Mohawk Fine Papers, Cohoes, N.Y., USA, this week announced that it plans to close the Beckett Mill in Hamilton, Ohio, at the end of the year, noting that the move "is designed to realign its manufacturing platform to meet the needs of a changing market." The shutdown would include the mill's three paper machines and would affect 137 union and salaried employees. Over the next two months, Mohawk intends to transition manufacturing from Beckett to its paper mills in Cohoes and Waterford, N.Y., which could result in 40 new production jobs in New York. Mohawk will continue to operate its envelope, converting, and warehouse/distribution facilities in Saybrook, Ohio, along with warehouses in California, Washington, New York, and the Netherlands. "This was a very difficult decision," said Thomas D. O'Connor Jr., chairman and CEO, Mohawk Fine Papers. "Our employees at Beckett have done everything asked of them and we are grateful for their efforts and contributions. We encourage the Beckett mill employees to apply for production openings in New York, and Mohawk will provide relocation assistance to help the transition. Our decision reflects the realities of today's market and our belief that the changes in communications technology and print impacting our business are both fundamental and permanent. These changes, though painful, will allow us to accelerate our transformation to the new Mohawk, serving customers worldwide with premium papers, digital substrates, photo products, services, and education."

Back To Top

---

 

Verso Paper Corp., Memphis, Tenn., USA, this week reported that its Quinnesec, Mich., mill recently received renewal of its MVPP Star Award, the state's highest recognition for workplace safety and health, from the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA). The MIOSHA program is part of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).

"Verso's Quinnesec Mill is to be commended for its exemplary commitment to workplace safety and health," said MIOSHA Director Doug Kalinowski. "The mill management and employees have created a corporate culture where workplace safety and health are top priorities. Verso recognizes that a safe workplace provides the foundation for a productive workplace."

MIOSHA established the Michigan Voluntary Protection Program (MVPP) program in 1996 to recognize employers actively working toward achieving excellence in workplace safety and health. Since 1999, Michigan has recognized only 27 companies with the MVPP Star Award, the most prestigious safety and health award given in the state. Verso's Quinnesec Mill first received MVPP Star approval in May 2001, and has since recertified three times.

"The Quinnesec Mill's continued recognition in the MVPP program, and the trust and cooperation upon which it is based, demonstrate that implementing an exemplary safety and health management system not only is an admirable goal, but it is sustainable in the long term," said Kalinowski.

"We're very proud of our MVPP Star recertification and of our industry-leading safety performance," said Verso's Quinnesec Mill Manager Adam St. John. "However, we're most proud that our people are working more safely and we're moving closer to an environment where no one gets hurt at work. To help us reach our ultimate goal of zero injuries, we're building a culture where caring and accountability are one and the same. Our leaders, at every level across the mill, are demonstrating that they care by engaging our people in the safety process. They clarify safety expectations and ‘walk the talk.'"

The Quinnesec Mill has safety teams engaged in leading the facility's safety processes and tracking performance. These teams are composed of a cross-section of people from many areas and levels of responsibility. Their work is guided by a comprehensive annual audit called the Quinnesec Safety Survey (QSS). Using this survey, the safety teams track progress against safety metrics, identify areas for improvement, and develop specific safety improvement goals that are backed by targeted action plans. The mill teams also conduct quarterly compliance audits and an annual safety data review to identify further opportunities for improvement.

"We recently completed our Advanced Safety Leadership Forums, which were developed to challenge Verso's leaders - from senior managers to operators on the mill floor—taking safety performance to the next level," St. John added. "We used these forums to look beyond existing safety efforts to identify what's missing in our quest for safety excellence. Then we developed specific action plans to close the gaps and rallied everyone at the mill to improve performance."

As a result, the Quinnesec Mill's 2011 year-to-date total incidence rate (TIR) of 0.71 represents the best safety performance in the mill's history and first-quartile performance in the paper industry. The mill produces hardwood kraft pulp and coated printing papers. It has the capacity to produce more than 1,100 tpd of coated free sheet paper and 900 tpd of pulp.

Back To Top

---

 

A U.S. appeals court late last week ruled that the government properly designated millions of acres of national forests as off limits to logging and road construction, overturning a lower court ruling in a long-running battle over preserving the land, according to a Reuters News report. For the second time, the U.S. Appeals Court for the 10th Circuit, based in Denver, Colo., overturned a decision by a federal judge in Wyoming who had found the ban that covered some 58.5 million acres (23.67 million hectares) of forest lands exceeded the U.S. Forest Service's authority, Reuters reported..

The restrictions were adopted in 2001 in the waning days of the Clinton administration to preserve the lands unless needed for environmental reasons or to reduce the risk of wildfires. They were challenged by the state of Wyoming, Reuters continued. That lawsuit was dismissed as moot after the Bush administration relaxed the regulations in 2005. A separate appeals court rejected the new Bush-era rules and affirmed a decision to reinstate the 2001 restrictions.

Concerns about the regulations have ranged from accessing natural resources to blocking recreational uses.

Wyoming again filed a lawsuit to block the 2001 restrictions, known as the "Roadless Rules," and a federal judge in the state again agreed to a permanent injunction. On Friday, the 10th Circuit found that the Forest Service did not usurp congressional authority and acted appropriately within its own statutory authority to issue the restrictions.

