The Canadian forest industry this week pledged to help Japan deal with the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that struck that country on March 11. In a letter to Japanese customers and government officials, 16 forest industry CEOs pledged to assist both immediate and long-term plans to provide housing for those affected by the disaster.

The letter recognizes the devastation and hardship in Japan and expresses sympathy for a close and long standing trading partner.

In support of the Japanese government's efforts to quickly create temporary housing for tens of thousands of people, the letter promises to prioritize the supply and production of emergency building materials and to collaboratively work with the transportation and shipping industry to get those materials to Japan as quickly as possible.

The Canadian forest industry has also begun talks with the provincial and federal governments to determine what aid can be provided for the long-term task of rebuilding those Japanese communities that were destroyed.

The forest industry companies and groups signing the letter were: Western Forest Products, Council of Forest Industries, BC Wood, Coast Forest Products Association, Interex Forest Products Ltd., Hampton Affiliates, Gorman Bros. Lumber Ltd., Canfor Corp., West Fraser Timber Co. Weyerhaeuser Co., Teal Jones Group, Sinclar Enterprises Ltd., International Forest Products Ltd., Norbord Inc., Ainsworth Lumber Co., and Tolko Industries Ltd.

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BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany, reports that it will contribute more than $700,000 (EUR 500,000) to the Central Community Chest of Japan as immediate aid to victims of the earthquake and tsunami there. The donation will be provided by the BASF Social Foundation. Additionally, the company will start a global donation campaign among its employees, including those in North America (BASF Corp, Florham Park, N.J., USA) to fully match contributions one-to-one.

Dr. Jurgen Hambrecht, chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF, said that "the deepest sympathy of the entire BASF team worldwide is with the people of Japan. This is why we are making an immediate donation and also ask all BASF employees to do their part in donating to the victims of this unprecedented disaster. We will double this amount."

All of the approximately 1,700 BASF employees in Japan are safe and taken care of, including local employees, international delegates, and business travelers. BASF has recommended that employees in strongly affected areas move to less affected regions, and is providing logistical support. The company will continue to provide assistance to employees whose housing was destroyed or damaged by the earthquake or tsunami. Especially for BASF sites in the northeast of Japan, the company is helping to provide basic temporary support such as food, water, batteries, and lodging to those with damaged homes.

Immediately after the earthquake, BASF set up Country and Regional Incident Management Teams to support employees as well as assess and manage the situation from an operational and business perspective. BASF has 35 operations sites (including 27 production sites and 8 R&D and technical centers) and 49 sales offices in Japan.

The Central Community Chest of Japan has been active in Japan since 1947. Its programs are comprehensive and include donations to children and elderly and disabled people, as well as assistance for victims of disasters.

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More than £800 was raised by employees at Spooner Industries' head office in West Yorkshire, England, this past week in support of Comic Relief as they celebrated Red Nose Day on March 18. A host of fund raising activities including fancy dress competitions, cake baking, a raffle of promises, games, and quizzes took place with the highlight and biggest money spinner being the "Punish your Manager" nominations.

In the run up to Comic Relief, jars displaying mug shots of the company's management team including Managing Director Mike Brook, Sales and Project Director Steve Newell, Manufacturing Manager Robert Proctor, Technical Manager Andrew Marson, and Financial Controller John Muggleston were used to collect staff donations and decide who should receive a custard pie in the face.

The results were unanimous, with the clear favorite (or rather least favorite) being Robert Proctor, whose jar contained £129, with Steve Newell taking second place (his jar contained £87). The custard pies were offered to the crowd for extra donations and in total Proctor received three pies in the face.

According to Kate Baker, marketing manager for Spooner, "as a UK manufacturer supplying companies around the world, we are pleased to be able to raise money to help the less fortunate in some of those countries. Red Nose Day also provided a great excuse for Spooner employees to get their own back on the management."

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Total U.S. boxboard production increased by 2.8% compared with February 2010, but decreased 10.4% from last month, according to the AF&PA's (Washington, D.C., USA) February 2011 U.S. Paperboard Report released this past week. Additional key findings in this report were: ·

• Unbleached kraft folding production increased compared with February 2010 ·
• Solid bleached folding production also increased over February 2010 ·
• Recycled Folding production decreased over last month and last year
• Inventory of solid bleached kraft paperboard increased over January 2010.

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Total Kraft paper shipments were 125,500 tons, an increase of 11.1% compared with February 2010, and down 3.0% compared with January 2011, according to the AF&PA's February 2011 Kraft Paper Sector Report released his past week. Total inventory was 71,800 tons. Additional key findings from the report include:

• Total unbleached kraft shipments increased over the same month last year
• Total bleached kraft shipments were up over February 2010.

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During the past two years, North America has become a major supplier of wood pellets to Europe. In 2010, an estimated 1.6 million tons of pellets were shipped from the U.S. and Canada to the Netherlands, the U.K., and Belgium, according to the North American Wood Fiber Review (NAWFR), Seattle, Wash., USA. This is a doubling of volume compared with 2008.

The European Union has stated that by 2020, at least 20% of total energy consumption should be supplied by renewable energy resources. In an effort to reach this target, many countries have increased their consumption of woody biomass in the form of both wood chips and pellets the past few years. In 2010, just over 11 million tons of wood pellets were consumed, which was about 7% higher than the previous year.

