Boise Inc., Boise, Idaho, USA, and the Box Tops for Education program this week announced a collaboration that helps consumers obtain much-needed funds for participating schools. The program raises funds by encouraging students from K-8 schools to collect Box Tops coupons from a variety of products, from breakfast cereals to office supplies. Coordinators at each of the program's 69,000 participating schools send in the coupons and receive cash for their schools. Established by General Mills in 1996, the program has helped schools earn more than $400 million.

Boise's papers have various uses in the office and home, making them a good fit for Box Tops. Redemption coupons—each worth $0.10 when redeemed by participating schools—will be found on specially-marked reams of Boise X-9®, Boise FIREWORX®, and Boise HD:P™ Premier Print papers starting this spring. Boise products with the redemption coupons have begun shipping to the company's authorized distributors.

"We are proud to provide the opportunity for people to raise money for their local schools through choosing Boise papers," said Alexander Toeldte, president and CEO of Boise Inc. "We are committed to social and economic sustainability and participating in the Box Tops program is a great way to give back to the communities that buy our products."

Money earned through the program can be used by schools in various ways, such as rebuilding playgrounds and boosting under-funded programs, or purchasing classroom equipment, library books, computers, and other much-needed supplies.

U.S. schools have earned more than $400 million through Box Tops for Education since the program was started in 1996. Thousands of schools have used that cash to purchase items such as computers, library books, art supplies, and playground equipment. Schools can earn up to $60,000 per year to spend on anything they choose, by clipping Box Tops coupons from hundreds of products and earning eBox Tops online.

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On opening night of the annual production of the "To Kill a Mockingbird" play in downtown Monroeville, Ala., USA, Georgia-Pacific, Atlanta, Ga., announced that it is sponsoring the construction of an outdoor amphitheater to host the play beginning in 2012. A preliminary design was revealed to patrons attending this season's first performance, which is based on Monroeville native Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize winning novel.

G-P's donation to the Monroe County Heritage Museum, which sponsors the play, represents a $150,000 investment in 2011, with an additional commitment of $25,000 over five years for maintenance and repairs. The amphitheater will include portable seating, a courtyard, and improved landscaping for the west lawn of the historic Old Monroe County Courthouse and Museum. The area serves as a permanent location for the play and the project will enhance the site as a venue for other community events, concerts, receptions, and plays.

"The Monroe County Heritage Museum is proud to have the Old Courthouse Museum chosen as the recipient of Georgia-Pacific's community investment," said Stephanie Rogers, executive director of the Monroe County Heritage Museum. "We see the international draw that "To Kill a Mockingbird" brings to our hometown and we appreciate that Georgia-Pacific, an international company, seeks to invest in this unique and special part of Monroeville's heritage. This will be a handsome enhancement to our downtown square and an attractive venue for our annual production as well as for other museum and community-related events to be held downtown."

G-P's Alabama River Cellulose operation is the largest manufacturer in Monroe County. Since acquiring the pulp facility in July 2010, the company has worked to identify a community investment project that would be meaningful to the entire community, fill a recognized need, and demonstrate its long-term commitment to and support of the community. A local steering committee determined that an amphitheater would add the greatest value to improve the community's infrastructure, support tourism effort, and enhance the cultural and fine arts heritage that has become a significant trademark of Monroeville.

"Georgia-Pacific supports thousands of initiatives and projects that strengthen our facility communities all across the country, and our history of support in Monroe County has been the same," said Peggy Jaye, public affairs manager at the company's Alabama River Cellulose operations. "We look forward to dedicating the new amphitheater at the opening of next year's play. We are proud to help contribute to Monroe County's legacy as the state's Literary Capital."

The amphitheater project design and construction will be led by a team consisting of The Architects Group (TAG), CSA Group Inc., and JubileeScape, all of Mobile. The team was chosen by the steering committee based on a preliminary design. Construction is expected to start after the play's current season ends in late May. Plans call for the amphitheater to be dedicated on opening night of the 2012 season next spring.

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Economic activity in the U.S. manufacturing sector expanded in April for the twenty first consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the twenty third consecutive month, according to the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. The report was issued this week by Norbert J. Ore, chair of the Institute for Supply Management Manufacturing Business Survey Committee, Tempe, Ariz., USA.

