At launch events held in New York, N.Y., USA, during the past three weeks for customers and employees, Mohawk Fine Papers revealed its blueprint for transforming the company's premium paper business to thrive in today's digital world. In his presentations, Thomas D. O'Connor Jr., chairman and CEO of Mohawk, outlined his vision for the future.

"Everywhere you read that print is declining, but the opportunities with the new digital technologies, or with what I would call 'the new generation of print,' are great," O'Connor said. "Technology disrupts, recessions clarify, and successful companies reinvent. That's what we're doing right now."

Outlining the company's vision for the future, O'Connor noted that Mohawk will: 

• Focus its manufacturing exclusively on high-margin papers and products that will bring distinct value to the new generation of print customers, a unique positioning in an industry historically driven by volume and capacity 
• Develop strategic acquisitions and partnerships that successfully leverage the company's expertise and operational excellence 
• Continue to move closer to the end-customer across all business segments.

O'Connor (see photo) summarized Mohawk's progress during the past 24 months as follows:

• The acquisition of digital specialty substrates business Bravo in 2011, which offers significant worldwide potential.
• Last year, Mohawk created and launched a B2B and B2C envelope business. In the past, O'Connor said, Mohawk relied exclusively on converters to produce envelopes made with its papers. "Now, we're making envelopes at the rate of 30 million per month," he said. O'Connor explained that Mohawk is now better able to service its customers, fill an unmet need in the marketplace, and achieve substantially higher operating margins. "We're taking the future into our own hands," he said.
• In the consumer marketplace, O'Connor pointed to Pinhole Press, Mohawk's site for "simple, beautiful" photo products. Launched in 2010, Pinhole Products has been featured in consumer outlets like Real Simple and Martha Stewart Living. This business, he noted, took 7,000 orders during the past six weeks. Pinhole Pro, a related offering to the professional photography community, was launched last month.
• O'Connor said Mohawk will continue to seek strategic partnerships with companies such as business card company Moo.com, that differentiate their products with unique substrates such as proprietary Moo Luxe. He shared the example of Blurb.com, which now offers a high-end product line requested by its customers and advertises the use of Mohawk's Superfine and ProPhoto papers to help sell its products.
• Mohawk fully expects to leverage its industry expertise and operational excellence as an incremental revenue stream. "Last year, we earned more than $1 million consulting with other paper companies," he said. O'Connor predicted MakeReady, the service platform for digital printers launched by Mohawk last year, will become a consulting business.

"At our core, we are a paper company," said O'Connor. "But we are rapidly becoming much, much more." He indicated that customers would soon see substantive changes in the marketplace.

On April 16, O'Connor said that Mohawk will radically transform its face to the world, with the following actions:

• The company will launch Project Streamline, a strategic consolidation of Mohawk's core paper lines, taking 22 paper grades (brands) down to six. For customers, Streamline is a simpler, clearer presentation of Mohawk brands and products, resulting in the elimination of more than 50% of its SKUs.
• A new technology/operations initiative, the Unified Service Delivery Platform will create a seamless purchasing experience for all customers from merchants to printers or small businesses. Customers will be able to choose how and when they want to do business with Mohawk.
• A new website will integrate e-commerce into all dimensions of Mohawk's online activities. The site provides a frictionless path for purchasing paper in small orders or large quantities.
• The new name of the company will simply be Mohawk. The company will also unveil a new brand identity. O'Connor noted that the "energetic" new logo suggests paper rolls, circuit boards, and connectivity. He described the color palette with words such as "fresh," "optimistic," and "youthful." He remarked that the new brand speaks directly to Mohawk's transformation—"an expression of who we are and what we are becoming."
• A new campaign—"What will you make today?—will also launch April 16. "This simple question goes to the passions of customers who use our papers to make things, or to make a difference in their business," O'Connor said.

"You know ...," he said, "this is also a question I ask myself every day: 'How can I make a more sustainable business'?'" O'Connor said he wanted to build a business "that can sustain any changes in technology or in the business environment out there.

"The last five or six years have been nothing like I've ever seen ... and we are transforming our organization so it can sustain itself -- and thrive -- in today's new environment."

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Culturing of algae could provide environmental benefits and new business opportunities for pulp and paper mills around the world, according to the Sweden-based cluster organization The Paper Province, which is using the idea to launch a new project in Sweden. Together with a number of stakeholders, The Paper Province recently conducted a feasibility study on how microalgae could be used to make biofuel from mill residues.