Demand for wood pellets in some European countries, including Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Denmark, and the U.K., has outpaced domestic production during the past few years. This has resulted not only in increased imports from neighboring countries, but also from North America. For the past 10 years, Canada has been the major overseas supplier of pellets to Europe, reaching about one million tons in shipments in 2010, according to the NAWFR.

The U.S. did not start exporting pellets until 2008 when 85,000 tons were shipped to the Netherlands, but exports have since taken off, reaching almost 600,000 tons in 2010. In fact, total shipments from the U.S. and Canada have almost doubled in just two years.

The majority of North American pellets have been shipped to the Netherlands, the U.K., and Belgium, with occasional shipments to Sweden and Denmark. In 2010, almost 50% of the Atlantic trade was destined for the Netherlands, while one-third landed in ports in the U.K.

Higher demand for oil by Asia and Latin America and the uncertain situation in the oil producing counties in the Middle East and northern Africa has boosted oil prices about 28% the past three months. Higher oil prices will benefit wood pellet exporters in North America, and shipments to Europe can be expected to increase during 2011, NAWFR notes.

More information is available online.

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Fibria & Altri (Europe only) have announced a $30/metric ton global price increase on hardwood pulp for April, reports Mark Wilde, senior analysts with Deutsche Bank. Softwood demand, he adds, appears steady and prices are rising.

Major producers have announced a $30/metric ton price increase on softwood grades in China for April. In March, U.S. NBSK rose $30/metric ton to $990/metric ton. The March 11 earthquake in Japan has shutdown several pulp and paper mills, making raw material procurement difficult.

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February U.S. box shipments were down 1.9% y/y and inventories rose 11,000 tons m/m, according to Wilde. The key issue was severe weather conditions. The prospect of a spring price hike now appears "dead," Wilde says. Linerboard prices appear mostly stable with reports of some "spot deals" by Tier-II producers. Export pricing is mixed. "We think the ‘best case scenario' is now a mid-summer price initiative," Wilde adds.

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All major producers of LWC grades have announced a $40/ton price increase, effective early-April, Wilde reports. Key drivers have been escalating input costs and capacity closures (NewPage's closure of 250,000 tpy LWC mill in Whiting, Wis.). Another factor that could further tighten markets is the idling of 25% of Japan's LWC capacity due to the March 11 earthquake. Preliminary February shipments were down 5.2% y/y and 11.3% m/m. "We suspect some "weather impact" in these figures," Wilde points out.

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All major producers of CFS also have announced a $40/ton price increase, effective early/mid-April, according to Wilde. While preliminary February shipments were down 1.4% y/y and 7.6% m/m, producers are pointing to rising input costs. Sappi last week announced a 6% global price increase on its specialty products, effective May 1.

CFS is becoming the center of a global trade battle. A recent WTO ruling says that the U.S. can't apply both anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties on the same product. U.S. and the EU have imposed duties on imports of coated fine paper from China (excluding APP). Latin American CFS producers have also been leveling trade charges.

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All major N.A. producers have announced a $40 - $60/ton price hike on SC grades, effective early/mid-April, Wilde also reports. The hike initiative is in anticipation of tight markets in the second half of this year and escalating inputs, he says.

Fire at Norske Skog's Sausbrugs mill in Norway (U.S. market supplies of ˜100,000 tpy) has tightened the non-contract SC market, Wilde explains, while the contract market appears steady. Preliminary February shipments were down 5.6% m/m and 3.6% y/y.

All major producers have also announced a $40/ton price increase on uncoated free sheet converting grades, effective mid/late-April, Wilde notes. Reports suggest that the $40/ton price hike on offset rolls announced by all of the major producers is gaining traction. The key rationale has been escalating input costs for fiber, energy, and chemicals. Offset demand appears to be better than cutsize, driven by a steady recovery in commercial printing. Cutsize appears a bit more sluggish at the moment, Wilde notes,

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Asia Pulp & Paper Group (APP), Jakarta, Indonesia, reports that it has become the first Indonesian pulp and paper company to commit to the United Nations Global Compact CEO Water Mandate. APP joined the president of Indonesia Global Compact Network and five other companies as the first Indonesian companies pledging a commitment to supporting UN sustainable water management principles and practices.

The UN's CEO Water Mandate was created in 2007 to recognize and emphasize public-private partnership to help address critical water challenges in the face of a growing global water crisis. The potential effects of a water crisis are felt most in emerging nations such as Indonesia. Countries with large populations living in rural areas that rely on agriculture for their livelihoods often lack access to clean water for drinking, cooking, and sanitation. Rapid industrialization and urbanization, essential to growing the economic base of the country, creates additional challenges to the clean water supply.

"Lack of clean water and sanitation causes great suffering in humanitarian, social, environmental and economic terms and seriously undermines development goals. This issue is particularly relevant to Indonesia as the country transforms itself into a global economic power," said Y.W. Junardy, IGCN president. "The CEO Water Mandate calls on business and industry to recognize its responsibility to protect world water sources and take a leadership role in sustainable water management. APP and the companies signing the CEO Water Compact are setting the standard for Indonesia that all companies should strive to achieve."

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Montes del Plata has awarded a contract for integration of its greenfield pulp mill in Punta Pereira, Uruguay, to Pöyry of Finland. Montes del Plata is an equal share joint venture company between Arauco and Stora Enso. The parties have agreed that the value of the assignment not be disclosed.

The capacity of the new state-of-the-art pulp mill is 1.3 million metric tpy. Startup is planned for the first half of 2013.