Back To Top

---

 

North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C., USA, will use a $4 million grant to study the most efficient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly ways of producing biofuels from trees and from forest harvesting residue. N.C. State's College of Natural Resources is part of the Southeast Partnership fro Integrated Biomass Supply Systems, a collaboration of several universities and industry partners who will work on all aspects of the "biofuels pipeline" between the forests where the trees – the biomass feedstock – are grown and the "biorefineries" where the biofuels are produced. The partnership is funded for five years with a $15 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

The research includes understanding the challenges of storing and transporting the biomass, and studying new developments in the production of biofuels. It also includes developing and deploying measures of the environmental and economic impacts of producing biofuel, says Dr. Steve Kelley, professor and head of N.C. State's Department of Forest Biomaterials and the principal investigator for the N.C. State portion of the grant. He adds that the entire biofuel production process must be efficient, scalable, and sustainable.

"The Southeast is a veritable ‘wood basket' that can produce much of the feedstock that shows great promise for production of biofuels," Kelley says. "Besides the obvious need for energy security, this project will develop economic and environmental measures that can inform the public discussion at the community level, and allow individual communities to evaluate their prospects for job creation and landowner income. We want to create the infrastructure capable of providing the backbone for increased biofuel capacity."

Joining Kelley as investigators on the grant are Drs. Robert Bardon, Vincent Chiang, Sudipta Dasmohapatra, Barry Goldfarb, Fikrit Isik, Hasan Jameel, Steve McKeand, Dan Robison, Sunkyu Park, Jose Stape, Richard Venditti, and Ross Whetten. In addition, students at the graduate and undergraduate levels also have research opportunities.

"In ever aspect of this project, there will be students involved," Robison said. "Primarily graduate students will be working on the detailed science, engineering and the public outreach, but there will also be opportunities for undergraduates to conduct research and for fieldwork public outreach."

Back To Top

---

 

TAPPI's Yankee Dryer Safety and Reliability Committee meeting is set for November 2 in Neenah, Wis., USA. Twice per year, this group gathers to address solutions to reduce the risk of damage, delay, and accidents involving these large, rotating pressure vessels. TAPPI Members and first time visitors are welcome to attend. More information about the committee and the November 2 meeting, including registration, is available online.

Back To Top

---

 

Speakers interested in presenting a paper at PaperCon 2012 or Control Systems 2012 in New Orleans should upload their abstract soon. The deadlines to submit are:

• Coating Program (past due)
• Papermakers Program—November 15
• Control Systems 2012—October 31.

Submissions can be made online. More information about the programs is also available online.

Back To Top

---

 

Total printing and writing (P&W) paper shipments decreased 8% in September compared with September 2010, according to the AF&PA's (Washington, D.C., USA). September 2011 Printing-Writing Paper Report issued this week. All four major P&W grades posted decreases compared with last September. U.S. purchases (shipments + imports – exports) of P&W papers decreased 7% in September. Total P&W paper inventory levels decreased 2% compared with August 2011.

Some points of interest from the report include:

• August exports of uncoated free sheet (UFS) increased year-over-year for the sixth straight month
• Shipments of coated free sheet (CFS) decreased year-over-year for the tenth consecutive month
• Coated mechanical (CM) purchases decreased year-over-year for the sixth consecutive month
• Uncoated mechanical (UM) shipments decreased year-over-year for the sixth consecutive month following 15 consecutive months of year-over-year increases.

Back To Top

---

 

Wood costs often account for 65% - 75% of softwood lumber production costs. This cost has trended upwards for more than two years in many of the major lumber-producing countries around the world, the Wood Resource Quarterly (WRQ), Seattle, Wash., USA, reports. The higher sawlog costs have been the result of a growing demand for lumber, not only in the traditional markets of Europe, the U.S. and Japan, but also in China, the Middle East, and Northern Africa.

For example, WRQ points out, the biggest gains in exports for the Nordic countries this year has been to Morocco, a new fast growing market for wood products, and Egypt is now the second most important export market for sawmills in Finland. China's increasing demand for wood products is a major factor in log price increases in regions supplying China with lumber, including the western U.S., British Columbia (Canada), and New Zealand.

In the second quarter, the Global Conifer Sawlog Price Index (GSPI) reached a new all-time high of $92.27/m3. This was 5.6% more than the previous quarter, and an almost 20% jump from the past year. The GSPI has gone up every quarter since the first quarter of 2009 when the Index was at $66.10/m3. This almost 40% increase in two years is due not only to the weakening of the U.S. dollar against all other currencies in the Index, but also to the higher costs of logs in local currencies.

According to WRQ, the biggest price adjustments in local currencies since early 2009 have occurred in Latvia (+58%), Poland (+39%), Japan (+36%), Russia (+35%), and Germany (35%). Countries in Western Europe, Japan, and China currently have the highest sawlog prices of the 21 regions tracked by the WRQ, while prices in Western Canada, Chile, the U.S. South, and Russia are lower than the global average. This ranking has not changed much during the past few years with the exception of the Baltic States of Latvia and Estonia, which now are below the GSPI after having been above the global average three years ago.

