The fourth annual TAPPI PaperCon event took place last week (May 1 -4) in Covington, Ky., USA, attracting a record 1,400-plus registrants and more than 100 exhibitors. Domtar President and CEO John Williams set the tone for the week, highlighting his company's recipe for success through sustainability efforts and marketing the responsible use of paper through its "PAPER because" campaign. Domtar launched the campaign to highlight the key role paper plays in our lives and the reasons why it's an environmentally sound choice. It addresses common misperceptions about paper and showcases the reasons why paper is a "truly fantastic product."

A total of 17 paper mills took advantage of PaperCon's mill registration program to send a team of their employees to the sessions and trade fair. The Recycled Paperboard Technical Association (RPTA) joined PaperCon with its Production-Technical Seminar and enjoyed its highest attendance in several years. Several recycled board mills sent large groups of employees to learn and network.

Mike Jackson, CEO of Verso Paper Corp., received the PIMA Executive of the Year award and shared the basic principles of Verso's Foundation Document, which establishes company core values, mission, vision, principles, strategies, and key performance measures. Created by Jackson's lead team from the outset, the Verso Foundation Document is consistently used today and serves as a company guide into the future.

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Domtar Corp., Montreal, Que., Canada, was co-sponsor of yesterday's (Wednesday, May 11) Rainforest Alliance 2011 Annual Gala in New York, N.Y., USA. The environmental group's 20th annual dinner and award ceremony featured special guests Sigourney Weaver and Jane Alexander, and honored companies and individuals for their achievements in sustainable forestry, agriculture, tourism, and climate change.

Proceeds from the gala will benefit the Rainforest Alliance's conservation initiatives, helping ensure sustainable livelihoods and conserve biodiversity. The Rainforest Alliance pioneered the concept of responsible forestry certification in 1989, for instance, and has since certified more than 65.1 million hectares (160.8 million acres) in more than 74 countries to the standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

"This is an important event for recognizing companies for their demonstrated commitments to sustainability," said Tensie Whelan, president of the Rainforest Alliance. "We are delighted to have worked with Domtar for over a decade now. Domtar continues to raise the bar for the paper industry, setting an example to encourage environmental responsibility."

This marks the sixth year Domtar has sponsored the Gala, which is one of the ways it has teamed with the Rainforest Alliance to encourage responsible paper production and fiber sourcing. With the help of the Rainforest Alliance, all of Domtar's more than 30 facilities have now been certified to FSC standards, and the FSC label and the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal have grown more visible on packages of Domtar paper. Nearly 20% of Domtar's paper products have been FSC certified while, across America, the FSC estimates that only 4% to 6%t of paper products earn that distinction.

During the event, Suzano Papel e Celulose, Brazil, hosted a cocktail reception at the American Museum of Natural History and exhibited photos related to the projects and initiatives developed by the company in the areas of environmental preservation and education. The work and progress made by the Golfinho Community Association, a nonprofit organization operating in Mucuri, Brazil, was also exhibited at the cocktail reception. Suzano has been a supporter of the Golfinho Community Association that develops educational, cultural and citizenship projects geared towards children, teenagers, and their families, since 1996.

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This week Södra, Sweden, (No. 1 market pulp producer in Europe) announced a $30/metric ton price hike in Europe (see item below), taking northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) to a record level of $1,040/metric ton, effective June 1, reports Mark Wilde, senior analyst with Deutsche Bank. U.S. NBSK prices, he notes, are currently matching last June's record level of $1,020/metric ton. NBSK prices in Europe are up $60/mton since January 11. However, a strong euro versus the U.S. dollar (up 10.7% YTD) has limited margin gains for local producers. No other producer has yet announced a price hike for June.

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, Wilde says. Local NBSK prices in China, however, are showing signs of weakness.

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Export OCC (old corrugated containers) to China was down slightly in May and down ˜$10 - $15/ton in the past couple of months, Wilde reports. However, OCC could rise in the coming months, he adds. Key drivers are lower OCC generation in April, jump in linerboard exports from the U.S. (implying lower recycling), and several new machines starting up in China in the coming months. Domestic OCC in April was down $2/ton to $156/ton.

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Flooding on the lower Mississippi River may help to further tighten containerboard supplies, according to Wilde. IP is reportedly preparing to close its 1,600 tpd Vicksburg, Miss., linerboard mill. Added to high maintenance downtime in the second quarter and stronger box shipments, this could produce greater-than-expected drawdown in containerboard inventories, setting the stage for a third quarter price hike, Wilde notes.