Pöyry has been chosen as the supplier of the overall project management, the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Management (EPCM) services for the Balance of Plant (BOP), and the Owners' Engineering services during the project implementation. The engineering and project management services will start immediately.

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NewPage Corp., Miamisburg, Ohio, USA, the largest coated paper manufacturer in North America, announced this past week that its subsidiary, Rumford Paper Co., based in Rumford, Maine, will sell its cogeneration energy assets to a unit of ReEnergy Holdings LLC,Latham, N.Y., a company that specializes in integrated biomass waste fuel renewable energy. The purchase price for the assets is $61,000,000. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close in mid 2011.

The transaction contemplates a long-term, symbiotic relationship between Rumford and ReEnergy. Following the closing, ReEnergy will operate the acquired assets to provide energy to the Rumford mill in the form of electricity and thermal energy. In turn, Rumford's pulp and papermaking process will supply ReEnergy with the sustainable biomass fuel supply needed to operate the cogeneration assets.

"The transaction represents an opportunity for the Rumford mill to realize value from its green energy assets and to focus on its core business of making high quality paper," said George Martin, president and CEO of NewPage. "We are looking forward to working closely with ReEnergy in this new endeavor," added Gerald LeClaire, mill manager, Rumford Operations.

Larry Richardson, CEO of ReEnergy, noted that "this exciting, new relationship with the Rumford mill is consistent with our business strategy of owning and managing solid fuel renewable energy facilities. We look forward to providing mission-critical, cost effective electricity and thermal energy to the Rumford mill." Tom Beck, ReEnergy's chief commercial officer added that "this partnership promises to support Maine's vital paper industry, and ReEnergy looks forward to providing green energy to both the Rumford mill and the New England region."

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The Procter & Gamble Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, reports that its Family Care business has officially opened its new Box Elder, Utah, Family Care plan, the first new plant P&G has built in the U.S. in 40 years. P&G says that Family Care's Charmin toilet paper is now rolling off the line, and through the new Distribution Center Bounty paper towels, Puffs facial tissues, and a number of other P&G products are being shipped to consumers and customers in the west, one of the fastest growing regions in the U.S.

"We are proud to celebrate the Grand Opening of our new Box Elder Family Care plant in Utah to enable us to better serve more consumers, more completely, across the U.S. and Canada," said Bob McDonald, P&G chairman, president, and CEO. "This is just one more way we are continuing to better serve consumers through outstanding innovation and value in both developing and developed markets."

Located on 750 acres and 75 minutes from Salt Lake City, the new Box Elder plant has more than 600,000 sq ft of manufacturing space, plus 400,000 sq ft for its on-site Distribution Center that opened last spring to ship a number of P&G products. P&G Family Care currently has five other manufacturing sites in the U.S., but until now, none in the Northwestern area of the U.S.

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Paper Excellence, a unit of Indonesia's Sinar Mas, will acquire Domtar's (Montreal, Que., Canada) idled Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada, kraft pulp and paper mill and invest some $206 million to convert it to dissolving pulp production. Paper Excellence has been expanding rapidly in Canada, having last year purchased an idled pulp mill in British Columbia as well as the long-struggling Howe Sound pulp and newsprint operation in British Columbia from Canfor and Japan's Oji Paper. The company has owned a pulp mill in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, since 2007.

The deal, according to a Reuters news report, is the latest to highlight the increasing demand for dissolving pulp, which is currently being made by only a small number of mills around the world. Fortress Paper purchased a mill in Quebec last year to convert it to make dissolving pulp, and Chinese textile giant Fulida Group agreed last month to purchase an existing facility at Port Alice, British Columbia.

The Prince Albert deal is contingent on Paper Excellence reaching a labor agreement with the mill's unionized workers, but the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union issued a press release praising the purchase. The mill has been idled since 2006, but the union said the deal would "preserve" about 200 jobs, according to Reuters.

The Saskatchewan government has agreed to allocate wood fiber to the mill and the province's SaskPower utility will purchase surplus electricity to be produced from a biomass generator at the mill. The province also helps fund employee training.

Weyerhaeuser, Federal way, Wash., USA, had closed the Prince Albert mill in 2006 after it was unable to find a buyer. Domtar, which took control of the site in 2007, has removed the plant's papermaking equipment and was considering demolishing the rest of it.

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PPG Industries, Pittsburgh, Pa., USA, has agreed to purchase certain assets of Equa-Chlor Inc., a producer of chlorine, caustic soda and muriatic acid. Equa-Chlor, a privately-held company with 65 employees, maintains its singular manufacturing site and business headquarters in Longview, Wash. The deal is expected to close during the first half of this year, subject to normal closing conditions. Financial terms were not disclosed.

"With the acquisition of Equa-Chlor, PPG's chlor-alkali and derivatives business will gain a strategic foothold in the western U.S., in addition to improving our ability to supply key customers throughout the country," said Michael H. McGarry, PPG SVP, Commodity Chemicals. "We believe Equa-Chlor will be a nice complement to PPG's chlor-alkali and derivatives business."

Clay Pace, president and CEO of Equa-Chlor, noted that "we believe this is an outstanding development for our customers, employees, and other business partners. We are committed to a seamless transition for all of our employees and business partners, building on the respective strengths of PPG and Equa-Chlor."