More information is available online.

Back To Top

---

 

North American containerboard looks like the best bet for "relative" stability, says Mark Wilde, senior analyst with Deutsche Bank. "Even so," he adds, "we are ratcheting down estimates. We are revising our FY12 linerboard and corrugating medium prices to $595/ton and $565/ton, respectively, a $35/ton cut from our earlier forecasts. Compared with Deutsche Bank's estimated FY11 average, we forecast a y/y decline of ˜$45/ton. For the fourth quarter, we're forecasting a modest slippage of ˜$5/ton q/q."

Back To Top

---

 

Wilde says that Deutsche Bank is also trimming its FY12 price forecasts for most North American printing and writing (P&W) paper grades, with the biggest decline in uncoated free sheet (UFS). "We're now forecasting FY12 50-lb offset rolls at $870/ton, -$120/ton relative to our earlier forecast and -$69/ton versus Deutsche Bank's estimated FY11 average.

"FY12 20-lb repro bond is trimmed to $1,035/ton, -$115/ton relative to our earlier forecast and -$56/ton versus our FY11 average. A number of factors are at work. UFS demand remains weak. In August, shipments were down 2.9% y/y (ytd -2.8% y/y). Not surprisingly, there appears to be excess supply in the market. At the same time, falling pulp prices could create some ripples into UFS prices. The recent strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the euro could also pull more imports from Europe," Wilde explains.

Back To Top

---

 

Finland-based Ahlstrom Corp. this past week reported that it has closed the divestment of its wipes fabrics, the Home and Personal business area, to Suominen Corp., also of Finland. The business will be transferred on October 31, except for the Brazilian part of the business, which is estimated to be transferred in the first quarter of 2012.

The transaction was signed on August 4, 2011, and the total value of the transaction is approximately EUR 170 million. Following the transaction, Ahlstrom becomes the largest shareholder in Suominen with a 27.1% stake. Ahlstrom has committed not to decrease its ownership in Suominen below 20% for a maximum of two years.

In line with its strategy, Ahlstrom says the divestment will steer the company towards a more focused business and product portfolio. The competition authorities in Spain, Germany, and the U.S have approved the transaction. The approval from the competition authorities in Brazil is expected to be received in the first quarter of 2012 and is not a prerequisite for completing the transaction.

Back To Top

---

 

Clairefontaine, France, ordered from Cellier Activity of ABB France, Process Automation Division, the feeding station for a new film press that was installed on PM 5 at the company's Etival, France,mill. The line, which produces white and colored papers, started up last month.

Cellier Activity was in charge of the process and automation engineering, as well as procurement, site supervision and startup assistance. The feeding station includes two in-line, self-cleaning pressure filters, type Filtercel™ LHP. It enables the production of high added-value paper while reducing variable costs.

The Filtercel LHP is designed for the treatment of high-requirement and varied preparations. The optimal filtration quality achieved significantly reduces the number of paper breaks on the paper machine, Cellier Activity notes. The Filtercel LHP is automatically cleaned during a high pressure cleaning cycle without any intervention from the operator, or dismantling works. Not only does this mean that it remains available for the production, but also results in important operating and maintenance cost savings, the company adds.

Back To Top

---

 

Fortress Paper Ltd., Vancouver, B.C., Canada, reported this week that an unexpected walkout by unionized contractor employees working on a dissolving pulp conversion and cogeneration projects has resulted in a temporary suspension of construction activities at its Fortress Specialty Cellulose Mill in Thurso, Que. Although the construction unions have not issued an official statement, Fortress says that it understands the walkout is a result of the opposition to a bill proposed by the Quebec Government and not the result of disputes with the company or its employers.

The walkout is reportedly affecting construction projects across the Province of Quebec. Fortress said that it is exploring available options to resume construction work at the mill, and is in discussions with its contractors and government representatives "with a view to resolving this situation as soon as practicable."

"Management remains hopeful that the issues relating to this walkout can be resolved shortly, with the result that the re-start of the Fortress Specialty Cellulose Mill and the commencement of dissolving pulp production that was planned for early November would only experience a minor delay. However, as the duration or outcome of the walkout is out of management's control and cannot be reasonably predicted, a further delay remains a possibility. Fortress Paper will provide updated guidance in this regard following the resumption of construction work at the mill," the company stated in a news release.

Fortress operates three mills, the Landqart Mill in Switzerland, the Dresden Mill in Germany, and the Fortress Specialty Cellulose Mill in Quebec. The company's security papers include banknote, passport, and visa papers and its specialty papers include non-woven wallpaper base products and graphic and technical papers. Fortress Paper's pulp business includes specialty pulp produced at the Fortress Specialty Cellulose Mill, which is currently in the process of converting this capacity into dissolving pulp production along with the construction of a biomass based cogeneration plant.

Back To Top

---

 

Cascades Fine Papers Group, Saint-Jerome, Que., Canada, this week released the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) results of its fine papers. Third-party validated to ensure transparency and adherence to rigorous standards, the LCA measures the environmental impact of Cascades' fine papers in comparison with the North American industry average. The company's results are impressive: Rolland Enviro100 has the smallest environmental footprint, followed by Rolland Opaque50, which has a smaller footprint than the average for virgin and 100% recycled papers.