The idea is that algae use nutrients in the mills' warm wastewater and bind carbon dioxide from waste gas. Algae could be used to produce biofuel, biooil, and/or biogas. The new process will reduce eutrophication and carbon dioxide emissions and create new revenue streams for mills, The Paper Province notes.

"This is a very exciting project that ties together a range of stakeholders. The project will hopefully contribute to increased profitability for the mills," said Magnus Persson, head of The Paper Province's center for energy efficiency, Energy Square.

Now pilot studies, starting in the fall of this year, are to be done at Nordic Paper Bäckhammar, a mill producing around 200,000 metric tpy of unbleached pulp and 130,000 metric tpy of unbleached kraft paper.

The project is supported by Vinnova, the Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems.

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UPM, Helsinki, Finland, reports that it has developed new technology for recycling paper based release liner back into pulp and paper. Release liner is a siliconized backing material that is an essential part of self-adhesive label stock.

With the new technology, packers and brand owners can now have their used release paper recycled at UPM's paper mill deinking plant in Plattling, Germany, instead of sending it to incineration. At the Plattling mill, the liner is de-siliconized and processed into pulp to be used as raw material for UPM's paper products.

"This innovative solution serves the entire industry. We are very happy that our constant aims to minimize solid waste and maximize the reuse of raw materials are coming true also in the label value chain. With 4 million metric tpy of recovered paper, UPM is the world's largest user of recycled fiber in graphic papers, and therefore we have access to various types of recovered papers – now also including release papers. This is truly one part of our Biofore thinking coming alive," said Marko Haveri, portfolio manager, Fine and Specialty Papers.

The UPM Plattling mill has a strong focus on sustainability. "We have invested in sophisticated processes for extracting fibers from demanding recovered paper fractions," explains Operations Director Mika Kämpe. "Siliconized release paper is a natural expansion to our raw material base, and we are therefore able to offer a sustainable recycling solution to the self-adhesive label industry."

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Georgia-Pacific Professional, Atlanta, Ga., USA, a manufacturer of shop towels, industrial wipers, and other away-from-home products, is hosting the Brawny Industrial® Brand Great American Worker contest to honor the champions of America's workforce. The company is seeking individuals who combine a history of workplace safety and high work productivity with a commitment to community involvement for the chance to win a Ford F-150 truck.

"As part of our commitment to excellence, we are excited to give workers across the country an opportunity to be recognized for their achievements both in their workplace and in their community," said Bill Tracey, G-P Professional VP-wiper category. "Georgia-Pacific Professional is proud to support the tireless workers who go above and beyond their duties every day. We look forward to another year of celebrating America's unsung heroes."

Now in its second year, the contest adds new elements. Potential Great American Workers have the opportunity to nominate themselves and ask their supporters and communities to vote for them. Nominations will be accepted until July 8, and can be submitted online. Those who wish to nominate themselves will be required to compose a short essay describing how they demonstrate the qualities and characteristics of a Great American Worker.

After the submission period has ended, 10 finalists will be selected, and the public will vote for the 2012 Great American Worker. During the public voting period, submissions will be entered into a sweepstakes. One lucky voter will win a tablet computer (approximate retail value equals $199) and 25 second place winners will receive $50 worth of G-P products.

Complete contest rules and regulations are available online.

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At TAPPI's PaperCon 2012 event, April 22 - 25, in New Orleans, La., USA, papermaking technologies are covered from two key perspectives—new and emerging developments in the packaging arena and advances in paper machine design and operations to maintain quality and achieve flexibility. Separate packaging (PB) and paper quality (PQ) program tracks provide attendees extensive pick-and-choose options based on their specific job functions and professional interests. Together, the two tracks include 18 information-packed sessions spread over three days, along with three paper and paperboard committee meetings.

Led by Containerboard Team Leader Brian Peterson and Mill Manager Paul Duncan, Monday's (April 23) PB1 track session explores the dramatic company-wide turnaround at Longview Fibre Paper and Packaging, Longview, Wash., that is transforming the company into a high performance operation and an attractive investment for its owners. The PB2 session is a special "Keys to Success" paperboard papermakers panel discussion, led by Jeff Reese of international Paper. On the paper quality side, Monday's PQ1 and PQ2 sessions look at continuously evolving advancements in stock system additives.