PPG plans to acquire Equa-Chlor's manufacturing operations, which produce approximately 220 tpd of chlorine. In addition, it will acquire Equa-Chlor's railcars, which PPG can integrate into its existing fleet. This will enable PPG to optimize overall railcar usage, reducing future capital requirements and logistics costs. In addition, PPG expects to achieve synergies related to administrative functions and to reduce overall U.S. transportation costs given Equa-Chlor's geographic position. The acquisition is expected to be accretive to PPG earnings within the year and to generate positive cash flow from operations in 2011.

PPG currently manufactures chlor-alkali and derivates products in Lake Charles, La., Natrium, W.Va., Beauharnois, Que., Canada, and through a majority-owned subsidiary in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. These products are used in end-use markets, such as papermaking, purifying drinking water, and pharmaceuticals.

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SCA, Sweden, reports that its Hygiene Products group and Toscotec, Italy, have started up rebuilt tissue machine PM 3 at Mannheim, Germany, on schedule. PM 3 is a 1971 Voith suction breast roll machine with a grooved, 5,000-mm-dia yankee dryer. The machine has a paper trim width at the reel of 5,200 mm and had a maximum running speed before the rebuild of 1,400 m/min, with a limitation on production of low basis weights.

The rebuild goal was mainly focused on increasing machine speed up to 2,000 m/min while maintaining the same trim width and improving paper quality, making softer products, and improving runnability and maintenance. The stock preparation system and the machine were upgraded to allow the production of products with different furnishes.

The Toscotec scope of supply included an AHEAD 2.0 L crescent former with a multi-layered headbox (TT Headbox ML – T) featuring consistency profiling, a new felt run design, upgrade of the existing two-press configuration, new yankee dryer doctoring, tail threading system, full width turn up, and a TT Reel H. Toscotec also rebuilt the stock preparation plant, new water system, complete new approach flow system for double layers, shaft pulling and core handling system, steam and condensate system for energy savings, and the electrification and control system. The project was managed on a turn key basis by Toscotec, whichlso provided all engineering and erection services.

With the rebuild, PM 3 at Mannheim will be one of the most modern conventional machines in Europe, featuring technology that will allow the mill to reduce energy and fiber consumption, while producing high quality soft tissue.

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Tetra Pak U.S., Vernon Hills, Ill., USA, reports that it is working with residents and other local groups in and around Vernon Hills, Denton, Texas, and Sikeston, Mo., where it operates packaging facilities to support global efforts to raise awareness about climate change and to share information about Earth Hour. This Saturday, March 26 at 8:30 p.m. local time, millions of people in more than 4,600 cities around the world will be working together to take positive action on climate change and participate in Earth Hour, a global event sponsored by World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Individuals, corporations, and cities around the world will turn off their non-essential lights for one hour as a statement of collective concern about climate change.

Tetra Pak, a member of WWF's Climate Savers program, is again participating in the initiative. In 2010, the company formed relationships with local organizations in the Vernon Hills, Denton, and Sikeston communities around this shared commitment, and worked together to increase local involvement in the Earth Hour initiative Locally,

Tetra Pak has been working with the Village of Vernon Hills, the Lake County Family YMCA, and other local organizations to spread Earth Hour awareness among residents and promote participation. In Texas, the company has been working with the Denton Independent School District, the Denton Chamber of Commerce, and students at the University of North Texas (UNT) and Texas Woman's University (TWU) to spread Earth Hour awareness among residents and promote participation.

Tetra Pak also has created a special Earth Hour web site that residents can access to find information about Earth Hour and fun ideas for activities and events.

In recognition of Earth Hour, Tetra Pak will also turn out all non-essential lights at its Canadian headquarters in Richmond Hill, Ont.

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MeadWestvaco Corp., Richmond, Va., USA, this week announced that John K. Sanfacon has joined the company as president of the Food Service packaging business. In this role, Sanfacon will drive strategic, transformational growth by commercializing new offerings across the MWare family of products.

Sanfacon brings more than 20 years of experience in the quick-service and full-service restaurant field to MWV. He most recently served as head of marketing and innovation at Jiffy Lube International. Prior to that, his previous roles included interim chief marketing officer at Denny's, senior director, Worldwide Menu Marketing & Development at McDonald's, director of Marketing Innovation and Consumer Insights at Pizza Hut/Yum Brands/Pepsico, and senior market research analyst at General Mills Restaurants/The Olive Garden.

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The Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC) on May 17 - 18 will host its first Folding Carton Boot Camp workshop for the year at PPC headquarters in Springfield, Mass., USA. The Folding Carton Boot Camp, PPC notes, "is ideal for anyone new to carton construction (even if not new to the industry) as well as non-plant personnel with limited experience outside of a single plant operation.

PPC explained that the program mirrors the packaging production process, moving from how paper is made to inks and coatings, prepress, CAD, layout, graphics, presses, tooling, embossing, stamping, stripping, finishing, gluing, windowing, and automatic packaging equipment. Participants are awarded a certificate of achievement at the end of the session.

"Boot Camp is a fantastic opportunity for employees unfamiliar with the complete boxmaking process," says PPC's president Ben Markens. "Each time we've hosted this event, company leaders tell us the experience was invaluable in creating and maintaining a more well-rounded and informed staff."

The Folding Carton Boot Camp is open to both PPC members and non-members. More information and registration is available online.

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Caraustar Industries, Atlanta, Ga., USA, this week announced that it will implement freight surcharges on all shipments of uncoated mill grades and products. The freight surcharge will be $0.65 per mile and will be effective with shipments on and after April 4.