"With supporting evidence," Cascades notes, "this comparative LCA demonstrates that Rolland Enviro100 and Rolland Opaque50 each have a much smaller impact, 68% and 46% respectively, compared with generic North American papers." These results are primarily due to the types of energy used, biogas and hydroelectricity, as well as the use of recycled fibers, the company adds. Generated from landfill waste decomposition, biogas is a local and renewable energy that serves 93% of the thermal energy needs for Cascades' Rolland Mill.

"An LCA breaks through the confusion surrounding green certifications and claims and curbs 'greenwashing' by providing comprehensive, quantifiable, and rigorous results," says Julie Loyer, a specialist in communication and sustainable development for Cascades Specialty Products Group.

The LCA is a scientific method that assesses the environmental impacts of a product throughout its life cycle. Specifically, for each component of the product under evaluation, its environmental impact is quantified and then aggregated to yield a final result demonstrating the potential damages to Human Health, Ecosystems, Non-Renewable Resources and Climate Change.

Back To Top

---

 

Norske Skog', Oslo, Norway, reports that PM 2 newsprint machine at its Skogn mill in Norway resumed normal production this past Monday, October 24, A total of 56 employees laid off last month reported back to work at that time. The shutdown of PM 2 reduced the mill's annual production by approximately 20,000 tons.

Back To Top

---

 

For the fourth consecutive year, Norske Skog, Oslo, Norway, is featured in the Carbon Disclosure Project's (CDP) annual Nordic "Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index." This index, a key component of CDP's annual Nordic 260 report, highlights Nordic companies that have displayed the most professional approach to corporate governance regarding climate change information disclosure practices.

"The ranking is an important recognition of our efforts to demonstrate openness on climate change issues. Systematic reporting and follow-up are necessary if we are to be effective in our efforts to reduce emissions and save energy," says Sven Ombudstvedt, CEO at Norske Skog.

The Carbon Disclosure Project is a U.K.-based, independent non-profit organization that represents 551 institutional investors with $71 trillion in assets under management. The CDP gathers information on corporations' greenhouse gas emissions, climate change related risks and opportunities, and sets standards for carbon disclosure methodology and processes.

Back To Top

---

 

Sappi's Ngodwana mill in South Africa has ordered a new fiberline for chemical cellulose from Metso, Finland. Startup is scheduled for the first half of 2013. The value of the order will not be disclosed.

Metso's delivery will include the design and supply of the main equipment for the new fiberline, from cooking to bleaching. The batch cooking plant is to be designed according to the prehydrolysis process and TwinRoll wash presses will be used in all washing positions.

The equipment to be supplied, together with Metso's experience and know-how of this type of special pulp, will enable Sappi to produce high-quality chemical cellulose pulp for the growing market.

The new fiberline will produce around 215,000 a.d. metric tpy of chemical cellulose hardwood pulp per year. In addition to the cooking plant and fiberline, which will be new, Metso will also supply equipment for the upgrade of wood handling, evaporation, and recausticizing, as well as a new ash leaching system.

Sappi currently is the world's largest producer of chemical cellulose with a production capacity of some 815,000 a.d. metric tpy from the Saiccor mill. The Ngodwana mill, located in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa, will convert all of its market pulp production to chemical cellulose

Back To Top

---

 

Bashundhara Paper Mills Ltd., Bangladesh, has contracted with Specialty Minerals Inc., New York, N.Y., USA, a subsidiary of Minerals Technologies Inc., to build and operate a satellite precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) plant at Bashundhara's paper mill in Meghnaghat, Bangladesh. The satellite PCC plant, which will produce about 30,000 metric tpy of PCC and is expected to become operational in the first quarter of 2013, will be wholly owned and operated by Specialty Minerals Bangladesh Ltd.

"We are very pleased to enter this agreement with Bashundhara Paper Mills and look forward to a long relationship with this papermaker. Minerals Technologies will help Bashundhara produce higher quality paper at a lower cost," said Joe Muscari, chairman and CEO. "This satellite, which will bring our total in Asia to 13, is another indication of the success of our strategy to grow aggressively in emerging regions."

Bashundhara Paper Mills is part of the Bashundhara Group, which also has enterprises in real estate, cement, steel, bottling, and distribution. In addition to its operation at Meghnaghat, Bashundhara also has paper mills in Anapura, Songargon, and Narayangonj, Bangladesh.

Minerals Technologies constructed its first satellite PCC plant in 1986. Today, the company has 55 satellite plants in operation or under construction around the world. Total sales for the company were $1 billion in 2010.

Back To Top

---

 

Iggesund Paperboard, a member of the Holmen Group, Sweden, reports that it has been operating its Black Box Project for almost a year now, with exhibitions in Paris, London, Amsterdam, and New York. Iggesund has challenged a number of leading international designers and design agencies to fill a black box of specific dimensions with contents that in some way test the performance of the company's flagship paperboard, Invercote.

