected, and the downturn may not be as deep as once feared," Wilde says, adding that global inventories are in fairly good shape, and there are signs that the market may already be starting to turn in China. International prices into Asia fell $50/metric ton at the end of July, and are poised to fall another $20/metric ton in August. However, local prices in China rose last week, raising hopes that the "buyers' strike" among Chinese buyers is ending.

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In the U.S. kraft papers arena, trade papers reported $40 - $60/ton increases in August, according to Wilde. Extensible sack kraft prices rose $30/ton in August (July = +$30/ton), essentially completing the $60/ton price increase. Multiwall kraft producers implemented the full $40/ton price hike. On the sack grades, producers implemented $40/ton of the announced $60/ton price increase in August. The remaining $20/ton is expected to be implemented this month. The current price increase in driven by a combination of strong demand (strong order backlogs and long order lead times) and tight supply, mainly due to the several maintenance outages, Wilde explains. Prices are rising elsewhere. In Europe, Mondi has implemented a EUR 100/metric ton hike for all sack kraft grades.

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Coated recycled board (20-pt clay coated) producers in North America implemented a $20 - $30/ton (announced = $40/ton) price increase in August, Wilde notes. The current price increase, he adds, is driven by improved demand, strong order backlogs, and higher operating rates. This is the third price increase of the year after the $30/ton increase in January and $35/ton increase in April. At current levels, prices are up 15.6% from year-ago levels.

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The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Industrial Technologies Program (ITP), Washington, D.C., USA, has awarded Appleton's paper mill in West Carrollton, Ohio, with the Save Energy Now Energy Champion designation. The award recognizes the mill's significant achievements in industrial energy efficiency. To be eligible for the Energy Champion award, facilities must achieve 250,000 million Btu of energy savings or reduce plant energy consumption by 15%. Only 56 U.S. manufacturers have received the designation thus far in 2010.

Satish Damodaran, West Carrollton mill manager, says that significantly reducing energy consumption is a critical element of Appleton's sustainable manufacturing process. He credited the engagement of mill employees in that process for driving improvements that earned the mill its Energy Champion award. "The award reflects progress in our ongoing efforts to eliminate waste from all aspects of our operations and to reduce energy consumption," Damodaran adds.

Save Energy Now is a national initiative to reduce industrial energy intensity by 25% or more in 10 years. Companies nationwide can partner with DOE, participate in no-cost energy assessments, and use ITP's proven resources to reduce energy use and improve efficiency.

In addition to designating Energy Champions, the Save Energy Now program also recognizes Energy Savers—facilities that achieve more than 75,000 million Btu total energy savings or more than 7.5% total energy savings. Energy Champion and Energy Saver award recipients work with a DOE energy expert to assess key industrial process systems and identify cost-saving opportunities.

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Buckeye Technologies Inc., Memphis, Tenn., USA, this week announced that it had been named in the top 20% of publicly held companies headquartered in the Southeast U.S. on their corporate sustainability policies and practices. The first annual Southeastern Corporate Sustainability Rankings, announced in May of this year by GreenBusiness Works and its partners, rated 280 companies on their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors and policies. These rankings were compiled by KLD Research & Analytics Inc., which was also instrumental in naming Newsweek's Green 500 ratings.

John Crowe, chairman and CEO, expressed appreciation for this recognition. "In April of 2009, we published our inaugural Sustainability Report, emphasizing sustainable business practices throughout our operations worldwide and detailing our focus on reducing fossil fuels, water, solid waste, and air emissions. Our latest report will be released in early September and we are proud of the measurable progress we have so rapidly made. It is rewarding to receive the acknowledgement of our efforts by the top quintile placement in these rankings."

As a result of being ranked among the top 20%, Buckeye was also invited to attend the group's first C-Suite and Sustainability Breakfast session conducted August 24. This session, and those that will follow, provide an ongoing forum for senior executives to gain fresh insights and share ideas which will increase the pace of sustainable developments.

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The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP), Toronto, Ont., Canada, has donated $25,000, through its Humanity Fund, to Oxfam emergency flood relief efforts in Pakistan and is raising additional funds from members and Local unions across the country. CEP is urging members and Locals to give generously to the growing need for assistance for the 20 million citizens impacted by the flood.