April containerboard prices were reported to be flat. "Sadly, figuring out what constitutes ‘the price' has become difficult with publishers reporting three (or four) different prices for one commodity," Wilde says, adding that reliable trade sources have been reporting increased discounting in the box market. "First quarter earnings results seem to bear those reports out, suggesting that we ought to focus more on producers' bottom lines rather than the trade papers."

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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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Billerud, Sweden, reports that it will evaluate the technical and market prerequisites for lignocellulose-based pyrolysis products. The project goal is to manufacture green oil from forest residues such as branches, tops, and stumps. The green oil can then be turned into renewable energy in customers' facilities.

The project is based on producing green oil from wood raw material in a full-scale facility at the Skärblacka paper mill in Sweden. The project intends to establish the technical and market prerequisites for lignocellulose-based pyrolysis products, biofuel, as a replacement for fossil-based oil.

Billerud has applied for funds from the EU within the framework of the NER300 program. The European Commission has decided to fund up to 42 commercial and innovative production facilities to increase the proportion of renewable energy sources and achieve a reduction in carbon dioxide. A decision is expected in the second half of 2012.

Billerud said that it is holding discussions with partners who are interested in future supplies of green oil from wood raw material.

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Canfor Corp., Vancouver, B.C., Canada, this week announced the following membership of its new executive team:

• David Calabrigo, SVP, Corporate and Legal Affairs and Corporate Secretary
• Alistair Cook, SVP, Wood Products Operations – Canada
• Mark Feldinger, SVP, Forestry/Environment and Energy
• Wayne Guthrie, SVP, Sales and Marketing
• Alan Nicholl, SVP, Finance and CFO
• Douglas Warslter, president, U.S. Operations.

Calabrigo has been with Canfor for 10 years, most recently as VP, Corporate Development, general counsel, and corporate secretary. Cook has been with Canfor for 20 years, serving in several senior operations positions as well as corporate treasurer and most recently VP, Capital Projects. Feldinger has been with Canfor for 27 years. During this period, he served in several senior woodlands and operations positions and most recently was VP, Manufacturing.

Guthrie returns to Canfor after three years as VP, Sales and Marketing within the forest products industry. Prior to this, he worked at Canfor for 24 years in several senior sales and marketing positions. Nicholl joined Canfor in 2008 and prior to his recent appointment served as corporate controller. Prior to his employment at Canfor, Nicholl spent 10 years in senior finance positions within the forest industry. Warstler has been with New South and Canfor for 11 years and was CFO of New South Companies prior to his appointment as president, U.S. Operations.

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Canada-based FPInnovations, in partnership with the Centre for Research and Innovation in the Bio Economy (CRIBE), Natural Resources Canada (NRCAN), and AbitibiBowater, Montreal, Que., Canada, is now producing its first batches of operational lignin for Canadian researchers. Lignin is a residual substance from the pulping process that is a key component for the developing, commercially viable fossil fuel alternatives.

These partners will develop a world-class black liquor and lignin evaluation center in Thunder Bay. At the core is the lignin demonstration plant, a state-of-the-art piece of equipment that ties directly into the black liquor stream of AbitibiBowater's Thunder Bay kraft pulp mill. When fully operational, this unique demonstration plant will produce up to 100 kg of lignin per day, which will be shipped to a network of R&D labs across Canada that are developing novel uses for wood products.

Also on site is a lignin characterization lab, which currently employs three people, and will be increased up to six people as capacity grows. Lakehead University and its Biorefining Research Initiative will be closely linked to the ongoing research and will be training students and postdoctoral fellows at the facility.

The potential market for lignin-based products is massive, according to FPInnovations. It can be used as a green alternative to many petroleum-derived substances, such as fuels, resins, rubber additives, thermoplastic blends, nutra- and pharmaceuticals, etc.

"It is with cutting-edge technologies and strong partnerships such as this one that FPInnovations is contributing to building the future of forestry in Canada," said Pierre Lapointe, president and CEO for FPInnovations. "The strong ties to Lakehead University are key to keeping technology and knowledge in the North. This only strengthens Lakehead's Biorefining Research Initiative and other related science programs by creating linkages with labs across Canada."