The recent trend of rapid growth in the manufacturing sector continued in April as the PMI registered above 60% for the fourth consecutive month. The New Orders and Production Indexes continue to drive the PMI, as they have both exceeded 60% for five consecutive months. Manufacturing employment appears to have developed significant momentum, as the Employment Index readings for the first four months of 2011 are the highest readings in the past 38 years.

Inventory growth also occurred in April after two months of destocking. "However, the inventory restocking would appear to be necessitated by the strong performance in new orders," the report notes. "While the manufacturing sector is definitely performing above most expectations so far in 2011, manufacturers are experiencing significant cost pressures from commodities and other inputs," it continues.

Of the 18 manufacturing industries, 17 are reporting growth in April, in the following order: Wood Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Primary Metals; Transportation Equipment; Fabricated Metal Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Machinery; Textile Mills; Paper Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Chemical Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; and Petroleum and Coal Products. Furniture & Related Products was the only industry reporting contraction in April.

ISM's Employment Index registered 62.7% in April, which is a 0.3 percentage point lower than the 63% reported in March. This is the nineteenth consecutive month of growth in manufacturing employment. An Employment Index above 50.1%, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data on manufacturing employment.

More information is available online.

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An article titled "Is Digital Media Worse for the Environment than Print?" has been selected as a finalist for a 2011 Mirror Award. Nominees for the award, sponsored by Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications (New York, USA), were recently announced for the fifth annual Mirror Awards honoring media coverage. Out of more than 200 entries, judges selected articles from AJR, CJR, Nieman Journalism Lab, MediaShift, Gannett Blog, and Poynter, among others. Winners will be announced June 7.

More information  about the article by Don Carli, senior research fellow at The Institute for Sustainable Communication is available online.

The Mirror Awards are the most important awards for honoring excellence in reporting on the media industry The awards recognize reporters, editors, and teams of writers who hold a mirror to their own industry for the public's benefit. Entries are evaluated based on excellence of craft, framing of the issue, and appropriateness for the intended audience. Winners are chosen by a group of journalists and journalism educators. Winners and finalists are honored at an awards luncheon, held each June in New York City.

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The global containers and packaging market had total revenues of $420.3 billion in 2009, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.2% for the period spanning 2005-2009, according to a new report by Research and Markets, Dublin, Ireland, titled Paper and Packaging Global Industry Guide. The global paper and forest products industry generated total revenues of $1,293.7 billion in 2009, representing a CAGR of 9% for the 2005-2009 period. The global forest products market generated total revenues of $1,008 billion in 2009, representing a CAGR of 11.9% for the same four-year period.

The global paper and paperboards market generated total revenues of $284.5 billion in 2009, representing a CAGR of 0.5% for 2005-2009. The global paper products market generated total revenues of $285.7 billion in 2009, representing a CAGR of 1.3% for the four-year period. The global wrapping and paper packaging market generated total revenues of $140.5 billion in 2009, representing a CAGR of 3.4% for the 2005-2009 period. The global glass, metal, and plastic market, according to the new report, generated total revenues of $299.6 billion in 2009, representing a CAGR of 2.8% for the same period.

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Domtar has announced a $60/ton price hike on cut-size papers, effective June 1 (see Published Price Increases below), despite evidence of sluggish demand and an uneven pricing, according to Mark Wilde, senior analyst with Deutsche Bank. "Indeed, Domtar, IP, and Boise have all reported small ($7 - $15/ton) q/q prices declines during Q1," he added, noting that North American producers implemented partial increases on offset ($25/ton) and converting grades ($20/ton) in April, out of the $40/ton hike announced. The combination of a weak U.S. dollar and rising market pulp costs are helping to create a healthy pricing floor, he says.

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No. 3 60-lb coated free sheet estimated prices rose $5 - $10/ton to $985 - $1,010/ton (+10.5% y/y) in April (announced = $40/ton), Wilde reports. Reports suggest that producers are finding it difficult to push-through the full hike, he adds. .

Implementation is "mixed" with price increases going through for new buyers and non-contract customers. NewPage recently announced a $60/ton price hike on its CFS grades, effective June 1. Producers are pointing to rising input costs as the key driver for price hikes. Preliminary March shipments were +19.4% m/m (mostly due to severe February weather) and +2.3% y/y. Reports suggest that NewPage, North America's No. 1 coated paper producer, could file for restructuring in the near-term, Wilde advises.