"The need continues to be great in Pakistan and CEP members and their families have a proud tradition of helping those in need," said CEP President Dave Coles. Combined, the Canadian labor movement has already pledged more than $160,000 for the relief effort in Pakistan.

The CEP Humanity Fund is a member-supported fund that helps people facing disasters and poverty, promotes decent work, and supports equitable development in Canada and around the world.

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KapStone Paper and Packaging Corp., Northbrook, Ill., USA, reported this week that its registration as a producer of cellulosic biofuel for the tax year 2009 has been approved. With this registration, KapStone may apply for a nonrefundable income tax credit of $1.01 per gal of qualified cellulosic biofuel for the black liquor burned in early 2009 when the company did not claim the alternative fuel mixture tax credit. KapStone estimates that a net $22 million benefit related to cellulosic biofuel will be reflected in the company's third quarter 2010 income tax provision.

KapStone operates paper mills in Roanoke Rapids, N.C. and North Charleston, S.C., a lumber mill in Summerville, S.C., and five chipping mills in South Carolina. The business employs approximately 1,600 people.

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Starting yesterday (September 1), Jornal do Brasil, celebrating its 119th year, became the first 100% digital newspaper in Brazil. The newspaper says the decision, the product of a responsible analysis of the future of print media throughout the world, also resulted from a daily survey that it conducted through newspaper ads and its website.

In the survey, Jornal do Brasil invited readers and internet users to provide their opinion of media preferences and consumer habits—including innovative digital platforms. Similar to other communication outlets throughout the world, Jornal do Brasil explains that it is updating the way it interacts with readers, promoting environmentally sustainable practices, and continuously making improvements in line with the latest technologies. In 1995, Jornal do Brasil became the first Brazilian newspaper on the Internet.

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KiOR Inc., Pasadena, Texas, USA, reached an agreement this past week with the State of Mississippi to build five commercial-scale renewable crude oil production facilities in return for a state assistance package that includes a $75 million loan. According to the agreement, KiOR will build three of the five facilities over the next five years. By 2015, the project will deliver more than 1,000 direct and indirect jobs and an estimated $500 million worth of investment. In addition to the loan, the state's package includes assistance with infrastructure needs and workforce training.

The company plans to utilize Mississippi's abundant supply of woody biomass to produce commercial volumes of Re-Crude, a high-quality crude oil that can be refined into conventional fuel products, including gasoline and diesel, and deployed in the country's existing transportation fuels infrastructure.

"This partnership with the State of Mississippi will help us to rapidly scale our technology while creating quality jobs and spurring economic development in the state," said Fred Cannon, president and CEO of KiOR. "We're excited about making a meaningful and near-term contribution to easing our country's dependence on foreign oil, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and providing a boost to rural economies."

KiOR's process utilizes a catalyst system and leverages a proven technology used in the oil refining industry. It has significant cost advantages, the company notes, including lower capital and operating costs, compared with other biofuels technologies. KiOR will initially utilize woody biomass in its process, but the technology can eventually take advantage of other feedstock such as agricultural residue or purpose grown energy crops. The process is being successfully demonstrated at the company's facility located outside of Houston, which is producing up to 15 barrels of renewable crude oil per day from woodchips, a 400 time scale-up from the company's pilot plant.

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Mascoma Corp., Lebanon, N.H., USA, has acquired SunOpta BioProcess Inc. (SBI) from SunOpta Inc., Brampton, Ont., Canada, a global supplier of natural, organic, and specialty foods and natural health products. The combination brings together SBI's fiber preparation and pretreatment technology with Mascoma's consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) technology, to create a company with expanded capabilities for converting non-food cellulose (wood chips, energy crops, and organic solid waste) into ethanol and high value co-products.

By integrating SBI's state-of-the-art fiber preparation and pretreatment technology (known as the upstream component of cellulosic ethanol production) with Mascoma's CBP technology (known as the downstream component of cellulosic ethanol production), the new company brings together two core technical competencies for conversion of non-food cellulose into ethanol and high-value co-products. In addition to these technical synergies, the combined entity will have operational presence in both the U.S. and Canada, and an extensive intellectual property position in the cellulosic biofuels sector, with broad coverage of both pretreatment and consolidated bioprocessing technologies.