Tuesday's lineup features three sessions from each perspective, a joint roundtable on papermaking additives, and a concluding Fluid Mechanics Committee meeting that is open to all PaperCon attendees. Packaging topics begin with a panel discussion (PB3) on "Optimizing Containerboard Pressing," followed by a session on "lighter-stronger-faster" strength additives (PB4), and a panel discussion of mineral oil migration for food packaging grades (PB5). Tuesday's paper quality sessions focus on fluid mechanics of fibrous and nano-fibrous suspensions (PQ3) and fluid mechanics for forming (PQ4). A session on effective refiner control for fiber optimization (PQ5) is followed by the common papermaking additives session (P6) and Fluid Mechanics Committee meeting.

Wednesday includes three packaging and three paper quality sessions. PB7 reviews the latest forming innovations, while PB8 reports on several major papermaking success stories and PB9 examines new and emerging packaging paper machine innovations. The PQ7 session on Wednesday looks at new methods for enhancing fiber quality, PQ8 covers new developments in deposit control, and (PQ9) explores advances in microbial control. A joint water removal committee meeting (also open to all attendees) and a joint summary and wrap-up session (P10) complete the PaperCon Papermaking track on Wednesday afternoon.

More details about the PaperCon 2012 program, exhibition, workshops and seminars, special events, and registration are available online, along with information about travel and accommodations.

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Dr. Howard W. Penrose, an active reliability consultant, publisher, and writer, will be the keynote speaker for TAPPI's OpEx Reliability Seminar, April 23- 24, being co-located with the TAPPI PaperCon event, April 22 – 25, in New Orleans, La., USA. Dr. Penrose will provide attendees at the two-day OpEx Seminar a close-up look at physical asset management "futureshock" and how our industry's past affects its future.

Dr. Penrose, VP of Dreisilker Electric Motors Inc., received the 2008 Axiom Business Book Award for Physical Asset Management for the Executive: Caution – Do Not Read this on an Airplane, and 2008 Foreword Book of the Year for Electrical Motor Diagnostics: 2nd Edition. He currently is webmaster and social media specialist for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Society (DEIS), and also serves as the outreach director for the Society for Maintenance and Reliability Professionals (SMRP).

Dr. Penrose's research in reliability, maintenance, time to failure estimation, hybrid vehicles, bio-engineering, and the environment are well published in technical conferences and magazines as is his work with causes such as autism. He is a Certified Maintenance and Reliability Professional and a NAVAIR and NAVSEA RCM specialist. He received five consecutive UAW and GM "People Make Quality Happen" awards from 2005 through 2009 in relation to reliability, maintenance, and energy projects within General Motors.

More details about the PaperCon 2012 program, exhibition, workshops and seminars, including the OpEx (Operating Excellence) Seminar, special events, and registration are available online, along with information about travel and accommodations.

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Below is the latest listing of job openings in the TAPPI Career Center. The current listing includes a variety of mill engineering, production, and technical positions, as well as process development and academic recruiting opportunities in the U.S. pulp and paper industry. Current, specific job openings at companies and locations in the TAPPI Career Center include:

Employer	Title	Location
BASF Technical Spec.	(Paper Coatings)	Charlotte, N.C.
Buckeye Technologies	Process Development Manager	Perry, Fla.
Catalyst Paper	Mechanical Maintenance Eng.	Pt. Alberni/Powell River
Domtar Paper Co.	Energy Contract Manager	Ft. Mill, S.C. (Reg. Charlotte, N.C.)
Longview Fibre	Pulp Mill Superintendent I	Longview, Wash.
NCSU	Prog Dir. of Recruiting/Ind. Rel.	Raleigh, N.C.
RockTenn	Environmental Engineer	West Point, Va.
SCA Americas	Electrical Eng. - Controls Spec.	South Glens Falls, N.Y.

More information about these jobs is available online.

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According to a new report by The Freedonia Group, Cleveland, Ohio, USA, U.S. demand for corrugated and paperboard boxes is forecast to increase 2.3% annually to $36.5 billion in 2016, boosted by an overall strengthening of the U.S. economy following the 2007 - 2009 recession. Corrugated and solid fiber boxes will remain the dominant segments and grow the fastest. Food and beverages will remain the largest market, while nonmanufacturing and durable goods markets lead gains.