"We're looking for creative minds who really push the limits of what can be done with Invercote," explains Carlo Einarsson, director Market Communications at Iggesund Paperboard. "But the project is also a tribute to all of the designers who have chosen Invercote over the years to be the starting point for their fantastic packaging designs."

He emphasises that the Black Box Project is not like a traditional advertising campaign in which the client expresses detailed wishes and closely supervises the outcome. The designers who have chosen to take part in Iggesund's project have great freedom. The only stipulation is that they must work with Invercote and create something that reflects their own distinctiveness and Invercote's possibilities.

On November 15, the Black Box Project will present the work of a fifth creator. Designer and illustrator Sebastian Onufszak is based in Augsburg, Germany, but is active throughout Europe. His contribution will be unveiled at an event at the Prototyp Museum in Hamburg.

The other exhibitors include the Dutch firm of van Heertum Design, Landor from Paris, L. Brunazzi & Associati from Turin, and Marc Benhamou, a Frenchman based in New York. Sebastian Onufszak will now add his own contribution to this challenge series. His concept focuses on the idea of closed loop recycling.

"This project is an adventure and we don't really know where it will end," Einarsson concludes. "But Invercote is the strongest brand on the European paperboard market, and that strength makes it possible for us to try new ways of communicating."

Back To Top

---

 

KapStone Paper and Packaging Corp., Northbrook, Ill., USA, has been ranked 10th overall on Forbes' annual list of the 100 Best Small Companies, according to the rankings included in the magazine's November 5 issue. Forbes determined the rankings based on return on equity, growth of earnings and sales, and the relative stock performance of each company compared with that of its peers over the past 12 months and over five years.

Roger Stone, KapStone CEO, said that "we are very pleased with the recognition from Forbes as the 10th best small company in America, and we will strive to maintain the quality and momentum of our growth with the completion of our latest acquisition of U.S. Corrugated."

KapStone Paper and Packaging Corp. is a producer of unbleached kraft paper products and linerboard. The company is the parent company of KapStone Kraft Paper Corp., which includes paper mills in Roanoke Rapids, N.C., and North Charleston, S.C., a lumber mill in Summerville, S.C., and five chipping mills in South Carolina. The business currently employs some 1,600 people. It recently announced plans to acquire U.S. Corrugated for $330 million.

Back To Top

---

 

Sonoco-Alcore S.a.r.l., Brussels, Belgium, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sonoco, Hartsville, S.C., USA, has announced the opening of its new paper tube and core manufacturing facility in Grünsfeld, Germany. The new Grünsfeld plant will focus its production on M-Core wide-ply paper mill cores used in the high-end segment of the paper industry.

"Investment in this new facility is primarily about responding to the changing market needs in the European paper industry," said Adam Wood, VP of Sonoco-Alcore. "European printing houses have evolved, using wider printing presses and increased running speeds, which means traditional paper mill cores must evolve also. With the Grünsfeld facility, we have invested in bringing this technology to Germany, meeting the needs of Central European paper mills, and allowing our customers to better supply print houses with a cost-effective, quality product."

Sonoco-Alcore developed wide-ply paper technology and the M-Core Series to produce a core with improved properties such as increased dynamic strength and e-modulus, meeting the requirements of new printing machines.

Back To Top

---

 

The Institute of Environmental and Human Health (TIEHH) at Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, USA, has made history for the TAPPI Nonwovens Division with the university's involvement of high school students in its cotton nonwovens research. Kahan Chavda, a senior from St. Mark's School of Texas in Dallas; Aarav Chavda, a junior from St. Mark's School of Texas; Ronald Kendall Jr., a senior from Lubbock Coronado High School; and Luke Kitten, a senior from Lubbock Trinity High School, participated in the research.

The research from these high school students contributed to the work on oil absorption by cotton nonwovens and was presented at the leading nonwovens conference in Atlanta. "This is a very significant achievement," said TAPPI President Larry Montague. "To my knowledge this is the first time that high school students were specifically targeted and brought to an event like TAPPI."

The students not only attended the conference but also participated in the program sessions, as well as interacted with professionals already working in the nonwovens industry.

"In the five years I have been with TAPPI, I have not seen a group like this prior to TIEHH's outreach program," Montague said. "The attendees for this conference were very impressed with how these students dressed and interacted with some of the industry's best and brightest."

TIEHH's research focuses on West Texas cotton, specifically the 10% of cotton that, due to the weather in the region, doesn't fully mature and must be sold at a discounted rate.

"What our lab thought two years back was why can't we take this discounted cotton and find new market opportunities for that cotton," said Seshadri Ramkumar, associate professor of nonwoven materials and countermeasures to chemical threats.

Vinit Singh, a graduate student at Texas Tech, found that the discounted cotton absorbs more oil than higher quality cotton, and to prove that he enlisted the help of the high school students to assist in conducting research.

Utkarsh Sata, a postdoctoral associate in Ramkumar's laboratory guided the Chavda brothers this summer to find added applications for cotton nonwovens.

"I became interested in it a few years back when Fibertect started getting some recognition," Kendall said. "I get to do some cool things out here, which makes it fun to talk about with people and gets some of my fellow classmates interested in it." Kendall and Kitten still are actively involved in the research. Kitten battled Lymphoma during his participation in the research. He said that doing research out at TIEHH allowed him the opportunity to take his mind off the treatments.