Both SBI and Mascoma have made significant progress towards commercialization and collectively have development partners in the U.S., Canada, China, Brazil, and South Africa, all of which should benefit from the combination. In early 2010, SBI announced a major contract to supply its fiber preparation and pretreatment technology to one of the largest operators in the new energy sector in China.

The transaction values SBI at approximately $51 million and will be funded via a combination of preferred and common shares in Mascoma. As a result, the combined company will be approximately 73% owned by existing Mascoma shareholders, approximately 18% by SunOpta, and the balance by other SBI shareholders. Jeremy Kendall, chairman of SunOpta and former chairman of SBI, will join Mascoma's board of directors. Post-transaction, SunOpta will account for its ownership position in Mascoma on a cost basis, and as a result will not include the ongoing financial results of Mascoma in its operational results.

Mascoma, through its affiliate Frontier Renewable Resources LLC, is currently developing a commercial scale production facility in Kinross, Michigan. The facility is based on technologies developed in Mascoma's laboratories in Lebanon, N.H., and operating in its 57,000 sq ft demonstration facility in Rome, N.Y. The facility will also incorporate technologies developed by SBI from its pilot operations in Waterdown and Brampton, Ont.

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NewPage Corp., Miamisburg, Ohio, USA, this week announced its new "Paper Sells More Product" campaign that will award one active catalog, magazine, or retail company with $100,000 in print services to support the winner's efforts to sell more products.

Paper, especially in the form of catalogs, magazines, and retail inserts, has been proven to sell more products and enhance profitability, NewPage notes, adding that according to the Direct Marketing Association, printed catalogs are the largest revenue generator among all media channels, accounting for, on average, 50% of all sales for multichannel marketers. BIGResearch shares that magazines and the advertising they contain drive web search more than any other medium, more than double internet advertising and social media. Nielsen reports that newspaper inserts and circulars are responsible for 89% of coupon distribution, driving customers to visit the store.

NewPage also points out that paper has an emotional appeal that customers respond to—it encourages the impulse buy. "Printed catalogs, magazines and retail inserts are the next best thing to actually putting products in the customers' hands," said Barry Nelson, senior VP, sales for NewPage. "I personally encourage all companies that publish printed magazines, catalogs, or retail inserts that sell product to enter the sweepstakes."

The "Paper Sells More Product" campaign runs through December 31, with the winner receiving notification in mid-January. Sweepstakes rules, eligibility, and entry forms are available online (entries to the sweepstakes will only be taken online).

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The United Steelworkers (USW), Pittsburgh, Pa., USA, reports that its recent paper sector conference in Pittsburg drew more than 400 delegates. The focus of the conference, USW notes, was strengthening bargaining policy and member activism to support it, improving health and safety, playing an active role in policy issues that affect the industry, while building stronger international ties.

The delegates met separately with their company councils to devise action plans to increase communication between the locals and to mobilize the membership around collective bargaining and other industry issues. Each council also elected a delegate to a standing policy committee that will meet periodically to discuss progress and ideas and suggest course adjustments if necessary.

Strengthening health and safety provisions in agreements that lead to a more active role for workers in improving health and safety systems in the industry was the number one bargaining priority. This initiative was spurred by a union-led Paper Industry Health and Safety Survey conducted over an 18-month period that showed many serious shortcomings in current safety programs. The study's recommendations focus on greater union involvement in health and safety, training, work design issues, use of inherently safer chemicals, and the elimination of programs that suppress injury and incident reporting.

Delegates agreed to maintain three-year contracts unless master agreements are negotiated or other strategic objectives are obtained that move paper bargaining and paper workers forward. They want to maintain the 80/20 split on premium sharing and innovate and improve their healthcare plans without waiving the right to negotiate over the plan design changes.

Strengthening retirement security remains a key goal for the delegates. The crash of the stock market two years ago has devastated many retirement plans. Pensions have to provide a secure retirement and provide a significant percentage of replacement income for workers, based on company contributions.
Since bargaining policy was last developed two years ago, many paper contracts now contain successorship language, which protects workers and the agreed terms of labor agreements in the event of a sale of a facility or company. Delegates committed to add this language where it doesn't exist and work to strengthen it where it does.