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M-real Corp., Finland, part of Metsäliitto Group, this week reported that it plans to divest the entire Gohrsmühle mill in Germany or, alternatively, parts of the mill separately, based on a Paper Park concept. In case the divestment is unsuccessful, M-real says it will commence a process to discontinue the uncoated fine and the unprofitable parts of the specialty paper operations at Gohrsmühle mill. Should the closures materialize, Gohrsmühle mill would only produce cast coated label and packaging products (Chromolux).

M-real also reported that it is planning to discontinue the remaining carbonless paper converting operations at its Reflex mill in Germany.

In recent years, M-real notes that it has had several unsuccessful attempts with a number of candidates to divest the Alizay paper mill in France. The company continues to search for possibilities to divest this mill, and invites credible candidates to a public process aiming at a divestment of Alizay by the end of this September at the latest. Should the company fail to find a credible buyer for the mill within the given time frame, it plans to close the Alizay mill.

If the measures are implemented as planned, M-real's annual sales are expected to be reduced by about EUR 390 million and the operating result to increase by about EUR 60 million based on 2010 actual performances. Most of the annual financial impact is expected to be seen in 2012, with full impact from 2013 onwards.

As a result of these planned measures, M-real's annual paper production capacity would be reduced by about 500,000 metric tpy, of which about 430,000 metric tons would be uncoated fine paper and 70,000 metric tons would be coated specialty papers. None of these planned measures would be implemented without consulting the employee representatives, in line with applicable legal requirements, the company says.

Both Gohrsmühle and Reflex mills have been losing heavily for a long time, M-real notes. If the divestment turns out to be unsuccessful, M-real plans to continue the Chromolux-production on PM 2 and to discontinue all other production operations at Gohrsmühle. At the same time, Reflex carbonless paper converting would be discontinued. If the closures materialize, the personnel reduction at Gohrsmühle and Reflex would total about 480 people. The planned measures have no impact on the previously announced plan to divest Reflex mill's Premium Papers business. In total, there are about 880 employees at Gohrsmühle and Reflex mills, excluding the personnel included in the earlier announced Premium Papers divestment plan.

Alizay mill also has been losing heavily for a long time, the company says. It adds that during the past few years, it has implemented significant internal improvement measures at Alizay, but as the operating environment has become more difficult, the mill's financial performance and outlook have remained very poor. Currently there are about 330 employees at Alizay mill. p>The planned measures are a major step in M-real's transformation to a packaging board focused company. Despite the significant negative non-recurring result impact, the planned measures are well justified from a shareholder value point of view," says M-real Chairman Kari Jordan.

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. The company's tissue mill in Kawerau, New Zealand, just recently managed to reduce its emissions and match that in a single stroke. The mill was able to tap into a nearby geothermal zone and draw naturally occurring steam into its process, replacing steam previously generated by on-site boilers fired with non-renewable gas. As a result, the mill was able to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 39%.

The Kawerau mill constructed a new pipeline and installed processing equipment to draw the steam from naturally occurring thermal activity in nearby geothermal heat field zones and into the plant. But the project involved more than just pulling in the geothermal energy. A sustainable relation with the owners of the land was also required. SCA had already worked together with the local Maori – the Tuwharetoa tribe. The geothermal project is the result of a mutual agreement and a commercial contract for supplying the plant with heat from the Tuwharetoa's geothermal steam field.

"We aim to set new standards for sound tissue manufacturing. Right now we are looking at the next step and the possibilities to expand the initiative to develop an electrical supply that's generated by the geothermal energy." says Murray Lucas at SCA Hygiene Australia, manager of the Kawerau Operations.

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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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Saudi Paper Manufacturing (SPM) Co., Saudi Arabia, is expected to take a majority stake in Cellulose du Maroc, Morocco, by the end of July, according to several news reports this week. The agreement will transfer a portion of Moroccan state-owned fund CDG Development's 62.7% of shares to SPM at an estimated value of $64 million - $79 million. Reportedly, a new tissue machine could be built at the mill with a production capacity up to 50,000 metric tpy. Cellulose du Maroc currently produces some 150,000 metric tpy of pulp.

Based in Morocco's western Gharb region, Cellulose du Maroc was created about 60 years ago. It wholly owns Eucaforest, a firm that cultivates eucalyptus forests covering around 24,000 hectares.

