The U.S. pulp and paper industry is "awash with energy-related projects," according to the latest research by Industrial Info Resources, (IIR) Sugar Land, Texas, USA. Companies are investing in projects that will add electrical generating capacity, increase equipment performance, reduce thermal energy consumption, and ultimately improve the cost structure of mill operations, IIR reports.

The research firm says it currently is tracking more than 75 active capital and maintenance projects at mills across the country that have a cumulative total investment value of more than $1.6 billion. Projects range in size and scope from a $500,000 boiler grate rebuild to a $285 million biomass boiler and 75-MW steam turbine project in Virginia.

Of all active projects, 54 have an investment value of $10 million or less. A total of 21 projects are between $10 million and $100 million. While only a handful of the overall project counts are valued at more than $100 million, those investments account for nearly 40% of total expenditures.

Six of the projects being researched are under construction and have a combined project value of $343 million, while 34 projects that are worth more than $262 million are slated to commence construction during the remainder of 2011. For 2012, plans call for the start of construction on 35 projects that are worth just more than $1 billion.

Mill owners are investing heavily in electrical generation projects, with plans to install nearly 20 new steam turbine generators by 2013, IIR continues. Turbines range in sizes from 5 to 75 MW, with a majority of the units being between 25 and 35 MW. Turbine installations are tied to $1.1 billion in expenditures. As for boiler projects, most of the new installation will utilize some form of biomass as the primary fuel. Moreover, nearly $100 million in project activity is geared toward boiler rebuilds, retrofits, and upgrades.

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Sappi, South Africa, reports that its support for HIV/Aids infected employees, as well as education on how to deal with and prevent HIV/Aids, has now been a standard company practice for 17 years. Sappi has been providing support to its HIV/Aids-infected employees since 1991 when it first established an HIV/Aids policy, which it subsequently updated in 2003. The overall HIV prevalence of the company's workforce is currently at 14.4%, approximately half of the estimated national HIV prevalence rate of 28%.

Through its HIV/Aids policy, Sappi provides effective resources and leadership for the implementation of programs across all of its operations in Southern Africa. These programs provide extensive prevention, treatment, and support and aim to minimise stigma—an obstacle to participation in voluntary counselling and testing. Programs are managed in accordance with Sappi's overall HIV/Aids policy, but are modified to suit the needs of each particular business unit and socio-economic circumstances such as low literacy levels. Ongoing knowledge, attitude, and practices studies conducted at operating units ensure that HIV/Aids programs remain relevant to the needs of each unit.

Knowledge of HIV status is well recognised as a key intervention for mobilizing individuals to take personal responsibility for containing the spread of HIV infection, Sappi notes. There has been a steady, significant increase in the uptake of VCT to 28% since it was first initiated in 2000. Currently 47% of the predicted HIV-positive Sappi employees are registered on an HIV/Aids managed care program.

HIV-infected permanent employees have been offered anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment from the beginning of 2003, according to Sappi. As effective ARV treatment, it adds, depends on strict medication compliance. A variety of methods are used to assess compliance and a process of counselling is followed if the patient does not comply with the treatment. The Government of Swaziland operates an anti-retroviral treatment programme for all HIV/Aids patients, and so the company's Usutu Mill in Swaziland is focused on providing the resources for counselling, blood sampling, and administration of medication for employees, their families, and the broader community to ensure sustainability of the program.

André Oberholzer, group head of corporate affairs at Sappi, explains that the group looks further than its own immediate operations in combating the pandemic. "Recognising that our HIV/Aids workplace programs will only be truly effective if extended beyond the boundaries of our immediate operations, we extend support and counselling services to the families of employees. We have established partnerships with various role players, including the government, non-governmental organizations, and other national and provincial bodies, to implement comprehensive HIV/Aids programs, eliminate duplication, and make optimum use of the available but limited resources. In 2005, we also joined the Global Business Coalition (GBC) on HIV/Aids, a global partnership focused on developing an integrated strategy for dealing with the disease."

A major strategic focus for Sappi is identifying external risks to contain the spread of the epidemic and reduce the risk to its employees. Of the company's Corporate Social Responsibility budget in South Africa, R3.2 million is allocated to HIV outreach programs.

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Mohawk Fine Papers Inc., Cohoes, N.Y., USA, this week reported that it is working with charity: water to bring clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations. Tom O'Connor Jr., chairman and CEO of Mohawk, noted that "almost one billion people on our planet don't have access to clean, safe drinking water. That's one in eight of us. Charity: water is taking giant strides every day to lower this number and Mohawk's efforts will help move them further towards accomplishing this goal."