"Going to treatments affected my schedule a lot," Kitten said. "I missed a lot of school and work going to treatments. But everyone here has been very helpful and very supportive." Kendall and Kitten are currently investigating the oil absorption capabilities of the 2011 cotton crop.

"Ramkumar's research has and is a crucial part of making the world more aware of this fascinating industry," Montague said. "Just about the time we think we have heard it all before, a press release comes out from Texas Tech, with another winning research project that has resulted in a new product line."

Back To Top

---

 

FutureMark Paper Co., Alsip, Ill., USA, a producer of 100% recycled coated paper for magazines and catalogs, has introduced two new products made with its "Green Clean" process that reportedly provides "world-class" brightness ratings for high-recycled paper while significantly reducing the use of several harsh chemicals traditionally used in paper production.

FutureMark's Green Clean technology provides highly efficient, more effective extraction of embedded inks from wastepaper, allowing the company to reduce its use of deinking chemicals, such as caustic soda and peroxide, by a projected 30%. The technology also allows the company to increase the overall percentage of post-consumer waste (PCW) used in most of its recycled publication papers. FutureMark coated publication papers currently average more than 90% total recycled content and 30% PCW—the highest in North American.

By combining Green Clean technology with modifications to the company's manufacturing process and product formulation, FutureMark has achieved an 85 brightness rating for its two new products, Future Choice® 85 Matte publication paper and Future ReMark® 85 label paper.

"Creativity, not chemicals, drove this quality boost," said President and CEO Steve Silver. "We're proud to have attained this exceptional level of brightness in our recycled papers without resorting to harmful chlorine bleach or other harsh chemicals. We're constantly looking for new ideas and technologies to enhance our products and operations. It's this commitment to innovation that enables us to produce the highest-quality recycled paper in North America without compromising on environmental performance or cost."

Back To Top

---

 

Korsnäs AB, Sweden, has introduced Korsnäs Artisan, a new cartonboard grade with a "silky smooth surface and excellent printing capabilities." The new board has a very soft touch allowing for new unique packaging experiences, the company notes.

Korsnäs Artisan is a high-white, multi-layered board made of 100 % virgin fiber. "The long, tough, and resilient fibers make for an extremely strong and formable material and the single-coated, silky smooth surface offers excellent printing properties," the company explains. The combination of "outstanding shapeability" and printability makes it an ideal packaging material for luxury products such as cosmetics, perfume, and exclusive confectionery. The new product meets the strictest hygiene requirements and is approved for direct contact with food, Korsnäs adds. It is available in grammages from 270 to 390 gsm. The material is recyclable and made of compostable ingredient.

Back To Top

---

 

DuPont Titanium Technologies, Wilmington, Del;., USDA, has announced a price increase of $0.15/lb, or as permitted by contract, for all DuPont TiPure® titanium dioxide (TiO2) sold in North America (U.S. and Canada), effective November 1. The increase is in addition to any previously announced increases for North America.

In the U.S., DuPont Titanium Technologies operates plants at DeLisle, Miss.; New Johnsonville, Tenn.; and Edge Moor, Del. It also operates plants in Altamira, Mexico, and Kuan Yin, Taiwan. All of these plants use the chloride manufacturing process. The company also operates a mine in Starke, Fla.

Back To Top

---

 

Clearwater Paper Corp., Spokane, Wash., USA, has named Linda K. Massman president and COO, effective November 1. She continues to report to Gordon Jones, chairman and CEO.

Massman will be responsible for leading the company's business operations, including manufacturing, sales and marketing, environmental, safety, transportation and logistics. She has served Clearwater Paper as CFO since the company's spin-off from Potlatch Corp. in December 2008. Before joining Clearwater, she was group vice president, finance and corporate planning for Albertsons and then SUPERVALU Inc. Previous positions also included finance and consulting roles at Accenture, Ralphs Grocery Co., and Bank of America.

"Linda Massman has been an integral part of the company's strategic planning process and a major contributor to the overall success of Clearwater Paper," said Gordon Jones, chairman and CEO. "Ms. Massman's strong background in finance, consumer retail, and business strategy makes her an excellent choice for this expanded responsibility. As part of her new role, she will oversee the completion of the integration of Cellu Tissue operations as well as the continued startup of the new Shelby facility," added Jones. "Her significant experience will help lead the company in accomplishing our strategic goals of growing our consumer tissue business and optimizing pulp and paperboard."

Massman earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of North Dakota and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She will continue to serve as CFO until her replacement is identified, and she will continue to be based at Clearwater Paper's Spokane headquarters.

Back To Top

---

 

International Paper Co., Memphis, Tenn., USA, this week announced three senior leadership moves, effective November 1. These moves are:

• Tim Nicholls named SVP, Printing and Communications Papers, the Americas
• Carol Roberts named SVP and CFO, IP
• Mark Sutton named SVP, Industrial Packaging.

In his new role, Nicholls will have responsibility for the Commercial Printing and Imaging Papers, and Converting Papers and Pulp businesses, as well as IP Latin America, which includes IP Brazil.