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One of the largest tissue enterprises in Russia, Syktyvkar Tissue Group (STG) plans to conduct its first initial public offering on the MICEX at the end of this month. The company plans to raise up to RUB 700 million by offering up to 30% of its increased issue capital. The price range is from RUB 11.4 to RUB 14.5 per share. STG is valued at around RUB 2.68 billion, or RUB 16.65/share ($89.18 million, or $0.55/share), the company notes.

STG owns one of the largest tissue factories in Russia, which produces mainly base paper, toilet tissue, paper towels, and napkins. In terms of production volume, STG held 8% of the local toilet paper market (third place) and 26% of the local base paper market (first place) in 2010. The company launched paper napkins and towels production in 2008 and reached 2% of the Russian market in 2010. STG produces tissue from various raw materials (pulp and wastepaper) and targets diverse residential groups of both cost-effective and premium segments. STG's base paper is also supplied to foreign producers, including SCA and Metsa Tissue.

STG plans to direct proceedings from the IPO to a EUR 60 million (to 2015) investment program aimed at upgrading existing capacities and acquiring new facilities both in Syktyvkar and the Central region. As a result of the investment program, STG foresees an increase in sales from RUB 1.8 billion in 2010 to RUB 4.5 billion in 2015, and a net profit increase from RUB 93 million to RUB 500 million.

STG began production in 1972 as a tissue division at Syktyvkar Timber Processing Complex, Russia's largest forestry factory at that time. The company's mills have modern tissue lines supplied by Metso, Fabio Perini, and SDF, with a combined capacity exceeding 50,000 metric tpy of base paper and 275 million standard rolls, or 14 million standard packs.

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Following a breakdown in labor discussions between company representatives and the union representatives at the Tembec high-yield pulp mill located in Matane, Que., Canada, unionized employees did not report to work this past Tuesday (May 10) morning and went out on strike. Consequently, all production activities have been suspended indefinitely.

The company says it is monitoring the situation very closely and is putting into place measures that will ensure uninterrupted supply to its customers. The plant in Matane employs 143 people, of which 99 are unionized, and ships to customers in North America, Europe and Asia.

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This past week at the European Parliament, the International Confederation of paper and board Converters in Europe (CITPA) and the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI), presented the voluntary "Industry Guideline for the Compliance of Paper & Board Materials and Articles for Food Contact." The Guideline, which has been peer reviewed by PIRA International, refers to those aspects of quality assurance most significance to ensure that paper and board meets the quality standards appropriate to their intended use in food contact.

"Safety of food is a pre-eminent concern, the paper and board manufacturing and converting sector recognizes this concern and gives top priority to the safety of the materials and articles it manufactures and supplies," said John Swift, chair of the Cross Industry Group responsible for the drafting of the Industry Guideline. He added that "for the first time, all of the components needed to facilitate compliance with EU legislation were included in one text."

CITPA and CEPI noted that a challenge in demonstrating the commitment to supplying safe products is to demonstrate compliance with relevant legislation. The sector has cooperated at national government and EU level for many years, and the Industry Guideline proposes a route for compliance with EC regulation 1935/2004, which covers all materials that come in direct contact with food,

The two organizations pointed out that "the lack of a specific measure for paper and board has created a disadvantage in the market because paper and board materials appear to be ‘unregulated.'" Thus, "if the European Commission decides to start drafting a specific measure for paper and board materials, we have the ground prepared to do so," added Bengt Nordin, CITPA president, in his closing remarks.

Nordin also presented the benefits of the Industry and pointed out the challenge of demonstrating the safety of paper and board. He said that he was "proud to announce that the industry is monitoring the implementation of the Industry Guideline and, so far, the results have shown a large acceptance within paper and board companies."

For more information about the Guidelines, email info@citpa-europe.org.

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Holmen AB's subsidiary, Iggesund Paperboard Ltd., Helsinki, Finland, has ordered from Andritz, Graz, Austria, a wood-based biomass receiving and handling system for its Workington paperboard mill in Cumbria, U.K. Startup is scheduled for April 2013.

The order includes supply, installation, and startup of the equipment (1,000 cubic meters/hr capacity) for receiving and storing biomass, as well as conveying it to the Andritz biomass boiler. This includes a horizontally fed chipping line for logs with an HHQ-Chipper, and a horizontally fed crushing line for wood waste. The storage facility, also provided by Andritz, will accommodate 20,000 cubic meters of biomass.