Greg Bartlett, vice president sales and marketing of the mill group said that "carriers have increased rates for many freight lanes recently, and fuel surcharges have increased dramatically. We must implement this freight surcharge and will monitor it on a monthly basis."

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PaperWorks Industries, Philadelphia, Pa., USA, this week announced a price increase of $40 per ton for all grades of its coated recycled paperboard, effective April 21. The increase applies to all North American customers and will include all MasterWorks CRB grades, including the News, Plus, Blister, Freeze, Lite, and Beverage grades.

PWI notes that it will continue to minimize these increases with ongoing cost savings initiatives as well as provide leading quality, excellent availability, and service for all of its paperboard products. Customers are encouraged to contact their customer service representative, account manager, or Mark P. Roy, SVP of Sales and Marketing (215-984-7008), if they have any questions regarding this increase.

PWI's Paperboard Group manufactures some 300,000 tons of 100% recycled paperboard annually for a variety of end uses, and further specializes in the cutting and distribution of all paper types according to specific customer needs. It has more than 1,850 employees at 19 North American locations.

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Caraustar Industries, Atlanta, Ga., USA, reports that due to the continued escalation of input costs on fiber, chemicals, freight, and fuel, it is raising the price of all clay coated boards from its Tama, Iowa, mill by $40 per ton, effective with shipments on and after April 22. Caraustar serves the four principal recycled boxboard product end-use markets: tubes and cores, folding cartons, gypsum facing paper, and specialty paperboard products.

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Kimberly-Clark Corp., Dallas, Texas, USA, this week announced that its baby and child care and consumer tissue businesses are notifying customers of plans to raise prices in North America during the second and third quarters of this year. The company said the increases are necessary to offset inflationary pressure from higher raw material and energy costs.

Net selling prices in the U.S. and Canada for Huggies baby wipes and diapers, Pull-Ups training pants, and GoodNites youth pants will increase on average between 3% and 7%t, with implementation timing ranging from June 19 to August 17. In addition, net selling prices in the U.S. for Cottonelle and Scott 1000 bathroom tissue will increase approximately 7%, effective June 19. The price changes vary by brand and pack size. Kimberly-Clark's net sales in North America for these consumer products exceeded $4 billion in 2010.

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Caraustar Industries, Atlanta, Ga., USAA, this week announced a price increase on all folding carton products, effective with orders placed on and after March 28. The company did not specify the amount of the increase. Mark Maley, VP Consumer Packaging said that "2011 continues to be a difficult operating environment for manufacturers. We have experienced continued escalation of input costs on paperboard, corrugated packaging, freight, and fuel, among other things. This price increase is necessary to recover those escalating costs."

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Hämeenkyrön Voima Oy, Finland, has ordered from Andritz, Austria, an 80 MWth fluidized bed steam boiler for its power plant in Hämeenkyrö, Finland. The main fuel for the new boiler will be wood-based biomass and milled peat as additional fuel. The project investors are M-real, Pohjolan Voima, and Leppäkosken Sähkö. Startup of the boiler is scheduled for the autumn of 2012.

The scope of supply includes the boiler island from the fuel bin to the stack outlet, as well as erection work and commissioning. The boiler will be based on Andritz's bubbling fluidized bed (BFB) technology combining high fuel efficiency with excellent environmental performance. After completion, consumption of natural gas will be significantly reduced and replaced by biomass fuels.

The investment will be part of the combined heat and power plant modernization at M-real's Kyro mill to generate electrical power and to produce process steam for the mill and district heat for the nearby communities.

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Mohawk Fine Papers, Cohoes, N.Y., USA, has named Michael Madura VP, Digital Media. In his new role, Madura will report to Paul Biesiadecki, Mohawk's EVP, Sales and Marketing. Madura has more than 15 years of experience in the digital print industry. He began his career at Xerox in 1996 and most recently held the position of manager, Production Marketing Communications for the Xerox Graphic Communications Business Group.

"Earlier this year Mohawk made a commitment to expand our product offering and communicate with customers in new ways. Mike's digital printing industry knowledge and direct marketing experience will be an asset to us in the marketplace," says Biesiadecki.

Mohawk is North America's largest privately owned manufacturer of fine papers for commercial and digital printing. It is the first U.S. manufacturer of commercial printing papers to match 100% of its electricity with wind power renewable energy credits and the first U.S. premium paper mill to shift toward carbon neutral production.

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Register now to attend the Shipping, Receiving and Warehousing Workshop, in Nashville, April 12-13, 2011, and learn new ways to improve your bottom line. Discounted registration ends on Friday, March 25, so don't delay if reducing costs is important to you.

Discounted registration for this information-packed event is only $265. And for an additional $65 (a total of $330) you can become a member of TAPPI - normally $174. TAPPI Membership entitles you to news, publications, conference discounts and a directory of members - the most influential people in the pulp, paper, converting and allied industries.

Be a part of this dedicated group of mills, carriers, warehouses and printers as they establish standards to reduce in-transit damage to rolls of paper. You can't learn by sitting in your office!

Program highlights:

• Results from the qMetrixTM pilot project, providing real-time roll damage reports to printers, carriers and paper mills.
• Review of claims processing procedures to assure fast processing and prevention of future damage.
• Workshop on warehouse operations, covering best practice product handling and loading of rail cars and trailers.
• Hear how Verso Paper has achieved a dramatic reduction in damage claims.
• Membership Special - register for SRW and join TAPPI at a 60% savings!

Learn more about TAPPI's Shipping, Receiving and Warehousing Workshop.