Other bargaining issues discussed included resisting two-tier wage and benefit systems, maintaining vacation time, bargaining 401(k) administration, achieving wage retention in layoff and downsizing situations, developing and achieving severance packages for profitable mills that are shutdown, and strengthening outsourcing language.

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The global consumer packaging market is worth around $400 billion, according to a new report by Research and Markets, Dublin, Ireland, titled The Packaging Materials Future Outlook: Key Trends in New Materials, Lightweighting, and Emerging Applications. The market has been relatively resilient in the face of economic ups and downs, but the current recession has taken its toll—2009 saw a downturn in market value. The new report pinpoints the reasons why, highlights consumer and industry trends, and takes a speculative look at the future.

"There is no doubt that consumer goods and consumer packaging are now facts of modern life, but the market is evolving and it is only prudent to understand the drivers of change and to take this understanding into planning for the future," the report notes.

The inexorable rise of plastic packaging has been the key market narrative, a rise driven by cost, convenience, and the entirely natural desire to do ever more with ever less, the report emphasizes. Plastic, however, is made from petrochemicals and raw materials are becoming increasingly costly. More significant still, plastic has relatively poor environmental credentials and is profoundly disliked by consumers, particularly in the developed West. Nevertheless, the plastics sector continues to receive the lion's share of R&D into new technology, although bioplastics and nano-enhanced super packaging are both some way from being commercially viable, the report continues.

Paper-based packaging is still the largest sector and has very strong environmental credentials, according to the report, Improving paper's barrier properties is a crucial step in increasing its viability as a packaging material. Glass has an enviable reputation as a premium material and as a packaging medium out of which food and drink taste better. Lightweighting is helping make glass easier to handle and more cost-effective in production and distribution. The rise of the aluminum beverage can has helped sustain the metal packaging sector in other areas.

The report assesses the relative weights of all of these trends and sets the packaging market in its context: social, economic, environmental, and cultural. It examines this complex and dynamic market organically, from the viewpoints of suppliers and end-users and looks in detail at regional drivers as developing markets increasingly shape the future.

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Formerly DGP Group, Intelsius, York, England, a manufacturer and distributor of temperature-controlled packaging, this week announced the completion of its corporate rebranding efforts, including a new corporate identity, logo, and redesign of its website. The new visual representation of the brand will appear in the company's marketing and on its products and packaging. The new website will launch later this year.

As part of the rebranding, Intelsius also announced the launch of Orcatherm for transport and intermediate storage of temperature sensitive materials. The Orcatherm range has been engineered to ensure optimal thermal protection for high value shipments during distribution within challenging environments. A heavy-duty, passive temperature-controlled shipping system, Orcatherm is completely reusable and is designed with encapsulated Vacuum Insulated Panels (VIPs). This produces up to seven times the insulating effects as the same thickness of less eco-friendly materials, the company notes. Bio-based phase change technology provides enhanced thermal performance and decreases both the total weight and volumetric weight of the shipping system.

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Goldprint, Brussels, Belgium, will install a fully automated Stora Enso Gallop digital print production line for folding cartons. The line is designed to produce short-run, on-demand packaging but also larger runs with serialization like Datamatrix or any type of variable code. It is able to address the specific cultural needs of smaller markets or launch new products in a real life test. The equipment is able to print 12 to 15 hours a day on heavy media with a very wide color gamut combined with impressive solutions to protect brand owners against counterfeiting. The board material used by Goldprint on the Gallop line is Stora Enso Tambrite.

"In pharmaceuticals packaging, the batches get smaller and smaller as medication gets more sophisticated and individual. Also, variable coding of packages and more efficient anti-counterfeiting solutions are required. All this means that there is a growing need to make different packaging, and the Gallop line is an effective solution for that," says director Luc Meeùs from Goldprint. "With the Gallop we can also expand our service to new segments such as luxury food, chocolate, and business gift packaging."