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U.S. NBSK prices are expected to be flat in May at $1,020/metric ton after rising $60/metric ton in the past two months, Wilde reports. With limited new supply coming into the global market over the next 18 months, softwood inventories at just 24 days of supply, U.S. mills taking maintenance downtime and the U.S. dollar continuing its slide, the bias on softwood pulp prices appears to the upside. Local NBSK prices in China, however, are showing signs of weakness. "All good things must end," Wilde says, adding that several producers have announced new dissolving pulp (DP) projects in an attempt to take advantage of a sharp increase in viscose DP prices in China.

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April estimated 30-lb U.S. newsprint prices were flat at $640/metric ton, +11.3% y/y, Wilde reports. But newsprint prices appear to be under pressure, he adds. There are reports of some spot deals for smaller printers.

Recent newsprint data published by PPPC were encouraging, Wilde notes. Consumption at U.S. dailies was +0.6% y/y. This was the first increase since +2% in December 2006. A recent price increase in Europe to EUR 500/metric ton ($720/metric ton) is aiding exports. Higher input costs and a strong Canadian dollar are squeezing margins.

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Buckeye Technologies Inc., Memphis, Tenn., USA, has approved funding for a comprehensive evaluation of its Florida mill's potential to further increase its high-purity specialty wood pulp capacity. Buckeye's high-end specialty wood pulp grades include ethers, high strength viscose, filtration and acetate, which are used in the production of food and pharmaceutical products, food casings, tire cord, filtration media and acetate tow.

The global demand for these products is growing, the company notes, adding that the company has a proven history of producing these technically demanding grades. Buckeye's specialty wood pulp production continues to be sold out and this potential expansion would help meet growing customer demand in these high-end applications, the company explains..

Buckeye's Chairman and CEO John Crowe said that "currently the lead option in this evaluation is to increase our Florida mill's high-end specialty capacity by 30,000 metric tons with a target startup date at the end of 2012. The overall capacity of the mill would remain at its current 465,000 tpy level, but the mix of high-end specialty production would increase.

"In addition to the mix improvements, we plan to further enhance the performance attributes of the fluff pulp produced at our mill. We expect this project would generate returns significantly above our cost of capital. We believe this option could provide excellent value to our customers and our shareholders. We intend to complete our evaluation and make a final decision on the potential expansion in August 2011," Crowe noted.

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Grupo Unipak, S.A. de C.V. PT., Mexico, will rebuild a relocated fine paper machine at its new mill site—Grupak Hidalgo in the municipality of Emiliano Zapata in Mexico. The rebuild project has been awarded to Metso of Finland. Startup of the relocated and rebuilt machine, which originally comes from the U.S., is scheduled for the first quarter of 2013. The value of the order is approximately EUR 5 million.

The relocated fine paper machine will be reconditioned and modified to manufacture recycled containerboard grades. Metso's delivery will comprise a modernization of the forming section. Metso will also modify the dryer section, air systems, steam and condensate system, as well as the stock preparation system with a new dry end pulper.

Grupo Unipak, S.A. de C.V. PT. is a large Mexican company producing a variety of food packaging products. The company currently produces liner and fluting grades for its own integrated use on two machines located in Cuernavaca, Mexico.

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International Paper Co., Memphis, Tenn., USA, and the United Steelworkers (USW) this week reported that they ratified a four-year Master Agreement contract that covers some 6,000 workers. The new contract includes wage increases in each year of the agreement, improvements to the pension and 401(k), cost stabilization for health care costs, and employment security.

USW members covered by this contract include those represented by local unions in Augusta, Ga.; Campti, La.; Pensacola, Fla.; Courtland, Ala.; Georgetown, S.C.; Pine Hill, Ala.; Port Hueneme, Calif.; Prattville, Ala; Riegelwood, N.C.; Savannah, Ga.; Selma, Ala.; Texarkana, Texas; Ticonderoga, N.Y.; Valliant, Okla.; and, Vicksburg Miss.

"We are pleased that we have reached an agreement that accomplishes IP's bargaining objectives and continues to reinforce and build on the positive working relationship we have established over the past several years," said Paul Karre, IP's SVP of Human Resources and Communications.