This is the first time that all of Mohawk's business units are concentrating their efforts to raise awareness and funds for the same non-profit organization, the company said. These efforets include:

• PinholePress.com, an online boutique for personalized photo gifts, has launched a new line of limited-edition photo gifts designed around charity: water's signature yellow Jerry can. These include exclusive photo books, photo pads, desk calendars, and personal stationery. A significant portion of the proceeds from these items will go directly to charity: water.
• A breakout of donations generated from each product is available online.
• FeltandwireShop.com, a curated marketplace of designer paper goods, also began offering an exclusive line of charity: water products this week.
• MohawkPaperStore.com will provide customers with an option to donate $5, $10, $1, or $20 to charity: water at checkout.
• Robust employee fundraising efforts called "A Drop in the Bucket" began at all of Mohawk's corporate and manufacturing facilities this month and the company will make a dollar-for-dollar matching donation at the end of the drive.
• 100% of all donations to charity: water will go directly to funding water projects in the field. To simplify the donations process and to receive a direct tax receipt from the organization, general cash donations from anyone can also be made at a Mohawk-specific page on the charity: water website.

"Mohawk has been a long-time supporter of charity: water and we're excited to expand this partnership into a multi-tiered fundraising campaign across the various Mohawk offerings. One of the most important tasks at charity: water is to maintain a strong, design-driven brand that elevates the importance of our mission. Mohawk understands the impact of compelling design to inspire their customers to engage and give back," said Viktoria Harrison, creative director for charity: water.

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The TAPPI Tissue Properties & Manufacturing Course, to be held August 10 - 11, 2011, at TAPPI's headquarters in Norcross, Ga., USA, delivers a comprehensive and structured overview of tissue manufacturing processes, and their effects on product performance for those operations and administrative personnel that are new to the industry or process of tissue production.

"The course is specifically designed to increase the ability of attendees to improve manufacturing operations and produce a more competitive product," says Michael J. Kocurek, PhD, Professor Emeritus at North Carolina State University, who chairs this course.

Kocurek adds that "we have put together a ‘top notch' team of instructors to make sure that attendees receive a well-rounded overview of the processes." The team of instructors for this course will include Lucyna M. Pawlowska, tissue process application specialist, Kemira North America; Peter E. McCabe, tissue business leader, AstenJohnson; and Roger Banks, tissue press felt section presenter, AstenJohnson.

Kocurek has taught this course for a number of years with TAPPI and has also taught this curriculum to operators at multiple mills and corporations.

Course topics will cover:

• Tissue properties and tests and how these relate to sheet structure
• Performance effects of fiber raw materials, pulp mill, and recycling operations
• Stock prep refining for tissue
• Chemicals for tissue
• Tissue machine wet end operations and effects on sheet structure and properties, including multilayer headboxes, formation, fiber orientation, dewatering, and fabrics for sheet forming and sheet structure TAD and yankee drying and effects on properties Wet felts for obtaining desired sheet structure
• Creping
• Calendering.

More Information about this course, including registration, is available on the course webpage.

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The diverse, fragmented, and often misunderstood North American Specialty and Value-Added Paper market is huge, amounting to more than 6.7 million tons of demand annually and representing sales at the producer level of more than $8.6 billion in 2010, according to a new study by Business Development Advisory (BDA), Marietta, Ga., USA. The 187 page study contains more than 100 tables and includes in-depth analyses of 27 major specialty paper grades (consisting of more than 220 individual applications) targeted at packaging, printing, and technical paper markets.

While total specialty paper demand is projected to grow at an average annual rate of only about 1.3% over the next five years, individual grade and market segments will grow much differently, ranging from a low of -5.4% to a high of 6.7% annually over the next five years. The report also notes that these specialty grades will continue to outperform non specialty papers across each of the seven paper grade segments covered in the study.

"To take advantage of changing market opportunities in this dynamic paper market, it is important for industry participants (paper producers, converters, suppliers, and investors) to understand how these different segments will evolve in the future and where the best opportunities will be for your business," says Frank Perkoswski, president of BDA. "This study provides you with the information and insights you will need to plan your business and effectively position yourself in these markets," he adds.

A detailed table of contents, list of figures, and major segments covered is contained in the study prospectus. Perkowski can be contacted at 770-643-9081 or frank@bd-advisory.com with any questions, or for interest only in certain sections of the study.