In addition to her responsibilities as CFO, Roberts will lead the Finance organization, including Internal Audit, Tax, Accounting, Trust Investments, Investor Relations, and Treasury. Information Technology and Strategic Planning will also report to Roberts. The IP Audit team will continue to report jointly to the CFO and chairman and CEO.

In his new role as SVP, Industrial Packaging, Sutton will have responsibility for Containerboard, Container the Americas, and Recycling.

Back To Top

---

 

Rayonier, Jacksonville, Fla., USA, this past week announced that Paul G. Boynton will succeed Lee M. Thomas as CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2012. Thomas will continue to serve as chairman until his retirement in May 2012, at which time Boynton will assume the role of chairman in addition to the roles of CEO and president.

"This has been a well-planned transition during which Paul was elected president last year before being named to our board in February," said Thomas. "Paul led each of our core businesses, including seven years of growing our market-leading Performance Fibers business, and played an integral role in developing and executing our core strategies. I expect a smooth transition under Paul's leadership."

Thomas joined Rayonier's board of directors in 2006 and was named chairman and CEO in 2007. During his tenure, Rayonier has been one of the top performing companies in the forest products industry, with record earnings and cash flows supporting three dividend increases. Thomas also led significant growth in the company's core business units, adding approximately 400,000 acres of timberlands and doubling Performance Fibers' operating income.

"Under Lee's leadership, Rayonier increased its market capitalization by $1.3 billion, resulting in a total shareholder return of 63%. Lee also strengthened our culture of integrity, operational excellence, and safety that culminated in the company's safest year in history in 2010," said Boynton. "The strategic direction we developed under Lee's guidance is the path we'll continue to follow to create value for our shareholders."

Boynton was elected to Rayonier's board of directors in February 2011 and to his current position in October 2010 after serving as EVP, Forest Resources and Real Estate. He joined Rayonier in 1999 and became SVP, Performance Fibers in 2002. Prior to Rayonier, Boynton was with the 3M Corp. as global brand manager for the home care division from 1990 to 1999. Boynton now serves as a director of The Brinks Co., a global security services company with operations in more than 50 countries.

Boynton holds a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Iowa State University, and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Iowa. He also graduated from the Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration Advanced Management Program.

Back To Top

---

 

Sonoco, Hartsville, S.C., USA, this week announced leadership appointments for various business units within the company. M. Jack Sanders, president and COO, notes that the appointments follow Sonoco's recently announced agreement to acquire Tegrant Corp.

John Colyer, VP, Global Industrial Converting, has been given the responsibility of running Sonoco's expanding global protective packaging operations. He also will continue to oversee the company's tubes and cores, and wire and cable reels businesses, reporting to Sanders. Prior to his current position, Colyer was VP, North America Converting. He began his career at Sonoco in 1983 and has served in several leadership positions within the company's Industrial and Consumer operations. He has a B.S. degree in business administration from Southern Oregon State University.

Vicki Arthur, VP, Global Corporate Customers, will oversee integration of the combined Sonoco Protective Packaging business In this new role, she will continue as VP and report to Colyer. Prior to her current position, Arthur was division VP and GM, Kraft, where she had global responsibility for Kraft Foods. She joined Sonoco in 1984 and held various positions in financial reporting, treasury, and accounting before becoming staff VP and treasurer in 2002. She graduated from the University of South Carolina with a B.S. degree in accounting and holds an MBA in business from Duke University.

With Arthur's move, Rodger Fuller has been given expanded duties as VP, Global Rigid Plastics and Corporate Customers. While he will continue to manage Sonoco's plastics operations, he also will oversee Global Corporate Customers, which account for approximately 25% of the company's revenues. He continues to report to Sanders.

Fuller joined Sonoco in 1985 and has held a number of leadership positions. He has served as: VP, Global Rigid Paper and Plastics; VP, Rigid Paper and Closures – North America; division VP, Consumer Products Division – Europe; and president of Sonoco Limited, Canada. He graduated from Berry College in Rome, Ga., with a B.S. degree in business administration, and received an MBA from Emory University in Atlanta.

Howard Coker, VP, Global Rigid Paper and Closures, maintains responsibility for running Sonoco's largest Consumer business and now reports to Sanders. During his career at Sonoco, Coker has held numerous leadership positions, including: VP, Rigid Paper and Closures – North America; division VP and GM, Sonoco Phoenix; director of sales and marketing, Rigid Paper and Plastics – North America; and GM, Asia/Pacific, Rigid Paper and Plastics. He is a graduate of Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C., with a B.A. degree in business administration. He also received an M.A. degree in business administration from Wake Forest University.

As previously announced, Tegrant President and CEO Ron Leach has agreed to join Sonoco and continue leading the Tegrant businesses integrating into Sonoco, reporting to Colyer. Prior to his current position at Tegrant, Leach was president and CEO of Alloyd Co., where he began as VP of Engineering/Operations. He also served as a GM with TriEnd Corp., and has held multiple roles within the packaging industry in engineering and operations management. Leach holds a B.S. degree in packaging engineering from Michigan State University

Back To Top

---

 

Wausau Paper, Mosinee, Wis., USA, this past week announced that Thomas J. Howatt, president and CEO of the company, will retire at the end of 2011 and that Henry C. Newell, currently EVP and COO of the company will succeed him, effective Jan. 1, 2012. Additionally, Howatt will succeed San W. Orr Jr. as non-executive chairman of the board of the company, effective Feb. 15, 2012. Orr will retire from the company's board of directors as of the company's annual meeting in April 2012 upon the conclusion of his present term on the board, having reached mandatory retirement age.