USW International President Leo W. Gerard added that "the USW is extremely proud of the progress made by our members in the paper sector. Strong leadership and solidarity at each of the locations was vital to reaching this agreement at IP. The success of our local unions here sets a precedent for bargaining in the rest of the industry."

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Kimberly-Clark Foundation, the charitable arm of Kimberly-Clark Corp., Dallas, Texas, USA, this week announced recipients of its 2011 Bright Futures college scholarship program. This year, K-C provided college scholarships totaling $1.36 million to students in 14 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces.

Established in 1993, the Bright Futures Scholarship Program awards college scholarships to children of K-C employees in the U.S. and Canada. Each scholarship is worth up to $20,000 ($5,000 per year for up to four years) for full-time students studying at accredited colleges and universities. Since its inception, the program has distributed more than $33 million in scholarships to 1,650-plus students.

"Our Bright Futures Scholarship Program helps further the education of employees' children who demonstrate the potential to become the next generation of leaders in our communities. There is no finer investment in our future," said Thomas J. Falk, chairman and CEO of Kimberly-Clark. "We are delighted to acknowledge the accomplishments of these outstanding young students. We are honored to award them these scholarships, and we wish them well as they pursue their higher education."

The Foundation received 272 applications this year. The 68 recipients were chosen based on academic achievement, leadership ,and involvement in extracurricular activities. Members of this year's scholarship class will attend such top colleges and universities as Princeton, Auburn, Brigham Young, Marquette, Georgia Tech, and the University of North Carolina. Past scholarship recipients have gone on to pursue successful careers in medicine, education, the armed forces, and engineering. The average GPA for this year's scholarship class is 3.94.

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Phoenix Pulp & Paper Co. has ordered from Metso, Finland, a cooking plant and a fiberline upgrade to its Khon Kaen mill in Thailand. Startup of the equipment is scheduled for July 2012. The value of the order is approximately EUR 10 million.

Metso's delivery will include a two-vessel digester for producing 200,000 metric tons of eucalyptus pulp per year. The delivery will also include a wash press for the fiber line upgrade. The new cooking system will enable the Khon Kaen mill to increase the production capacity and utilize the raw material more efficiently. It will also reduce the mill's environmental impact.

Founded in 1975, Phoenix Pulp & Paper is a subsidiary of SCG Paper, one of the leading integrated producers of pulp and paper products in Thailand. Phoenix sells its products to customers in Thailand and abroad.

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SCA, Stockholm, Sweden, reports that it is investing in expanded tissue capacity in Russia and Germany, and in solid-wood products in Sweden. The investments will total approximately SEK 2.6 billion (EUR 290 million).

Russian investment is in response to favorable growth in the tissue market there. It will be used for a second tissue machine in Sovetsk, Russia. The new tissue machine will have a capacity of 60,000 metric tpy, with production based on virgin fiber. Production is scheduled to begin in 2013.

SCA also is investing some SEK 1.1 billion (EUR 120 million) in a new tissue machine in Kostheim, Germany. This investment is being made to meet increased demand, primarily for AFH tissue products. The new tissue machine will have a capacity of 60,000 metric tpy, with production scheduled to commence in 2013.

To increase production capacity and reduce costs, SCA will invest approximately SEK 300 million (EUR 30 million) in the Bollsta sawmill, Sweden. The investment includes two new biofuel boilers, increased drying capacity, and an upgrade of the saw line. Through these investments, production capacity will increase from 450,000 cubic meters to 525,000 cubic meters of sawn pine products per year. The investment enables energy production exclusively from the company's own biofuel, meaning that a large amount of oil can be phased out of production. The biofuel boiler is scheduled for commissioning at the end of 2012, while other parts will be successively commissioned during 2012 and 2013.

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Dongwha Enterprise Co. in Asan, South Korea, has ordered from Andritz, Graz, Austria, a 54-in. 1CP pressurized refining system (capacity: 480 metric tpd) for its medium density fiberboard (MDF) mill. Startup of this seventh Andritz pressurized refining system in South Korea is scheduled for the second quarter of 2012.

Hebei Kaiyue Group, China, has ordered its fourth Andritz MDF fiber preparation system in the past seven months: A pressurized refining system (with a 60 in. 1CP refiner and a capacity of 600 metric tpd) will be delivered to Hebei Kaiyue Wen An County Tianhua Density Board Co., Hebei Province. Startup is scheduled for the second quarter of 2012.