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Total U.S. printing and writing (P&W) paper shipments decreased 5.1% in June compared with June 2010, according to the AF&PA‘s (Washington, D.C., USA) June 2011 Printing-Writing Paper Report. All four major P&W paper grades posted decreases compared with last June.

U.S. purchases (shipments + imports – exports) of P&W papers decreased 6% in June. Total P&W paper inventory levels decreased 4% compared with May 2011.

Some points of interest from the report include:

• May exports of uncoated free sheet (UFS) paper increased year-over-year for the third straight month
• Inventory of coated free sheet (CFS) paper decreased for the second time in the past eight months
• Coated mechanical (CM) paper inventory month-over-month decreased for the second time this year in June
• Uncoated mechanical (UM) paper shipments decreased year-over-year for the third consecutive time in 18 months.

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The European newsprint sector recorded a 3.1% (25,000 metric ton) increase in demand in June compared with the same period last year, according to the Association of European Publication Paper Producers, CEPIPRINT, Brussels, Belgium. Total European shipments were up 1.1% (10,000 metric tons) last month on the back of higher domestic deliveries. However, exports of Newsprint fell 18.5% (28,000 metric tons) during the same period.

European demand for SC-Magazine was 4.8% (15,000 metric tons) lower in June year-on-year. On the shipments side, a 19.4% (14,000 metric ton) hike in exports took total European shipments to 392,000 metric tons, just 0.4% below the level seen in June of last year.

The Coated Mechanical Reels sector reported a similar rise in overseas shipments last month. Exports of the grade were up 12.7% (20,000 metric tons). However, local European shipments were down 8.5%, representing a 50,000 metric ton drop year-on-year with reductions recorded in several large markets, particularly Spain and Germany.

On a smaller scale, exports of uncoated mechanical papers were also up last month, with a rise of 13.7% (5,000 metric tons). Domestic shipments of the grade were down 1.8% or 3,000 metric tons, which led to total European shipments of 214,000 metric tons in June, a 2,000 metric ton increase.

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PaperWorks Industries Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., USA, this week reported that it has successfully completed a refinancing. Proceeds will be used to refinance existing debt and to fund the January 2011 acquisitions of Rosmar Packaging and Manchester Industries. Details of the financing were not disclosed.

CEO Thomas Garland noted that "we were quite pleased with the excellent response to our debt offering. Our new debt structure allows us to continue to invest in our operations, complete the integration of our recent acquisitions, and explore further opportunities for growth."

Founded in 2008, PaperWorks Industries is an integrated full-service packaging provider. The company's Packaging Group produces specialized folding cartons, serving clients of all sizes across North America from 11 facilities. Its 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. The company has more than 1,850 employees across 18 North American locations, with annual sales in excess of $600 million.

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Sappi Fine Paper Europe reports that it has been unsuccessful in its attempts to find a suitable acquirer for its Biberist mill in Switzerland, and has therefore decided to completely close the mill. Production on paper machines 8 and 9 has already ceased and production on the uncoated paper line will halt at the end of August. Redundancy notices to all remaining employees affected by the closure have been sent out.

"The process to find a suitable purchaser included numerous discussions with interested parties and involved close cooperation between local mill management and Sappi's European and global management teams to make the purchase as attractive as possible," said Sappi Fine Paper Europe CEO Berry Wiersum. "Unfortunately several industry players quickly withdrew their interest and we were unable to come to an agreement with any other interested parties."

Sappi has agreed to a social plan with the employees and the labor unions. Approximately 550 employees in total will be affected by the closure, of which 134 have been given notice earlier. Meanwhile, the company continues its search for a new owner.

Production at the mill will be transferred to other Sappi sites in Europe. With the cessation of coated graphic paper production at Biberist, Sappi will reduce its graphic paper capacity by 500,000 metric tpy.

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Shouguang MeiLun Paper Co., Shouguang, Shandong province in China, has successfully started up its Metso-supplied coated fine paper line PM 6. The new machine includes a complete OptiConcept papermaking line from headbox to reel, as well as two winders. It produces double-coated woodfree paper within the basis weight range of 70-128 gsm.

The annual maximum production capacity of the 11.15-m-wide (wire) line is around 800,000 metric tons and the design speed is 2,000 m/min. The papermaking line has been equipped with the latest Metso technology, including an OptiFormer SB forming section, OptiFlo Pro headbox, and OptiDry Twin drying technology.