The production line combines a Xerox iGen 4 digital production press with a coating unit for UV or waterbased varnish, a buffer-stacker to check the job integrity, and a die cutting machine capable of embossing Braille and hot foil stamps. "Stora Enso has made a brilliant job in the integration of the machines into one, inline solution. The digital work process, inline varnishing, and the job flow throughout the production line are major improvements for cost-efficiency and delivery speed," Meeùs says.

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Hadera Paper, Israel, reported this week that it is offering to purchase 186,704 ordinary shares of Israel-based Carmel Container Systems for $22.50 per share, in cash, less any required withholding taxes and without interest. Carmel designs and manufactures paper-based packaging and related products. Its product line includes corrugated shipping containers, triple-wall containers for sea/air shipments and packaging of sensitive instruments, shipping pallets, folding cartons, and laminated e-flute consumer packaging.

As of August 31, Hadera held 1,553,170 Carmel shares, or some 89.3% of that company's issued and outstanding share capital and voting rights. The offer, which expires at 10:00 a.m., EDT, on October 4, is conditioned upon the acceptance of at least 99,711 additional shares, constituting approximately 5.7% of Carmel's share capital and voting rights. If at least this number of shares is tendered by shareholders, then under Israeli law, Hadera would automatically acquire the entire number of shares subject to the tender offer, including all shares owned by non-tendering shareholders, and would then own 100% of Carmel's share capital and voting rights.

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Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing Co., China, has ordered a new coated cartonboard production line from Metso, Finland, for its Hongmei mill in Guangdong province, China. Startup of the new production line is scheduled for the end of 2011. The value of the order is not disclosed, but according to Metso, the typical value of a board production line of this type is about EUR 70-90 million, depending on the scope of delivery and production output.

Metso's delivery will include a complete white lined chipboard machine, from four-ply multi-fourdrinier forming section to winder, with related air systems.

Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing Co., Ltd. is one of China's largest paper and pulp producers and it currently employs more than 7,000 people. In 2009 the company had a combined production capacity of close to 4.5 million metric tpy of paper and 300,000 metric tpy of pulp. In the financial year ending March 2010, the Group's net sales amounted to about EUR 1.3 million.

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SCA Tissue North America, Philadelphia, Pa., USA, this week launched its Tork Performance line of wiper dispensers. The new dispenser is engineered to be functional and reliable, while helping reduce costs, improve hygiene, and decrease waste. It featrures an ergonomic design and comes with new color options.

"This assortment of wiper dispensers will improve our customers' productivity and minimize waste to boost their bottom line," said John Drengler, VP of product and marketing, SCA Tissue North America. "The innovative new systems will also meet our customers' needs for a hygienic work environment, while cutting down on product waste."

The Tork Performance dispensers for centerfeed rolls and folded wipers are especially designed for kitchen and food preparation environments, industrial facilities, and hygiene sensitive areas as they are durable and protect the wiper, preventing cross-contamination. They are also available in a high-capacity model for more substantial tasks. In addition, wall and mobile floor stands are offered for larger rolls.

Each dispenser in the line is tailored to help control consumption, thus decreasing refill and disposal costs. Several of the wiper options in the Tork Universal and Advanced series are 100% recycled and third-party certified by EcoLogo. Tork Performance dispensers are available in red and smoke as well as aqua and white color combinations.
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DuPont Titanium Technologies, Wilmington, Del., USA, has announced a price increase for all of its Ti-Pure titanium dioxide (TiO2) grades sold in Latin America, excluding Brazil. Effective October 1, or as permitted by contract, net prices in Latin America, excluding Brazil, will increase by $200 per metric ton.

DuPont Titanium Technologies is the world's largest manufacturer of titanium dioxide. The company operates plants at DeLisle, Miss., New Johnsonville, Tenn., and Edge Moor, Del., in the U.S., and at Altamira, Mexico, and Kuan Yin, Taiwan, all of which use the chloride manufacturing process. The company also operates a mine in Starke, Fla.

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EkO Peroxide, Columbus, Miss., USA, will raise prices on hydrogen peroxide in North America, by $0.03 per pound on bulk shipments and by $0.04 per pound on semi-bulk shipments, effective immediately or as contracts permit. The company notes that increases in cost structure necessitate the price increase, to maintain a sustainable operation.