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Stora Enso, Helsinki, Finland, reports that its Fine Paper Business Area is re-evaluating working methods and building a new business model to increase cost competitiveness. According to the plans, the company would restructure operations at the Nymolla Mill in Sweden. Operations at the Uetersen Mill in Germany will be restructured more towards Specialty Papers. At the Oulu Mill in Finland, together with the sheeting plants in Belgium and the U.K., Stora Enso will find the most efficient way to utilize converting capacity and streamline operations.

Starting this year, Stora Enso Fine Paper plans to reduce annual costs by approximately EUR 20 million, with all actions to be completed by the end of the second quarter of 2012. The proposed restructuring measures would affect up to 285 employees in Finland, Sweden, Germany, Belgium, and the U.K. The company will record a cash provision of approximately EUR 16 million as a non-recurring item in the second quarter 2011 operating profits. The plans would not affect the Business Area's paper production capacities.

The company notes that the outcome of these plans will depend on the result of the local co-determination procedures. As before, Stora Enso would make every effort in co-operation with local communities to help the affected personnel find new employment opportunities, and all job openings in other Stora Enso units would be available to those affected.

"The plans announced today would make Stora Enso Fine Paper more flexible and cost efficient, and so better able to meet customer and market expectations. Fine paper demand is still clearly below pre-crisis levels, and there are no signs of sustained recovery. We have been successfully remodeling our operations during the past few years, and now we plan to continue on the chosen path of improving our existing businesses. We are comparing the best practices at all our mills so we can continuously adopt the most efficient ways of working. Similarly, we need to question our way of running the operations. These plans are part of rethinking at Stora Enso, but of course rethink means much more for us, such as new products and services, new solutions with our customers—better solutions for the future," said Hannu Alalauri, EVP, Fine Paper Business Area.

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Twin Rivers Paper Co., South Portland, Maine, USA, celebrated its first year of operation this past week, achieving accomplishments in the areas of energy reduction, productivity improvements, product innovation, and environmental sustainability. Twin Rivers, which manufactures 380,000 tpy of free sheet and hybrid-groundwood papers, says that it performed well in its first year by optimizing its cost platform and its overall market position, capitalizing on the company's coating knowledge and unique lightweight paper manufacturing capabilities, and by utilizing its product development expertise and focus.

"When the company was launched, our vision was to become a strong and viable specialty paper supplier. Our strategy is paying off," said Jeff Dutton, president and CEO. "Despite rising pulp costs and an extremely strong Canadian dollar, our financial performance is solid with positive free cash flow and a low debt to equity ratio. Our integration model and focused operational footprint allow us to concentrate our resources on making highly engineered papers targeted to the specialty publishing, packaging, and label markets. We have been able to reinvest in our operations by optimizing our productivity and enhancing the overall quality and consistency of our paper."

Highlights of Twin Rivers' first year include:

• Production records set at the Edmundston pulp mill and increased machine productivity at the Madawaska paper mill
• Execution of energy conservation and waste, water, and electricity reduction projects at the Edmundston pulp mill as a result of the C$23 million allocation from the Canadian Green Transformation Program
• Implementation of heat recovery projects to capture and reuse waste steam and lower electrical consumption at the Madawaska paper mill
• Record low oil usage at the cogeneration and recovery plants, enabling the pulp and paper mill to operate oil-free during normal production
• Increased usage of carbon neutral energy, deriving 83% of energy requirements from renewable sources including biomass and liquor
• Cross-qualification of papers across the machines to enhance flexibility and support Twin River's willingness for co-development of products with customers
• Expansion of our capability to utilize post-consumer content levels up to 100%
• Successful product developments, including launch of Border Brite, a new generation of high-bright hybrid publishing papers, enhancement of Alliance Thermal Transfer product, extension of lightweight packaging offering with Acadia, and commercialization of Alliance Wet Strength Label.

During the next 12 months, the company plans to aggressively grow in select target markets, execute additional strategic environmental and energy driven initiatives, seek opportunities to enhance its cost position, and continue to invest in product development.

Twin Rivers Paper is an integrated specialty paper company that produces publishing, packaging, and label products for targeted markets and applications. The company has operations in New Brunswick, Maine, and Quebec.