Shouguang MeiLun Paper is part of Shandong Chenming Paper Holdings Limited, one of the biggest paper producers in China. The group is made up of more than 10 subsidiaries with a production capacity of 4 million metric tpy.

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Metso, Finland, will supply six TwinRoll Evolution wash presses with related additional services and equipment to four Swedish pulp mills. The wash presses, scheduled to startup between the end of 2011 and mid-2012, will help the mills to increase production capacity, optimize their fiberlines, and reduce their environmental impact.

The Södra Cell Mörrum pulp mill ordered two new TwinRoll Evolution wash presses as a part of its investment to convert Line 1 to dissolving pulp production. At full capacity, the Mörrum will produce 170,000 metric tpy of dissolving pulp based on hardwood. Metso's delivery will also include the rebuild of two old presses, basic engineering, and site services.

The Rottneros Vallviks Bruk AB mill ordered two TwinRoll Evolution wash presses, basic engineering, and site services. The new wash presses will allow the mill to reduce effluent flow from its bleach plant to the new biological water treatment plant.

The Korsnäs AB pulp mill in Gävle ordered a TwinRoll Evolution wash press, rebuild of an existing oxygen stage, piping, basic and detail engineering, and site services. The new Metso equipment will allow Korsnäs to optimize the fiberline operation, which will improve the quality of its pulp.

The Korsnäs AB pulp mill in Frövi ordered a TwinRoll Evolution wash press, basic engineering, and site services. The new wash press will replace an old wash press before the paper machine.
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Clearwater Paper Corp., Spokane, Wash., USA, reports that it will offer Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified premium and ultra-premium bath tissue, and ultra-premium paper towel products to retail customers. The Rainforest Alliance's SmartWood Program performed all certification audits to ensure conformance to the FSC standards. The company shipped the first batch of these new FSC-certified ultra-premium tissue products in early June.

In June 2010, Clearwater began offering FSC-certified facial tissue to retail grocery private label customers. Since then, the company has applied the FSC logo and the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal to millions of customer facial cartons, and currently supplies the largest case volume of FSC-certified private label products to U.S. retail chains.

"The combination of certified premium and ultra-premium facial products since June of last year, coupled with increases planned this year, means that products certified by the Rainforest Alliance to FSC standards represent more than 50% of Clearwater Paper's total retail product case volume nationwide," said Bob DeVleming, president of Clearwater Paper's consumer products division."

FSC-certification indicates to consumers that the products they are purchasing come from responsible, well-managed forests where forest ecosystems are conserved and the rights of workers and their communities are protected.

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China Shengda Packaging Group Inc., Hangzhou, China, a paper packaging manufacturer, this week announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary Zhejiang Great Shengda Packaging Co. has launched a new fully-automated production line for five-color flexo printing, slotting, and die-cutting. The new line will increase annual production capacity by 30 million sq meters for flexo printing, slotting, and die-cutting.

The new production line features equipment that meets international quality and safety standards and is expected to improve efficiency and reduce waste. The new line started up this month and is expected to reach its targeted utilization rate of 75% within two months. The new production line currently shares the existing customer base and will assist to fill up the healthy order pipeline in the first few months of operation.

"Our new line upgrades the technology at Great Shengda and allows us to provide higher quality products, improve efficiency, and fill our orders more quickly," said. Daliang Teng, CEO of China Shengda Packaging.

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PAPCEL, Czech Republic, reports that it will reconstruct and deliver a paper machine to the Mayak-VEGA joint venture in Russia. The machine, from the Alce SpA mill in Lucca, Italy, will produce simplex and duplex fluting and linerboard, as well as plasterboard in the future. The contract is valued at EUR 22.7 million.

PAPCEL will also supply a new recycled fiber line with a production capacity of 30 metric tpd. Additionally, it will deliver the film press as well as the second screen and reel, and will provide basic engineering services, detail engineering, disassembly and assembly, and will arrange civil engineering for the project. This is PAPCEL's first such delivery into Russia.

Dismantling work at the Alce mill in Italy will start in the middle of August, and deliveries to Russia will be finished by the end of this year. Completion of the civil engineering work in Russia is set for the first quarter of 2012.

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Sonoco, Hartsville, S.C., USA, this week announced plans to move its manufacturing plants to landfill-free status. To achieve landfill-free status, Sonoco operations must divert 99% of all wastes from landfills, said Harris DeLoach Jr., chairman and CEO.