This follows an order received from Iggesund in April for the supply of an Andritz bubbling fluidized bed boiler for the Workington mill, which will generate steam at a rate of 195 tons/hr.

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Sonoco, Hartsville, S.C., USA, is contributing an additional $25,000 to the America Red Cross to fund relief and recovery efforts following storms that devastated dozens of Alabama communities on April 27 and to support efforts by the Pee Dee Chapter of the American Red Cross in South Carolina to respond to fires that have impacted nearly 400 residents during 2011.

"There has been a tremendous amount of tragedy throughout the Southeast U.S. by storms and fires. Sonoco was lucky that our nailed wood/plywood reel operations in Hartselle, Ala., were not significantly impacted by the April 27 storms, but some of our employees and their families and friends were impacted," said Jack Sanders, president and COO.

"The Pee Dee Chapter of the Red Cross has responded to 114 fires, helping nearly 320 local residents. In addition, they played a crucial role during the February 14 fertilizer plant fire in Hartsville, opening a shelter that provided temporary housing and meals for nearly 75 residents. In addition, the chapter has responded to storms in Columbia, S.C., Raleigh, N.C., and Alabama. The Red Cross is always there for those in need and we are increasing our funding to provide additional assistance," added Sanders.

Earlier in 2011 Sonoco provided $10,000 to support emergency response following an earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, and $50,000 for relief and recovery efforts following the Japanese earthquake and tsunami.

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Buckeye Technologies Inc., Memphis, Tenn., USA, this week launched AIRspun® Flushable, a new airlaid nonwoven substrate for use in moist toilet tissue applications. Chairman and CEO John B. Crowe noted that "AIRspun Flushable adds a new dimension to our range of products for wiping applications and meets the needs of our customers who produce wipes for consumer markets."

The new substrate, Crowe continues, was designed to meet the performance criteria of Buckeye's customers including the flushability guidelines set forth by the nonwovens industries associations in North America and Europe. "Additionally, the product is made predominantly with our own fluff pulp cellulose from renewable materials, so it fits well with our continued sustainability efforts," he noted.

Buckeye, a producer and marketer of specialty fibers and nonwoven materials, currently operates facilities in the U.S., Germany, Canada, and Brazil.

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After extensive field trials and more than 12 months of market development, Elliott Absorbents, Rochdale, Lancashire, U.K., reports that it has launched its fruit absorbent pad "Berry-Sorb." Designed specifically to aid the long term freshness and appeal of soft fruits, such as raspberries and blackberries. Berry-Sorb combines both cushioning, with a 150 gsm dual ply absorbent cellulose, applied to a totally absorbent, sealed topcoat.

Advantages include:

• Fungal droplet moisture is totally absorbed and locked away to avoid spoilage through fungal fruit rot
• Cushioning to avoid fruit bruising and damage
• Bio-compostable pad.

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The Cupforma board family produced at Stora Enso's Imatra Mills in Finland has recently acquired a new member, Cupforma Natura. The company notes that drinking cups made with the new board are lighter than before, "but their functionality is just as good," thanks to the new structure of the board.

Cupforma Natura is made of three pulp layers, and the middle layer also contains chemi-thermomechanical pulp (CTMP). It is available with a polyethylene coating on one or both sides. It is already in production and will eventually replace Cupforma Classic, an existing board grade in the Cupforma product family.

Product development of the new board grade was carried out by Stora Enso in co-operation with a major cup producer and a brand owner in just six months, and Cupforma Natura is now available on the global market. Compared with an existing grade, the development process enabled a weight reduction of 4% to 4.5%, which leads to several benefits for both cupmakers and the environment the company explains—the same number of cups can be produced from less raw material, the cost of board per cup is lower, and even transport costs are reduced.

With the yield improvement, customers can now produce some 10,700 cups with the same amount of board used to produce 10,000 cups in 2006. One truckload, representing some 80 cubic meters of wood, can now be processed into about 85,000 more cups than a few years ago. This source reduction has been made possible with the adoption of multilayer technology in cup board production and by using different pulps in different board layers, Stora Enso points out.