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Cascades Inc., Kingsey Falls, Que., Canada, this week completed the sale of Dopaco Inc., its paper cup and carton converting business for the quick-service restaurant and foodservice industries, to Reynolds Group Holdings for a cash consideration of $400 million. Net proceeds from the transaction should amount to approximately $337 million and will mainly be used to pay down Cascades' debt. In connection with the transaction, Cascades will continue to supply boxboard to Dopaco, through a five year non-exclusive supply agreement.

Dopaco operates six plants (two in Ontario and four in the U.S.) and converts some 165,000 metric tons of boxboard a year.

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Graphic Packaging International, Marietta, Ga., USA, a subsidiary of Graphic Packaging Holding Co., this week completed its acquisition of substantially all of the assets and business of Sierra Pacific Packaging Inc., a producer of folding cartons, beverage carriers, and corrugated boxes for the consumer packaged goods industry.

"This is a unique opportunity that provides us with a strategic location to service customers on the West Coast and allows us to participate in the fast-growing craft beer and litho-lam wine box markets. We are pleased that the majority of the Sierra management team and employees will be joining Graphic, ensuring a smooth transition," said Graphic Packaging CEO David Scheible.

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The City of Hartsville, S.C., USA, and Sonoco Recycling Inc., Hartsville, S.C., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sonoco, this past week announced the launch of a six-year recycling pilot program for the city. Aimed at increasing commercial and residential recycling, the pilot program was kicked off during a recent press conference. Speakers included Hartsville Mayor Mel Pennington and Sonoco executive Marcy Thompson, a member of the company's Sustainability Council and former division VP of Sonoco Recycling.

"Clearly, our goal at the city is to improve the environment and quality of life for the citizens and businesses here in Hartsville," said Pennington. "Working with Sonoco Recycling, headquartered here in Hartsville, we will be piloting an initiative to implement a new single-stream recycling program in our community and to increase the kind of materials that can be collected. In addition, we will jointly develop a ‘voluntary' program specifically aimed at increasing recycling efforts for local businesses, educational institutions, and our citizens."

Thompson agrees the new program will increase and modernize recycling services throughout Hartsville. "We actually began working with the city late last year on transitioning from dual- to single-stream waste collections, and the results have been pretty astounding," she said. "In fact, since the first of this year, the number of tons being recycled has tripled. As we continue to make improvements in the services offered, this number should only go up."

As part of the pilot, Sonoco Recycling will continue to assist the City in converting from dual-stream curbside collection and sorting to an expanded single-stream process. The types of materials acceptable for recycling also will be expanded. In addition, the city will continue switching from 16-gal bins to 95-gal roll carts, which will help drive recycling participation and divert additional materials away from landfills. The city began switching to roll carts in late 2010. The Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce and the Hartsville Downtown Development Association and its member businesses will be participating in the pilot program. ,p>Sonoco Recycling annually collects more than 3 million tons of old corrugated containers, various grades of paper, metals, and plastics. Currently, it operates three material recovery facilities (MRFs) serving more than 125 communities in which curbside-collected residential and commercial materials are processed.

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Stora Enso, Finland, reports that it is responding to growing demand and expectations in the packaging market by investing approximately EUR 90 million in its Skoghall Mill in Sweden. The company will build a new woodroom and woodyard at the Skoghall Mill, with annual wood handling capacity of 1.9 million cubic meters. The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of the fourth quarter of 2012.

"We are continuously rethinking to find efficient new solutions so we can better meet our customers' needs. Skoghall Mill is one of our key assets in the liquid packaging board business in Europe, and this is an important step to improve the mill's competitiveness. In addition, the investment will support the wood and chip handling to all of our Swedish mills," says Mats Nordlander, EVP, Packaging Business Area.

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Domtar, Montreal, Que., Canada, reports that it will raise prices on all of its white business papers by $3/cwt ($60/ton), effective June 1. This is the company's first cutsize papers price hike in almost a year. Back To Top

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Cascades Inc., Kingsey Fall, Que., Canada, this week appointed Luc Langevin president and COO of the Cascades Specialty Products Group (SPG). Since 1995, Langevin has occupied management positions within the Cascades Specialty Products Group. He was Plant Manager for two years and has been GM for the past 14 years.

Prior to his new appointment, Langevin was the GM of SPG's Industrial Packaging sector, which includes 10 plants that are specialized in honeycomb, paper mill packaging, and uncoated board.