Sonoco has implemented employee-driven programs at five manufacturing plants in the company's Packaging Services, Consumer Packaging, and Tubes and Cores operations that are focused on reducing waste streams to less than 1% (on a waste-to-landfill ratio) by the end of 2011. In addition, the company has established a goal to have 10% of its global manufacturing operations achieve landfill-free status by 2015.

"As one of the largest packaging recyclers in North America, we have established programs through our Sonoco Sustainability Solutions, LLC (S3) service that are eliminating landfill wastes at our customers' manufacturing plants and have moved 10 plants to land fill-free status," DeLoach noted. "While we have always worked to reduce landfill wastes from our own plants, we are now focused on taking the next step in moving our operations to landfill-free status where possible."

Sonoco's Winston-Salem, N.C., corrugated point-of-purchase display manufacturing facility is the company's first plant to move to landfill-free status, according to David Holcomb, director of manufacturing, Sonoco-Corrflex. The plant is equipped with corrugators and converting equipment, including die cutters, printing presses, folding and gluing lines, and its waste stream included corrugated materials, plastic films, wraps, bands, ink containers, cutting dies, batteries, and standard facility recyclables.

Beginning in 2008, the plant's employees formed a "Green Team" that was initially focused on reducing the plant's landfill wastes by 50% over 18 months. Within that time frame, they were able to reduce wastes by 65% and currently are achieving a less than 1% waste-to-landfill ratio. As a result of its employees' efforts, the Winston-Salem plant was honored with a 2010 North Carolina Triad Green Award for its waste reduction improvement.

"The most important lesson learned was to never accept 'it can't be done' as an answer," said Holcomb. "A case in point was cutting dies (used to perforate displays from sheets of corrugating paper). Historically, there was no outlet for diverting dies from landfills. However, through the work of our team and suggestions from a customer, we have now sent some 65,000 lb of dies to a waste to energy facility."

Sonoco-Corrflex has set up recycling programs in two other fulfillment/promotional pack sites, and has identified other operations in which it will work to move to landfill-free status in the near future. In addition, Sonoco has programs in place at the company's Hartsville tubes and cores converting plant and its West Chicago, Ill., composite can plant to achieve landfill-free status by end of 2011.

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Stora Enso, Finland, has ordered a new testliner machine from Voith Paper, Germany, for its Ostroleka mill, approximately 120 km north of Warsaw, Poland. The new PM 5 will allow Stora Enso to meet the increasing demand for corrugated board and ensure the competitiveness of its location. Startup is scheduled for the first quarter of 2013.

At a wire width of 8,600 mm and a design speed of 1,800 m/min, the Narew PM 5 will produce 455,000 metric tons of testliner per year. The new machine is especially designed for the production of lightweight testliner in a basis weight range of 65 - 140 gsm. The key focus of this investment is on low operating costs as well as a resource-efficient overall concept.

Voith Paper will supply the entire paper machine from headbox to winder. A particular highlight is the new DuoDryer CC that will be installed in the Narew PM 5 for the first time. It permits symmetrical drying with a continuously closed web run. Light and low-tension papers can be produced at high speeds and high efficiency at the same time. A VariFlex winder also is included in the scope of supply.

In addition to the OnQ ModuleSteam (steam box) and the OnV ConditionMonitoring (machine monitoring system), the automation package also includes the new OnV EnergyProfiler software. This software visualizes energy consumption of the paper machine and thus permits energy cost saving production. A quality control system with two Voith LSC Scanners supplements the package. Back To Top

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Stora Enso, Finland, has ordered from Andritz, Austria, a complete OCC line including reject treatment for its new 455,000 metric tpy board machine that will be located in Ostroleka, Poland (see article above) . Startup is scheduled for the beginning of 2013.

The OCC line, which includes FibreFlow drum pulping, has a feed capacity of1,665 metric tpd. The raw materials of mixed waste and OCC (old corrugated containers) will be used to produce high-quality, lightweight testliner and fluting. The complete reject treatment system, designed for 120 metric tpd, will supply combustible material for the existing power boiler. The scope of supply also includes erection work and startup.

The state-of-the-art OCC line and reject treatment is being designed to minimize operating costs, as well as energy and water consumption.

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The Fibertect nonwoven textile wipe developed at Texas Tech University (TTU), Lubbock, Texas, USA, and invented by Dr. Seshadri Ramkumar of TTU, has received additional funding from the U.S. Army. The funding, part of a major research program by the Zumwalt Program at TTU, is aimed at enhancing Fibertect wipe's applications.