Formed in November 2006, EkO Peroxide is a joint venture between Eka Chemicals, Marietta, Ga., and OCI Chemical Corp., Seoul, South Korea. It operates a 70,000 tpy hydrogen peroxide facility and distributes product throughout North America. Eka Chemicals, with some 2,570 employees in 28 countries, is a business unit within AkzoNobel, the Netherlands.

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Iggesund Paperboard, Sweden, has announced a price increase for both its solid bleached board, Invercote, and folding box board range, Incada. The prices for both products will be raised by EUR 100 per metric ton in European markets and £100 in the U.K. for all deliveries beginning October 18. The change will also affect all plastic coated and laminated Invercote and Incada products.

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Korsnas AB, Sweden, is increasing the price of its White Top Kraftliner by EUR 50 per metric ton., effective October 1. The increase will apply to all of its white top linerboard products, including its coated Design, Décor, and Supreme grades as well as its uncoated Classic grade.

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Sappi, Brussels, Belgium, this week raised prices of coated fine papers (woodfree coated sheets and reels) by at least 7% and uncoated fine papers (woodfree uncoated sheets and reels) by a minimum of 10% (effective September 1). The company attributes the increases to "the continuous rise in input costs that has kept the profitability for the industry at unacceptably low level."

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The board of directors of Metso, Finland, has appointed Matti Kähkönen as the new president and CEO of Metso Corp. and Metso Group. Kähkönen will start in his new position on March 1, 2011. He is currently president of Metso's Mining and Construction Technology segment and will continue in this position until assuming the duties of CEO of Metso. He has a long career at Metso, holding various management positions in the automation as well as the mining and construction technology businesses. He has been a member of the Metso Executive Team since 2001. Metso's current President and CEO Jorma Eloranta will continue in his position until March 1, 2011.

Metso Chairman Jukka Viinanen said that Kähkönen "has a strong track record with Metso. The latest achievement of Matti and his team has been the successful transformation of Metso's Mining and Construction Technology segment's way of operating to be more integrated and services driven. Matti is known for his open and straightforward management style, and I am certain that under his leadership Metso has an excellent future for continuing the strategy of profitable growth".

Kähkönen noted that "my goal is to ensure that Metso's positive operational and financial development during the past few years will continue. I want to make sure that Metso is a competitive, truly global, services-oriented company with a strong focus on customer satisfaction and shareholder value creation."

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NewPage Corp., Miamisburg, Ohio, USA, this week announced the election of Chan W. Galbato as chairman of its board of directors. Galbato takes over the chairman role from Robert L. Nardelli, who was elected chairman this past June 11, and who will remain on the board as a director.

Nardelli, who also serves as CEO of Cerberus Operations and Advisory Co., an affiliate of the majority owner of NewPage, said that, "Chan's appointment as chairman marks the end of a three-month transition during which the board changed several top executives, including the CEO, implemented aggressive cost-reduction actions, and initiated efforts to improve customer service and profit margins. With the recent appointment of George Martin as president and CEO, and now the addition of Chan as chairman, we are confident that we have the right team in place to execute our business plan."

Galbato is a senior operating executive of COAC and a director of the Brady Corp. Prior to COAC, he owned and managed CWG Hillside Investments a consulting business providing operational and strategic turnaround expertise to CEOs of portfolio-based companies. Before that, he was president and CEO of the Controls Group of businesses for Invensys plc. He was president of Home Services as well as president of the commercial distribution arm of companies for The Home Depot. In addition, Galbato served as president and CEO of Armstrong Floor products and CEO of Choice Parts LLC, a joint-venture auto parts locator and catalog business. Earlier in his career, he spent 14 years with General Electric Co., holding several leadership and finance positions within their various industrial divisions (including Transportation Systems, Aircraft Engines, Medical Systems, and Appliances), as well as serving as president and CEO of Coregis Insurance Co., a G.E. Capital company.

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Sonoco, Hartsville, S.C., USA, announced that Brad Weller has been promoted to division VP and managing director, Asia, with responsibility for all of Sonoco's industrial and consumer businesses throughout Asia. In this new position, Weller joins Sonoco's Management Committee and reports to John Colyer, VP, Global Industrial Products, and Rodger Fuller, VP, Global Rigid Paper and Closures.