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TAPPI and PIMA are pleased to announce the selection of the following individuals for the 2011 PIMA Management Division Awards.

Mike Jackson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Verso Paper Corp., has been selected as the association's 2011 Executive of the Year. The award is PIMA's highest honor and is bestowed on senior-level executives in the pulp, paper or converting industries for excellence in management and outstanding contributions to the industry as a whole.

Mike Bruner, Mill Manager with International Paper's Courtland Mill has been named Mill Manager of the Year. This award recognizes the mill manager who has best demonstrated outstanding leadership, management and organizational skills leading to improved results at the facility for which he or she is responsible. Nominees for the award are judged on four criteria: skill in people development; application of best management practices; effective use of external resources; and change management.

Rodger F. Brzezinski, Mill Supervisor at NewPage's Escanaba Mill has been named the Brookshire Moore Superintendent of the Year. This award recognizes the mill superintendent who has shown high personal standards and professional management qualities that contribute to the betterment of those under his or her management and in his or her company. Rodger will also be inducted into Couch Pit University. Couch Pit University Fraternity (CPU) is an invitation only organization of long-time papermakers. In order to become a member of CPU, you must have been nominated for membership and accepted into the fraternity by the other members or win the Brookshire Moore Superintendent of the Year award.

Jef Howell, Purchasing Manager of Verso Paper Corp.'s Androscoggin Mill in Jay, Maine, will receive the Ray H. Cross Community Service Award. This award pays tribute to pulp and paper industry persons who have rendered outstanding service to their communities by involvement in the activities of local business, educational, civic and philanthropic organizations.

Micki Meggison, Technical Director, Sappi Fine Paper North America, Westbrook, Maine, will receive the Delano L. "Del" Boutin Division Service Award. The Del Boutin Division Service Award is presented to members for devoted service to a TAPPI/PIMA Local Section. The award recognizes long-term dedication of TAPPI/PIMA members at the local level.

Peter R Gaddie, Key Account Manager, Nalco Company, will receive the Thomas F. Sheerin Sr. Service Award. The Thomas F. Sheerin, Sr. Service Award is presented to a supplier for outstanding contributions to the pulp and paper industry and/or the community.

Nicholas Knowlen, A Senior Chemical Engineering student at the University of Maine, will receive the Student of the Year award, which recognizes and supports outstanding students in paper science programs.

The 2011 PIMA awardees will receive their awards during the 2011 PaperCon Conference in Covington, Ky., near Cincinnati, Ohio, May 1-4. See www.papercon.org for more information.

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The Institute of Paper Science and Technology (IPST) at Georgia Tech held an executive conference, led by IPST Director Norman Marsolan, March 9-10 in Atlanta. The conference was titled, "Remaining Competitive in an Evolving Industry: Seizing Emerging Forest Industry Opportunities in Operations, Process, and Product Innovations." Twenty representatives from 14 manufacturing companies and nine people from five supplier companies were on hand, along with six government agencies and industry association representatives including the Agenda 2020 Technology Alliance, TAPPI, the US Department of Agriculture-US Forest Service National Forest Products Lab, and others. Fifteen faculty members of the Institute and Georgia Tech discussed recent research endeavors, opportunities and results. Review the conference highlights.

"It was energizing to have such a gathering of intellectual horsepower to spend some time talking about ‘the possible, the practical, and the imaginable', as one member put it," observed IPST Director Norman Marsolan. "The conference showcased our broad and deep Georgia Tech faculty expertise, and also leveraged the considerable expertise in the audience." Coincidentally, Marsolan became the chair of TAPPI on March 8.

The first day focused on preserving and improving returns from existing assets, with presentations by Professor David Sholl on emerging membrane separation technology and by Professor Preet Singh on advanced techniques to address and prevent corrosion. The changing manufacturing environment due to regulatory requirements, water constraints, and other external demands were explored. An energy session led off by Nobel Laureate Marilyn Brown and including Professor Deepak Divan reviewed the current policy environment, the tools available to respond, opportunities to take advantage of the industry's energy self-generation and utility requirements for renewable fuels. Department of Energy Senior Technology Manager Bhima Sastri challenged the industry to develop bold ideas for radical reductions in energy demands for consideration for Federal research funding.

Day Two moved to opportunities for sophisticated product extensions using fiber modifications and printed electronics, with special emphasis on packaging applications. Professors Art Ragauskas, Bernard Kippelen, and Oliver Brand spoke. Another session, with Professors Ragauskas, Carson Meredith and Mike Harris and moderated by Phil Jones, discussed new products from forest biomaterials and the critical steps required for successful commercialization.

Two presentations by Georgia Tech faculty professors William Rouse and Stylianos Kavadias addressed how companies know it is time to transform (and when to defer), and how to balance the needs of the company in place today with the company that management is striving to create.

A panel made up of a manufacturer, a chemical supplier, and an industry consultant, moderated by Pat McCarthy of the Center for Paper Business and Industry Studies, discussed economic trends in the industry and steps companies are taking to prosper in today's markets.

"I can't say which one session was most valuable," one participant commented. "All of it was—and so was the networking, and the people I've met."

The conference also highlighted IPST's strategic evolution to meet the needs of the forest products industry today. Founded more than 80 years ago, IPST still strives today to provide members solutions to their strategic, economic and technical challenges. And today that occurs through a research collaborative that enables access to world-class research personnel at IPST, across Georgia Tech and globally. Its research thrusts include Operational Excellence, Biofuels, and New Products from Forest Biomaterials. The Center for Paper Business and Industry Studies and the Education platform supporting 50 graduate students complete the portfolio. Key services include focused research (company-directed and consortium), expert consulting, analytical services and education.