The Institute of Environmental and Human Health (TIEHH) at Texas Tech recently received a $1.1 million research award from the U.S. Army's Research Development and Engineering Command to continue funding the Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt Jr. National Program for Countermeasures to Biological and Chemical Threats. Ron Kendall, director of TIEHH, said this was the first funding cycle of a new three-year contract for the program, which was chartered at Texas Tech in 1999.

"This will allow us to continue our work in countermeasures to chemical and biological threats – in other words, counterterrorism measures," Kendall said. "The program has enjoyed a lot of success in working with the Army in the last several years, publishing more than 100 scientific publications, a major textbook and critical patents such as the Fibertech decontamination wipe."

Specifically, Fibertect has received $90,000 for a one year project. Recently, cotton-carbon Fibertect was found to have oil absorption capabilities. More information is available online.

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Paper, Pulp & Film Inc., Fresno, Calif., USA, has developed a paper pallet that is lighter than wood and plastic pallets, is priced competitively, and will cut retailers' freight and labor costs, according to a report this week by The Packer. The SunBurst-labeled, 40-in. by 48-in. pallet weighs only 14 lb., but can carry more than 2,000 lb. Its light weight figures to offer a shipping advantage over wood and plastic pallets.

The new pallet features a laminated double hexacomb layer that provides strength and offers a flat, smooth surface atop the entire pallet. Designed solely for one time use from the supplier to a distribution center to a retailer, the pallet is also sealed against moisture. When food items are offloaded at a store, there is no need for a retailer to find storage space for the SunBurst pallet. It can just be tossed into the (corrugated paper) baler. At today's rate of $200 per ton for recycled corrugated paper, retailers will receive about $1.50 for each SunBurst pallet that goes into the baler. Back To Top

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PaperWorks Industries Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., this week announced that as a result of ongoing higher recovered paper, energy, chemical, freight, and other costs, it will increase prices on all grades of coated and uncoated recycled paperboard by $40 per ton. This will affect all North American customers with shipments as of August 22, and impact the entire MasterWorks product line.

The company also anticipates increasing all lightweight and specialty grade up-charges, which will impact the MasterWorks Blister, Freeze, Lite, and Bev product lines. PaperWorks also noted that its customers can expect a review of upcoming changes with their account managers in the coming weeks.

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Papierfabrik Scheufelen, Lenningen, Germany, will raise prices for its coated woodfree papers by 8% in all countries, beginning with shipments on and after September 1. The company attributes the price increase to continuing increases in raw materials and energy costs.

Scheufelen, founded in 1855, was acquired by the Dutch company Paper Excellence this past May. At the Lenningen site, some 550 employees produce up to 300,000 metric tpy of premium coated woodfree paper from FSC and PEFC certified pulps. The paper brands Phoenixmotion, Parilux, Heaven 42, Bys, and Bro are available in a grammage range from 90 gsm – 400 gsm and are available with matt, semi-matt, and glossy surfaces.

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Catalyst Paper, Richmond, B.C., Canada, has appointed Brian Johnston to the position of VP, technical services. Most recently serving as VP, operations, this new assignment will leverage Johnston's extensive industry background as the company intensifies its focus on manufacturing consistency and efficiency.

"Brian's experience and knowledge of all of our operating assets and technologies will enable the business to ensure appropriate procedures, processes, and resources are fully deployed in each mill and functioning at a level that delivers maximum productivity and reliability," said Catalyst president and CEO Kevin J. Clarke. "His technical expertise will also be instrumental in the efficient deployment of major capital projects such as the federally funded boiler upgrade at Powell River."

Johnston has held a range of leadership assignments at Catalyst since joining the company in 1994 and brings more than 25 years of coast-to-coast mill experience to his new role. Pending completion of the search for a new head of manufacturing, mill operations will report to the president.

Catalyst Paper manufactures specialty printing papers, newsprint, and pulp. It operates four mills located in British Columbia and Arizona, with a combined annual production capacity of 1.9 million metric tons.

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Sonoco, Hartsville, S.C., USA, has elected John R. Haley a director of the company. Haley is CEO of Gosiger Inc., a Dayton, Ohio-based, privately owned distributor of computer-controlled machine tools and factory automation systems. He joined Gosiger in 1987, and served as a division president before being named managing partner in 2002. Over its nearly 90-year history, Gosiger has grown revenues to more than $200 million and has 13 facilities in eight states.