Prior to this promotion, Weller was division GM, Industrial Products, Asia. He will remain in Sonoco's Asia headquarters in Singapore and will be responsible for Sonoco's industrial and consumer packaging operations in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. Weller has 25 years of experience with Sonoco, serving in a number of management, marketing, and sales leadership positions in the Industrial Products division in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.

Sonoco also announced that Ernest Yong has joined the company as GM, Consumer. Yong previously was regional marketing and public relations manager for a large consumer products company's retail, portioned, and accessories coffee business in Asia. In addition to management leadership, Yong was an external auditor for Ernst & Young in Singapore.

Mark Chenhall has been named managing director for Sonoco's industrial converting and consumer packaging businesses in Australia and New Zealand, reporting to Fuller. Chenhall joined Sonoco in 1987 and previously was GM for Sonoco's industrial and consumer businesses in Australia. He also has held management positions in sales, marketing, and operations in Australia.

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Kaman Corp., Bloomfield, Conn., USA, announced this week that Steven J. Smidler has assumed the role of president of its subsidiary, Kaman Industrial Technologies Corp. (KIT). He succeeds T. Jack Cahill, who retired at the end of August.

Smidler joined Kaman in December 2009 as senior VP and COO of KIT. He joined the company from Lenze Americas Corp. where he served as executive VP, with responsibility for marketing, sales, finance, business systems, and product technology for the Americas. Smidler was also a member of the management committee of the Lenze Group, Germany, and held the position of president and treasurer for Lenze Americas and served as treasurer and a board member for the Lenze ACTech production company.

KIT is a distributor of industrial parts, and operates more than 200 customer service centers and five distribution centers across North America. It offers more than 3.5 million items including bearings, mechanical power transmission, electrical, material handling, motion control, fluid power, automation, and MRO supplies to customers in virtually every industry. Additionally, Kaman provides engineering, design and support for automation, electrical, linear, hydraulic and pneumatic systems as well as belting and rubber fabrication, customized mechanical services, hose assemblies, repair, fluid analysis, and motor management.

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TAPPI is encouraging everyone in the corrugated industry to consider what work they would like showcased during the TAPPI-AICC Corrugated Week Conference and Trade Show, October 4-8.

Submissions will be accepted for consideration through September 10 for the highly regarded CorrPak Competition.  Winners of that competition will be featured at the biggest corrugated event in the industry.  This opportunity to enter CorrPak won't come again until 2012.

Review categories and print an entry form here.

The 2010 CorrPak Competition is open to ALL corrugated manufacturers worldwide.  The competition identifies and recognizes the best examples of commercially produced corrugated package products in the industry.  Show off yours!  Remember, you have until September 10.
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The TAPPI 11th Advanced Coating Fundamentals Symposium is the preeminent symposium for leading-edge research in the area of paper coating. This biennial event attracts the world's foremost experts in coating technology. Your next opportunity won't come until 2012!

See for yourself!  View the brochure. 

The technical program includes 30 peer-reviewed papers covering a wide range of topics like advanced printing fundamentals, sustainable barrier coatings, liquid interactions, optical control and advanced understanding of curtain coater application. 

A peer-reviewed poster session will also be held. 

Dr. Peter Vukusic, Associate Professor in Natural Photonics and Bioinspiration at the University of Exeter School of Physics, will make the  keynote presentation, "Natural Systems for Bioinspired Designs: an Introduction to the Physics of Coloured Appearances in the Biological World" on Monday, 11 October 2010.

Registration to the Symposium also includes a dinner for all attendees at the historic Augustinerkeller in Munich.     

Register Today! Register online or download the faxable registration form. Learn more on www.tappi.org/10acf.
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The NET Innovative Nonwovens Conference (NETInc), November 10-12, 2010 in Raleigh, NC USA will include a Nonwovens Process Tutorial on Wednesday, November 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Taught by Roy Broughton, Professor Emeritus, Polymer and Fiber Engineering, Auburn University, and Gajanan Bhat, Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Director of Nonwovens Research Laboratory at the University of Tennessee, the tutorial is an introduction to the technology of the Nonwovens Industry and the processes used in the manufacture of nonwovens. It will include the processes for web manufacture and bonding, as well as new technologies currently in production. There will be some discussion of why a particular process might be preferred for a particular kind of product.