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Evonik, Parsippany, N.J., USA, this week reported that it will increase prices for hydrogen peroxide (100% basis) by 4.5 cents per pound in the U.S. and Mexico and C$100/metric ton (100% basis) in Canada, effective June 1 or as contracts allow. In addition, due to the continued escalation of fuel and natural gas prices, Evonik will continue instituting transportation and energy surcharges for hydrogen peroxide sold in North America based on a basket of leading U.S. energy indices. >an annual capacity approaching 600,000 metric tons, Evonik's Advanced Intermediates Business Unit is the world's second-largest producer of the eco-friendly bleaching and oxidizing agent hydrogen peroxide, which is used primarily in paper and pulp bleaching. Evonik produces hydrogen peroxide in Germany, Belgium, Austria, the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Korea, Indonesia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Back To Top

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Södra, Sweden, this week announced that it is increasing the price for its northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) pulp in Europe by $30 per metric ton, effective June 1. The new price will be $1,040 per ton. Back To Top

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The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced this week a total of $47 million to fund eight research and development projects that will support the production of biofuels, bioenergy, and biobased products from biomass sources. The advanced biofuels produced through these projects are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% compared with fossil fuels.

The projects are funded through the Biomass Research and Development Initiative, and they will help increase the availability of alternative renewable fuels and biobased products. Funding is provided through USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture and DOE's Biomass Program. Each award was made through a competitive selection process, and recipients are required to contribute a minimum of 20% of matching funds for research and development projects and 50% of matching funds for demonstration projects. Awardees must pursue projects that integrate science and engineering research in three areas: feedstocks development, biofuels and biobased products development, and biofuels development analysis.

The selected proposals include Cellana LLC of Hawaii, which will develop a protein supplement from algae as a byproduct of algal biofuels production; Exelus of New Jersey, which will redesign a process to make hydrocarbon fuels using new catalysts and chemistry that avoids the high temperatures and large energy inputs required by current processes; and Metabolix of Massachusetts, which will enhance the yield of biobased products, biopower, or fuels made from switchgrass.

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Effective at the end of the Annual Meeting on May 6, Dr. Kurt Bock became the new chairman of the board of executive directors of BASF SE., Germany. He succeeds Dr. Juergen Hambrecht, who has been chairman since 2003 and is now retiring.

Dr. Bock started his career at BASF in the Finance department in Ludwigshafen, Germany, in 1985. From 1992 until 1997 he worked for Robert Bosch GmbH in Stuttgart, Germany, and Brazil. In 1998, he returned to BASF as CFO of its North American subsidiary, and became president of Logistics & Information Services for BASF in Ludwigshafen in 2000. Bock was named to BASF's board of executive directors as CFO in 2003 and since 2007 he was also chairman and CEO of BASF Corp. based in New Jersey. He is married and has three children.

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Rayonier, Jacksonville, Fla., USA, this week announced that its board audit committee has elected Jennifer Botterbusch to the role of vice president, internal audit. She will report directly to the audit committee and indirectly to Hans Vanden Noort, SVP and CFO.

Botterbusch joined Rayonier in 2003 as audit supervisor, and was subsequently promoted to a variety of positions. She most recently served as senior manager, general accounting and controls. She olds a BS in accounting from Jacksonville University, an MBA from the University of North Florida, and is a CPA.

"Jennifer brings extensive experience with the company's financial, administrative, and operating controls to this role that will be of great value to Rayonier and the audit committee," said Vanden Noort. "She is replacing Ed Kiker, who has been named controller, Real Estate at Rayonier.

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Thiele Kaolin Co., Sandersville, Ga., USA, named Andy Crabb VP of Technical Resources at the company's recent board meeting. Crabb graduated from the University of Georgia in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. Since joining Thiele that same year, he has held various positions in Research and Development, Quality Assurance, Process Improvement, Operations Management, and Technical Resources.

As VP of Technical Resources, Crabb is responsible for Research and Development, the Paper Research and Applications Laboratory, Process Engineering, the company's ISO system, and various regulatory affairs duties.

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The Conference Brochure is now available for the 13th TAPPI European PLACE Conference, May 30-June 1, 2011 in Bregenz, Austria. This biennial conference will focus on the latest trends, technologies and applications affecting the extrusion coating and laminating industry. The conference covers polymers, laminations, adhesives, coatings, film extrusions and end use applications in flexible packaging and converting.

Register before April 29th to take advantage of the Early Bird Registration Rate.

The Hotel cutoff for this event is April 30, 2011.

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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 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 were honored at the Awards Gala Dinner held in early May during PaperCon 2011, held May 1-4 at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center near Cincinnati, Ohio.

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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Next week 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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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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