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NewPage Corp., Miamisburg, Ohio, USA, appointed Ronald J. Arling to the position of controller and chief accounting officer, effective April 25. He reports to the company's SVP and CFO.

Arling has managed key areas of the finance function including general accounting, internal audit, credit and collections, and financial analysis. He joined NewPage in November 2006 as internal audit director, in April 2009 advanced to assistant controller, and in November 2010 was promoted to controller. Prior to joining NewPage, he held finance positions of increasing responsibility with large companies in diverse industries, including CareSource Management Group, Co., Reynolds & Reynolds, NCR Corp., and Deloitte & Touche.

Arling will be responsible for managing the corporate accounting and reporting process and ensuring that all financial statements and filings are accurate, complete, and timely. In addition, he will make certain that corporate-wide accounting policies and appropriate controls are in place in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and work with operations and other finance functions to improve accounting and reporting capabilities.

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TAPPI member Scott Pantaleo has consistently established his credentials as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in headboxes, forming and approach flow systems throughout his career.

Since joining TAPPI in 1989, he has attended or taught at numerous conferences, courses and classes, and credits TAPPI's Standards and TIPs as being yet another "priceless on-the-job resource." One of the many benefits he has derived from his membership includes the opportunity to network with professionals both inside, and out, of his immediate area of expertise – leading to a new dimension of understanding beyond, but still aligned with his core competencies. For more than 15 years he has served as a course instructor for Wet End Operations, and is currently Chair of the Fluid Mechanics Committee and a member of the Papermakers Committee. He considers his relationship with TAPPI to be a major component in helping to build his SME reputation. Find out the reasons why by reading this month's Member Spotlight (http://www.tappi.org/Membership.aspx).

Spotlight participants are recommended by fellow members and staff. If you would like to nominate a member (or even yourself!) just send their name (or names) to MemberSpotlight@tappi.org. We will forward a Spotlight Questionnaire (http://www.tappi.org/content/membership/spotlightquestionnaire.pdf) to fill out and return. We look forward to seeing you in the Spotlight!

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The final opportunity to save on registration for the TAPPI International Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials is May 10, 2011. Haven't made your hotel reservation yet? The hotel cut-off is May 5, 2011.

Scheduled for June 6-8, 2011 in Arlington, Virginia (Washington, D.C) USA, the TAPPI International Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials is your opportunity to gain knowledge about the advances in nanotechnology in renewable materials and their widespread applications in many other industries. The Technical Program contains more than 60 peer-reviewed papers. View the brochure to see how to make the most of your time in Arlington.

The conference organizers have brought together five industry thought leaders for not-to-miss keynote presentations. You will hear from Mike Jackson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Verso Paper Corp.; Vicki Stone, Director of the Nano Safety Research Group, Heriot-Watt University; Director of Toxicology for SAFENANO; and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal Nanotoxicology; Mike Roco, Senior Advisor for Nanotechnology at the National Science Foundation (NSF); Dr. Leo Christodoulou, Director, Defense Sciences Office, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA); and Tom Lindström, Director of the Biofibre Materials Research Centre (BiMaC Innovation), Royal Institute of Technology (KTH); Senior Research Scientist, Innventia AB. Learn more at http://tappinano.org.

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The editorial board of TAPPI JOURNAL has selected "Calendering effects on coating pore structure and ink setting behavior" by Peter Resch, Wolfgang Bauer, and Ulrich Hirn as TAPPI JOURNAL's Best Research Paper for 2010. The paper appeared in the January 2010 issue and was one of eight nominated for the award. Editorial board members assessed the research based on innovation, creativity, scientific merit, and clear and concise presentation of ideas. The paper and its authors will be honored at the Awards Gala Dinner on May 3 during PaperCon 2011, held May 1-4 at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center near Cincinnati, Ohio (www.papercon.org).

Primary author Resch, who is quality manager at Sappi Austria in Gratkorn, used research presented in the paper as basis for his Ph.D., and publication in TAPPI JOURNAL counted towards partial fulfillment of his doctoral requirements at Graz University. Bauer is a professor and Hirn is a research assistant with Graz University of Technology's Institute for Paper, Pulp and Fibre Technology in Graz, Austria.