For further information, please contact Norman Marsolan or visit the website.

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The Pulp and Paper Safety Association (PPSA) will hold its 68th Annual Safety & Health Conference at the Hyatt Regency in San Antonio, Texas, on June 19-22, 2011.

Program highlights:

• Meet and make valuable safety contacts within Forest Products Industry
• Hear first hand from companies like yours with outstanding safety records
• Find out what the latest OSHA activity and direction is
• Learn new accident avoidance techniques
• Learn about new industry specific training programs
• Find out what is on the cutting edge and currently available from safety suppliers
• Learn from both the positive and negative experiences of others in our industry

For more information download the conference program or visit the website.

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PaperCon's Sustainability Forum to highlight the latest developments in this rapidly evolving field during this one-day event.

Attend PaperCon's Sustainability Forum and discover the latest developments and trends directly from our industry's sustainability leaders - and learn what the future holds in this rapidly evolving field.

The Sustainability Forum, taking place Wednesday, May 4, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. will:

 Focus on the "Science Behind Sustainability" - providing a venue for technically based discussions on sustainability and reviewing the basics of sustainability grounded in science - from providing definitions and interpretations of existing/proposed standards and certifications, to sharing best practices, impacts and assessment of sustainability drivers.

 Share Knowledge Among Paper Manufacturers and Their Customers - and created a technically-focused learning environment for the paper/packaging industry and its suppliers - and bring togehter end users, technical marketers, paper merchants and buyers to enhance their knowledge about paper sustainability.

 Share and Leverage Best Practices and Lessons Learned - enhancing overall industry advancement in sustainability by sharing experiences and initiatives with product development, manufacturing improvements and customer relations.

 Bring Industry Issues to the Forefront - providing a forum to gather industry opinions and develop industry consensus (as appropriate) on sustainability issues and drivers to enhance the industry's performance.

Learn more about the Sustainability Forum and PaperCon, taking place May 1-4, 2011 in Covington, Ky., (Greater Cincinnati area).

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TAPPI's OpEx Maintenance Seminar: Operating Excellence through Advanced Asset Management is an important two-day seminar, taking place May 2-3 during PaperCon 2011. It is designed for mill maintenance and reliability supervisors who are interested in bringing the latest reliability techniques and best practices back to their mill. Organized by TAPPI's Asset Management Committee, speakers include mill personnel, consultants and suppliers.

Attendees will bring practical ideas back to their mill; meet and network with world class asset management experts and suppliers; and attend a roundtable of maintenance superintendants from TAPPI's Ohio Local Section. Up-to-date program information is available.

Learn more about this event and all PaperCon has to offer.

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TAPPI has announced a sell-out of exhibit floor space for PaperCon, the largest and most comprehensive event in the global pulp and paper industry. This year's exhibit floor will be the most extensive since PaperCon's inception in 2008, offering concentrated access to the industry's newest products, services, innovation and expertise. Organized by TAPPI, the leading association for the paper and converting industry, the PaperCon Conference & Trade Fair runs from May 1-4, 2011, at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in the greater Cincinnati, Ohio, area.

"We've carried the PaperCon momentum, fueled by a 60% increase in attendance for 2010, right into 2011 with an exhibit floor that is now 33% larger than last year," said Scott Springmier, Pulp and Paper Division Manager for TAPPI. "We're absolutely thrilled with the growth of PaperCon and what we are able to provide the industry in terms of technical content and networking opportunities."

PaperCon boasts the largest program of any industry conference, including more than 150 speakers in more than 50 sessions, workshops and seminars. The program is organized by 30 member groups comprising more than 300 volunteers within TAPPI, including PIMA Management, Papermakers and Coating and Graphic Arts. Other highlights include a Sustainability Forum and Tissue Forum, as well as a two-day Maintenance and Reliability workshop.

In addition, the Recycled Paperboard Technical Association (RPTA) has joined PaperCon this year, bringing its Production-Technical Seminar that runs concurrently and is open to all attendees.

"When RPTA approached TAPPI to collaborate on PaperCon, we jumped at the opportunity to bring attendees yet another option for expanding their technical knowledge," commented TAPPI President & CEO Larry N. Montague. "If content is king, then PaperCon wears the crown among industry events by combining the broad expertise of our members, sponsors, exhibitors, and related associations like RPTA."

In addition to a robust program and extensive exhibit floor, PaperCon offers a popular mill program that allows paper mills and corporate offices to send an unlimited number of employees to attend at any time their schedule permits. Registration for this program is still open and details are available at www.papercon.org. For more information, please contact Scott Springmier or call 770-209-7241.

TAPPI has created a waiting list for companies who may want to exhibit or explore the limited sponsorship opportunities still available. To join the waiting list or learn more about remaining sponsorship options, contact Shane Holt or call 1-352-333-3345.

Learn more about this event and all PaperCon has to offer.

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This message comes to you as a friendly reminder from TAPPI that the early registration date for the TAPPI Essentials of Market Pulp course is April 1- only days away.

This course was developed from the growing demand for the most current information on pulp qualities and availabilities in the global marketplace. Three world-renown course instructors are coming together April 30 before the PaperCon 2011 convention to address the questions they encounter in their fields.