Newell joined Wausau Paper in 2007 as VP, business development and was promoted to the position of SVP Specialty Products in January of 2009 and to the role of SVP Paper when the company consolidated its specialty products and printing and writing business segments in January 2010. He was promoted to his current role in March of this year.

Newell, with a Master of Business Administration degree from Wake Forest University and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Florida, brings more than 25 years of experience in the paper industry to his new role. He will stand for election to the company's board of directors at its April 2012 annual meeting.

The Wausau Paper board of directors, the company says, has been actively engaged in succession planning matters for an extended period of time and has been overseeing development activities in anticipation of the planned leadership changes announced this past week.

Hank Newell's leadership capabilities, vision and extensive industry experience ideally position him to lead Wausau Paper at this time. The company's extensive executive talent development and succession planning efforts over the past several years have provided an orderly and seamless leadership transition that best positions Wausau Paper for the future," Howatt said.

Wausau Paper produces specialty papers for industrial, commercial, and consumer end markets as well as a complete line of away-from-home towel and tissue products.

Back To Top

---

 

Yankee Dryer Safety and Reliability Meeting Set

APPI's Yankee Dryer Safety and Reliability Meeting is set for Nov. 2nd in Neenah Wisconsin. Twice per year, this group gathers to address solutions to reduce the risk of damage, delay and accidents involving these large, rotating pressure vessels. TAPPI Members and first time visitors are welcome to attend.

For more information or to register.

Back To Top

---

 

Deadline Approaching for PaperCon and Control Systems Presenters

Speakers interested in presenting a paper at PaperCon 2012 or Control Systems 2012 in New Orleans should upload their abstract soon!

The deadlines to submit are:

• Coating Program (past due)
• Papermakers Program - Nov. 15th
• Control Systems 2012 – Oct. 31

Submissions can be made on line

More information about the programs

Back To Top

---

 

Upcoming Courses That Make Training Maintenance Teams as Easy as 1-2-3!

Three upcoming courses in December will help to train your Maintenance Teams on processes that help to sustain equipment, minimize production downtime, and increase safety procedures.

In partnership with TAPPI, IDCON will be holding these courses in Raleigh, NC. The three courses include:

• Planning & Scheduling
  December 5-7, 2011
• Reliability-Based Spare Parts & Materials Management Training
  December 8, 2011
• Practical Root Cause Problem Elimination
  December 13-14, 2011

Learn more about these courses at the TAPPI website.

Back To Top

---

 

Don't forget to register for the Lake States TAPPI/North Central PIMA Energy Optimization Program entitled: Case Studies in Energy Reduction in the Paper Mill to be held on Wednesday, November 2, 2011.

This Technical Program will be held at the Miron Corporate Office, 1471 McMahon Drive, Neenah, WI.

Topics include:

• Sub Metering
• Flambeau River Papers – Update on energy saving projects in the mill
• Spiral Heat Exchangers/Steam Turbine Upgrades
• Vacuum System Study
• EnergyStar – How the EnergyStar program has helped save energy within the mill
• Benchmarking Energy Usage
• FOA Update
• Yankee Dryer Efficiency
• Pinch Projects
• Screening Systems
• Steam, Condensate, and Dryer Management Systems

For additional information, please use the following links:

Program Agenda

Register for this Event

Additional Program Information

We look forward to seeing you at this event!

Back To Top

---

 

Trade Routes Key Topic at Paper Recycling Europe

Factors that cause recovered fibre to flow from one part of the world to another will be the topic of a much-anticipated session at Paper Recycling Europe 2011. Organised by the Recycling Today Media Group and Pira International, the event takes place 9-10 November in Barcelona.

A conference session on November 10 will examine developments in global trade patterns for recovered fibre. "The Trading Triangle" features a distinguished panel that includes:

• Niels van Binsbergen, managing director of ACN Europe, based in the Netherlands;
• Francisco Donoso, director of Spain-based Reciclajes Dolaf;
• Philippe Chantrain, sales and marketing manager at the Cellmark office in Sweden;
• Marc Forman, president of United States-based GP Harmon Recycling.

The two-day conference features more than a half dozen sessions covering fiber supply and demand, fibre quality, recycling technology, trade, legislation and the outlook for the paper and board industries.

Paper Recycling Europe is designed for European and international paper recycling professionals – recovered paper merchants, government recycling officials, consuming mills, traders and brokers – who wish to stay ahead of industry developments in order to remain competitive in the global marketplace. As it has every year since 2005, Paper Recycling Europe in 2011 will provide a forum for recyclers, consuming mills, recycling officials and traders to network and share ideas while also gaining insight into regional trends in key markets in Europe and leading export destinations.

For further event information

Back To Top

---