 A resident of Dayton, Haley holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from the University of Virginia. He serves on the board of directors of Ultra-met Carbide Technologies, a privately owned manufacturer of custom-molded tungsten carbide products, in Urbana, Ohio. He also serves on the University of Dayton's board of trustees, where he has chaired the board's finance and facilities committees, and the board of directors of the Gosiger Foundation.

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Appleton, Appleton, Wis., USA, has elected Mark A. Suwyn and George W. Wurtz to its board of directors. Suwyn, president of Marsuw, a private investment and consulting company, retired as chairman of NewPage, the largest coated paper producer in North America, in June 2010. He previously served as chairman and CEO of NewPage for five years. Suwyn also served for nine years as chairman and CEO of Louisiana-Pacific Corp. Prior to that, he held executive management positions with International Paper Co. and spent 25 years with E.I. Du Pont where he directed marketing, acquisition, and joint venture efforts.

Wurtz is president and CEO of New WinCup Holdings, Stone Mountain, Ga., a privately-held manufacturer and distributor of single-use cups, food service containers, lids, and straws. Wurtz retired as an officer of Georgia-Pacific Corp. in 2006 after serving in several executive management positions including president of paper, bleached board, and kraft operations. Prior to joining G-P, Wurtz worked for James River Corp./Fort James for 14 years and held executive management positions in operations, logistics, procurement, and manufacturing planning.

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Attend TAPPI PEERS Conference, October 2-5 in Portland, and learn the latest details of the potential changes in air emissions controls as the U.S. EPA begins implementing its final air toxic rules for boilers. The TAPPI PEERS Conference offers multiple in-depth panel discussions exploring the impact of Boiler MACT from both the compliance and equipment perspective. It will also examine modern investment strategies that factor into environmental considerations as well as insurance costs and benefits.

Additional conference highlights include Keynote Speaker Miles P. Drake from Weyerhaeuser, a special two-day Dissolving Pulp Forum, a New Technology Showcase focusing on latest products and services available to the marketplace, a State of the Industry Presentation, Hot Topics Breakfasts, and a Sustainability Panel.

Of special interest to pulping professionals: TAPPI PEERS Conference is co-located with the International Pulp Bleaching Conference and you can attend both at a discounted rate just by being a TAPPI member.

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TAPPI is looking for two to three experts on nanocellulose and standards development to participate in a special task group. This task group has been established by the ANSI-Accredited U.S. TAG to ISO TC 229 Nanotechnologies. To be eligible, you must be a TAPPI member (you can join today!). If you are selected, you must represent TAPPI members, and not your own organization. If interested respond by Friday, July 29th.

If you are unfamiliar with the International Organization for Standardization, ISO has over 200 specialized technical committees (TC) that work to develop international standards (www.iso.org). TC 229 is the Nanotechnologies technical committee. Experts participate on these committees as national delegates. The United States responds to ISO standardization activities through the U.S. Technical Advisory Groups (TAG). The U.S. TAG to ISO/TC 229 Nanotechnologies formulates positions and proposals on behalf of the United States and communicates these to ISO/TC 229. The U.S. TAGs also provide the delegates and experts who represent the United States at meetings of the respective ISO Technical Committees, Subcommittees and Working Groups.

To support TAPPI members' growing interest in nanocellulose utilization and development, and leverage TAPPI's ANSI-accredited standards development process, TAPPI joined the U.S. TAG to ISO/TC 229 Nanotechnologies. As a member to the U.S. TAG, TAPPI members can participate in U.S. TAG activities as member experts.

The Nanocellulose Task Group is seeking experts on nanocellulose and standards to participate in this task group to help continue efforts in standards development. Experts from industry are preferred, but any TAPPI member can apply. If you are not currently a member, join at www.tappi.org. Please contact Colleen Walker by Friday, July 29th at 770-209-7349 or cwalker@tappi.org if you are interested. As only two-three representatives will be able to participate, updates on this special task group will be provided to members.

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The 2011 International Pulp Bleaching Conference will be hosted by TAPPI on October 5-7, 2011 in Portland, OR in conjunction with the TAPPI PEERS Conference.

This conference is dedicated to all chemical and engineering aspects of pulp bleaching. Not held since 2008, it is the most important meeting on this subject and attracts a global audience to meet, learn and exchange ideas. This year's program will include a Weyerhaeuser Mill Tour. Space is limited on this tour, so make your reservations early! Full details on the conference, including the technical program and registration are available on the TAPPI website.

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The 2011 TAPPI Improving Paper Machine Performance Course will be held August 23-25, 2011.
This upcoming TAPPI course will give students the tools needed to evaluate the performance of paper machines against industry standards. By measurement and comparison, the student will be able to evaluate ways to improve performance and optimize the efficiency of the paper machine operation.