 

 

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TAPPI is pleased to announce that thanks to a partnership with Pira International, all TAPPI members are entitled to a 20% discount for Pira's Biorefining and Fibre Engineering conferences. Book online & use promo code: TAPPIM20

Pira International is again holding the very successful 4th Annual Biorefining for the Pulp & Paper Industry conference. This year, it will be co-located and run parallel with Pira's 3rd biennial Fibre Engineering conference. This dual event will take place on May 24-26, 2011 at the Barcelo Sants, Barcelona, Spain.

Whether booking one event or the other all delegates get access to both of these conferences, making the meeting a leading knowledge & networking platform of the year!

Learn more on www.biorefining-conference.com
Learn more on www.fibre-engineering.com
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The 2011 Northeast PIMA Annual Scholarship Tournament is set for Friday, June 10, 2011. It features:

• Shot gun start: 8:00 AM sharp
• Entry Fee: $100.00 (golf, cart, BBQ, prizes, range, etc.)
• Registration deadline: When Full
• Event location: Fox Ridge Golf Club, 427 Harmons Corner Road, Auburn, ME 04210 

All proceeds from this tournament will go to the Northeast PIMA Scholarship Fund. This tournament supports a great cause. Try to register very soon as last year we filled up. On behalf of Northeast PIMA and its affiliates, your continued support is appreciated to the utmost. Note: Cancellations cannot be accepted after June 5th.

For more information please go to:

http://www.tappi.org/Groups/Local-Sections/MH/Announcements/PIMA-Annual-Scholarship-Tournament-2011.aspx

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The 2011 Empire State TAPPI/PIMA Spring Golf Outing to raise scholarship funds will be held Thursday, May 19, 2011.  The event features:

• 11:00 AM start with a four-man scramble format. The limit is 72 players, so register early.
• Event Location: Queensbury Country Club, Exit 20 from Northway, East on Rte 149
• Reservations must be made by May 13 by calling QCC @ 518-793-3711

Includes: hot dogs and beverages at the turn, open bar from 4:30 PM to 6 PM, steak dinner, golf awards and prizes after dinner. Dinner tickets may be purchased in advance or at door. Cash or check made out to Empire State TAPPI/PIMA, or use credit card at registration. No refunds after May 14.

Help support this year's event by sponsoring a hole! A $100 sponsorship provides a prominently displayed sign on a tee letting everyone know you are a TAPPI/PIMA "booster." All proceeds will go towards scholarships. Need exact company name by May 6. Sponsorships are greatly appreciated! The deadline for submitting sponsorship form is May 6, 2011. Please make checks payable to Empire State TAPPI/PIMA or use credit card. Send in advance or pay @ outing.

Click here for more information.

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Presenting a chemist's perspective on the papermaking process, The Chemistry of Modern Papermaking is an extensive collection of data that combines the organic chemistry of paper with its potential applications. Within each chapter, paper chemicals are organized based on their chemical structure.

After an introduction and brief history, the book explores the papermaking process, retention aids, temporary wet strength resins, wet strength resins, dry strength resins, internal sizing agents, creping adhesives and softeners, and chemicals for paper surface treatment.  Included are over 3000 references to facilitate further study. It's scheduled for a summer 2011 release.

Pre-order your copy now!

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In less than two weeks the world's largest and most premier event for the pulp and paper industry, SPCI 2011, opens in Stockholm, Sweden. The event is held at Stockholm International Fairs (Stockholmsmässan) on May 17-19. Companies from around the world will exhibit the very latest industry technology and services in the largest exhibition hall at Stockholmsmässan. Visit www.spcievent.com to pre-register your visit free of charge.

The event features a new concept for SPCI which brings the conference program down to the exhibition floor. Three activity squares will be a part of the exhibition and offer a full conference programme with keynote speakers, shorter presentations with a technical orientation as well as entertainment. The entire event is free to all visitors.

For more information regarding the event, conference program, list of exhibitors, etc., please visit www.spcievent.com

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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. 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 evaluate will be addressed including;

1. Which biorefinery products (wood pellets, biofuels, or biochemical) 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 existing mill infrastructure when implementing the biorefinery?
5. Can we implement the biorefinery, and at the same time lower unit costs of 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 required 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. More than 20 experts will cover 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 has a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from McGill University. He is Co-Founder and Principal Consultant of EnVertis Inc.

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. Prizes and certificates will be awarded to the first and second place winner.

Learn more about the event.

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