"In seminars and my interactions with paper mills, I've found considerable interest in all species of softwoods and for what each is best suited. Acacia, both Acacia Mangium and Acacia Cassacarpa, and cold-weather-resistant Eucalyptus (E.Nitens, E.Dunii) have gained particular attention. In this course, we will discuss these pulp selections, as well as species for specific use, such as Black Spruce, for example, found to be best suited for premium facial tissue; Douglas Fir for towelling; and White Spruce for fast response to refining." - Dave Hillman, Course Instructor and Pulp Expert

Why You Should Attend

This course provides a simple and clear picture of pulp markets for those new to the pulp and paper industry - and an approach to pulp selection and treatment that will provide clarity for seasoned operating, development and supplier technical personnel.

- Gain a broad understanding of current pulp trends in the global marketplace

- Understand the unique nature pulps through study of a large cross-section of samples from all over the world

- Initiate a simple, efficient evaluation process for smart pulp selection

- Network with others and discuss issues one-on-one with experienced instructors

You also will receive with your registration your own copy of the World Market Pulp CD Book (a $295 value), which will be supplemented with new marketplace data and analytical insights. The World of Market Pulp books have been sold around the world and are key reference materials in many libraries, laboratories and companies.

Register before April 1 and save!

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There is no doubt that the forest sector is in economic stalemate, and that one of the leading solutions for revenue diversification is the forest biorefinery. Whereas corporate executives, mill management, leading equipment suppliers and consultants are aware of what the biorefinery potentially offers, there is an important need for identifying viable implementation strategies for such a transformative change.

TAPPI is offering its first week-long course on the biorefinery, May 16-20, 2011 in Norcross, GA, involving leading biorefinery experts from across North America – shedding light on the key issues facing companies considering biorefinery implementation. With a course format designed to facilitate exchange between faculty and participants, it is sure to provide important value for your company.

Six key factors that companies considering a biorefinery implementation must consider (and that will be addressed in this course) include:

1. Which biorefinery products (wood pellets, biofuels, or biochemicals...) will provide sustainably good margins over the long term?
2. Which emerging biorefinery processes are the most promising for making these products?
3. What is their efficiency and operating costs today and what will they be in 5 years from now after the process technologies have matured?
4. How do we best make-use of our existing mill infrastructure when implementing the biorefinery?
5. Can we implement the biorefinery, and at the same time lower the unit costs of our wood, pulp and paper products?
6. What might be the role of government policy relative to key issues such as stumpage fees, biorefinery capital cost reduction, and other incentives such as greenhouse gas reduction policy?

How You Can Benefit From Attending This Course

This course will seek to provide the knowledge and tools for forest industry leaders, technology providers and consultants to develop biorefinery strategies and better understand emerging biorefinery technologies and their design/implementation in a business strategy. The course syllabus will be delivered by more than 20 experts from across North America, treating both strategy-setting and design issues related to transformation to the biorefinery.

Course Instructor

This course will be led by Paul Stuart, Consultant and Professor, Ecole Polytechnique. Paul Stuart has a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from McGill University, after which he worked in process design consulting as Company Associate and Manager of Process Engineering at Beak Consultants Limited, as Partner and Manager of Environmental Services at Simons Environmental Group, and as Director of Process and Environmental Engineering at H.A. Simons Limited in Montreal (later AMEC). Since 2000, Paul has been a Professor in the Chemical Engineering Department at École Polytechnique of the University of Montréal, where he is Chairholder of an NSERC Environmental Design Engineering Chair entitled Process Integration in the Pulp & Paper Industry (www.pulp-paper.ca). Paul is Co-Founder and Principal Consultant of EnVertis Inc, who seeks to be a leader providing strategic and multidisciplinary consulting services consistent with new business paradigms such as the biorefinery that provide sustainable enterprise value in the longer-term, for the forest industry and its partners.

Learn more about this course and register to attend at the TAPPI website.

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The 2011 TAPPI International Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials is scheduled for June 6-8, 2011 at the Sheraton Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia USA. The comprehensive Technical Program includes over 60 papers and five keynote presentations.

The event's Poster Session will feature findings from the leading researchers from around the world as well as a Student Poster Competition! Abstracts that focus on new and novel uses are highly encouraged. Analysis of challenges and trends in emerging markets for renewable nanomaterials are sought to provide a foundation for new research and industrial activities. Abstracts for the Student Poster Competition must be submitted by April 4. Prizes and certificates will be awarded to the first and second place winner.

Learn more about the event.

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Nominations are being accepted for induction into the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame.
The deadline is March 31, 2011. Please note that this is a change from the past.

Nomination forms are available online. They may also be obtained from the office at 425 W. Water Street, Appleton, WI. 54911 or by calling 920-380-7491.

Nominations need to have two sponsors and those signatures must be on the cover sheet which
must be sent in hard copy to the office address. The balance of the document may be emailed.

The inductee will be an individual(s), who has pioneered and/or helped the world's paper
and allied industries to flourish. Recognition will be based on contributions in these categories:

Academic
Economics
Entrepreneur
Founder
Leadership
Marketing & Sales
Research & Development
Service
Technology

Nominations that have been received in the past four years continue to be eligible; however it is very important that all information contained in the applications be updated. Names and addresses of the candidate and the sponsors need to be current. Please review your copy if you have submitted a nomination and update it if necessary.

SAVE THE DATE

The 17th Annual Induction Ceremony will be held in Appleton, WI. on October 6, 2011.

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