The course will be led by James W. Atkins, president of Atkins, Inc., a consulting company. Mr. Atkins has over forty years in the paper industry and has held the titles of Manager Paper Manufacturing, Mill Manager, and VP/General Manager in several paper companies. He has a Bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of North Carolina. Joining the instructor team will be Charles P. Klass, President of Klass Associates, Inc.

To find out more click Course Information

 

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The deadline is next week for nominations to be submittied for the major annual assocation awards which recognize outstanding contribution to the association and industry. The submission deadline is August 1, 2011. The following awards may be presented in the upcoming year:

• Gunnar Nicholson Gold Medal Award - The Association's highest technical honor recognizes an individual or individuals for preeminent scientific and engineering achievements of proven commercial benefit to the world's pulp, paper, board, forest products and related industires. 
• Herman L. Joachim Distinguished Service Award - The Association's highest award for service recognizes leadership and service which have significantly and demonstrably contributed to the advancement of the Association.
• Paul W. Magnabosco Outstanding Local Section Member Award – The award recognizes an individual for outstanding leadership and exceptional service to one or more Local Sections, which have resulted in significant and demonstrable benefits to the Local Section members. It's the association's highest honor for Local Sections.
• TAPPI Fellow - TAPPI Fellows are TAPPI members who have contributed meritorious service to the Association and/or the paper and related industries. Retiring members of the TAPPI Board of Directors become Fellows automatically at the end of their term. Nominees must have been TAPPI members for not less than 10 years prior to the nomination

TAPPI Awards and Honors  shows the award qualifications links to the nomination forms that must be completed. All nomination forms may be submitted by email to standards@tappi.org, faxed to the attention of the awards department at +1-770-446-6947, or mailed to TAPPI, Awards Department, 15 Technology Parkway South, Norcross, GA 30092, USA.

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The Preventive Maintenance/Essential Care & Condition Monitoring Course will be held September 12-13, 2011, in Raleigh, NC. TAPPI will be partnering with IDCON on a series of maintenance courses such as this.

Preventive maintenance is essential to achieving improved equipment reliability. The implementation of a preventive maintenance program will enable your plant to identify and minimize equipment failures.

This training in Preventive Maintenance/Essential Care and Condition Monitoring will teach participants how to set up a cost-effective process and provide practical exercises and techniques.

You will benefit from this training if you:

Plan preventive maintenance work

• Execute preventive maintenance tasks (operations and maintenance)
• Manage preventive maintenance
• Work with reliability improvements
• Manage and/or supervise maintenance personnel
• Work with a Computerized Maintenance Management System
• Work as a maintenance or reliability engineer
• Coordinate PM tasks between E/I, mechanical and operations
• Manage Operator Essential Care and inspections

Learn More and Register!

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As the leading association for the worldwide pulp, paper, packaging, and converting industries, TAPPI announces that it is still accepting applications for the William L Cullison Scholarship. Scholarship funds are currently awarded in increments up to $4,000 per academic year for the last two years of a student's undergraduate program. The deadline has been extended to August 1, 2011. All candidates will be notified of their application status by September 1, 2011.

TAPPI's selection committee has created a new, expedited process for applicants to submit their application. It recognizes that while students are seeking additional ways to cover the cost of their education, they also appreciate electronic solutions to facilitate application submission. The committee is happy to oblige and the online process is fairly straightforward.

Potential candidates must meet all of the following eligibility criteria to be considered. It is important to note that financial need is not a requirement to be eligible.

• Major in a pulp and paper science course of study at a college or university. Many of these colleges and universities sponsor a TAPPI Student Chapter.
• Maintain a 3.5 grade point average or better (on a 4.0 scale) through the first two years in a four-year program, or first three years in a five-year program.
• Demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities.
• Demonstrate significant interest in the pulp and paper industry.

Convinced that today's students are tomorrow's leaders, the TAPPI Foundation endowed the William L. Cullison Scholarship fund in honor of TAPPI's fifth Executive Director, an extraordinary industry leader. The field offers satisfying, well-paying careers in the pulp and paper, corrugated container, or polymers, laminations, adhesives, coatings and extrusion industries. Attracting skilled, motivated young people is the cornerstone to building a highly skilled workforce and a technically advanced industry. This scholarship provides a compelling incentive for students entering their third year of college to pursue an academic path related to this vital work.

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