This tutorial is included in the event registration for NETInc. Sponsored by TAPPI's NET (Nonwovens Engineers and Technologists) Division and the Nonwovens Institute (NWI), NETInc is the only technical conference developed by nonwovens engineers and technologists. The Technical Program is now available for the event. Back To Top

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Formerly TAPPI Engineering, Pulping and Environmental (EPE) Conference, the TAPPI PEERS Conference answers the most pressing business and technical questions faced by pulp and paper companies as they manage raw materials, assets, regulatory requirements and production assets. With eight focused tracks and more than 40 sessions, this year’s updated conference offers peer-reviewed papers, expert speakers, exclusive networking opportunities and new technologies that can help mills optimize operations.

Access the complete Conference Brochure.

What’s new and different about these events?

A Sustainability Program, organized by PIMA Management Division, focusing on business conditions, the future of fiber, and the impact of sustainability efforts on the pulp and paper industry.

Since PEERS is co-located with the 9th Research Forum on Recycling, you’ll benefit from this bonus programming and critical information for applying new research within the mill and covering a range of topics, from deinking and screening to improving recyclability and quality of recycled papers. The Research Forum on Recycling is open to all PEERS Conference participants.

A full Biorefinery Program that focuses on the latest technical advances in hemicellulose extraction for maximizing biofuel production and minimizing interference with pulp yield and characteristics.

The new Practical Mill Engineering is full of solutions for complex problems. Through workshops and roundtable discussions, mill personnel can learn workable engineering options that they can take back and apply.

No other industry event this year brings together such a vast array of technical knowledge, insight and experience. 

Make sure you’re there in October! Back To Top

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Sponsored by TAPPI’s NET (Nonwovens Engineers & Technologists) Division and the Nonwovens Institute (NWI), the Innovative Nonwovens Conference (NETInc), November 10-12, 2010 in Raleigh, NC USA, is the only technical conference developed by engineers and technologists to help you understand the innovation behind the science and how it impacts the market.  View the Technical Program for this breakthrough event.

NETInc is unlike any other nonwovens conference because the program is developed by the industry experts that drive innovation and new technology in the nonwovens arena. The NET Division volunteers have strived to build a strong technical program that you have come to expect from TAPPI as well as poignant keynote sessions, cutting edge technology and a tour of NWI’s Pilot Plant facility. For more details about this event, including registration, visit www.netincevent.org.
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The Hands-On Workshop for Pulp and Paper Basics is open for registration.  This training program, scheduled for October 4 - 8 in Raleigh, N.C., will be the last opportunity this year to take advantage of this popular training program.  Co-sponsored by TAPPI and North Carolina State University, this five-day workshop is ideal for process engineers, manufacturing operators and technicians, sales and service personnel, machine operators and maintenance personnel -- everyone who wants a better understanding of the pulp and paper business.

You can expect to learn more about pulping, bleaching, chemical recovery, recycling, papermaking and converting all in the short span of one week.  The workshop balances lectures with labs and helps you acquire a lasting background to pulp and paper technology, operations and markets.  And, for those of you seeking CEU credits, this workshop offers 3.7 continuing education units (CEUs) to participants who attend at least 80 percent of the education sessions and complete a final program evaluation.  Register by September 20 to ensure your involvement in this comprehensive workshop. Back To Top

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This November 10-11, join your colleagues in Chicago, Ill. USA for Specialty Papers 2010 -- the only conference devoted exclusively to the latest developments in the specialty papers sector.

The technical program includes 18 presentations from a cross-section of industry experts from organizations like Suntech Resources LLC, Hewlett Packard, Kimberly Clark, FPInnovations and Western Michigan University. You will find two days of in-depth coverage of global market trends; insights into how to improve the manufacturing process, reduce costs and increase competitiveness; the latest technology developments and the forecast for sustainability and LCA. The conference includes two round-table lunches covering the industry's hot-button topics (as determined by attendees!) where attendees can share and learn from successes and setbacks.

Register before August 27, 2010 to take advantage of the 'Super Early Bird' savings! Back To Top

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"Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must be first overcome." – English author Samuel Johnson
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