The study, titled Corrugated & Paperboard Boxes, analyzes the $32.5 billion U.S. corrugated and paperboard box industry. It presents historical demand data for the years 2001, 2006, and 2011, and forecasts for 2016 and 2021 by material (e.g., paperboard, adhesives, inks, waxes), product (corrugated and solid fiber boxes, folding paperboard boxes, set-up paperboard boxes) and market (e.g., food and beverages, nonfood nondurable goods, durable goods, nonmanufacturing).

The report shows that gains also will be boosted by a trend toward more expensive boxes, such as corrugated boxes and folding cartons that offer high-quality graphics and printing. Other value-added box types, such as those that are retail- or shelf-ready, are also expected to gain ground. Food and beverages, which accounted for 50% of total U.S. box demand in 2011, are the largest single box market.

Corrugated and solid fiber box demand is forecast to climb 2.5% annually through 2016 to $26.1 billion, supported by a rebound in manufacturing activity and accelerated growth in consumer spending. Demand for folding paperboard boxes is expected to increase 1.75 per year to $9.8 billion in 2016, trailing the corrugated box pace as a result of strong competition from other packaging formats — mainly flexible packaging and mini-flute corrugated boxes. Set-up box demand will increase modestly due to inroads by less costly options like folding cartons and plastic containers, but will benefit from usage as upscale packaging for premium confectionery products and fragrances.

The study also considers market environment factors, details industry structure, evaluates company market shares, and profiles 27 industry players, including International Paper, RockTenn, and Graphic Packaging.

More information is available online.

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Exports of wood pellets from North America to Europe reached a record of more than 2 million tons in 2011, according to the North American Wood Fiber Review (NAWFR), Seattle, Wash., USA. Canada has long been the main exporter of pellets, but in the second half of 2011 the U.S. caught up and exported an equal volume to Canada, NAWFR noted.

Shipments have increased practically every quarter for four years, up from 130,000 tons in the 1Q 2008 to almost 600,000 tons in the 4Q 2012. Export data collected by NAWFR from exporters and customs information in both North America and Europe show that wood pellet shipments reached just over 2 million tons in 2011, up almost 300% from 2008.

Pellet producers in British Columbia have been the major exporters since the first shipments 12 years ago, but this changed in the second half of 2011 when expanded investments in new capacity in the U.S. South put U.S. shipments on par with Canada, NAWFR explained. Six pellet export plants, widely varying in capacity, are now operating in the U.S. South. Four others have shipped trial shipments the past six months and six additional export oriented pellet plants have been announced, making it highly likely that there will be significant export growth over the next 24 months.

In Eastern Canada, exports in the 4Q 2011 remained unchanged from the previous quarter when volumes decline primarily due to the closure of the Enligna pellet plant in Nova Scotia. However, there are plans to re-start the idled plant later this year by a new owner.

In 2012, small increases in volumes from both the U.S. and Canada will likely occur, with more significant export growth due in 2013. At that time, new export-oriented pellet plants now being constructed are scheduled to begin operations.

On the receiving end of pellet exports to Europe, utilities in the Netherlands, the U.K., and Belgium continue to be the largest consuming destinations of North American pellets, with the U.K. showing the steadiest and most vigorous growth, NAWFR reported.

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The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), Washington, D.C., USA, has released its 52nd Annual Survey of Paper, Paperboard, and Pulp Capacity, reporting that the U.S. paper and paperboard capacity decline slowed to 1.4% in 2011, to a level of 89.7 million short tons. Last year's decrease was smaller than the 3.1% reduction recorded in 2010. Total paper and paperboard capacity is expected to decline 1.0% in 2012 and then register increases of 0.6% and 0.5% in 2013 and 2014, respectively.

Containerboard and tissue paper capacity expanded in 2011, while the packaging and industrial converting and boxboard categories held approximately stable. Newsprint and printing and writing papers registered the largest 2011 capacity declines.

Several mills and machines were removed from the survey base during the 2011-2014 period because they have closed, plan to close, or have been idled for some time with few indications they will be restarted in the near future. However, several new tissue paper machines either started operating or will start operating by 2014, and a new recycled linerboard mill is scheduled to come online in mid-2013.

The survey reports U.S. industry capacity data for 2011 through 2014 for all major grades of paper, paperboard, and pulp, based on a comprehensive survey of all U.S. pulp and paper mills. Survey respondents represent about 90% of the U.S industry capacity.

For more information about the complete survey with detailed tables, contact Dina Menton at dina_menton@afandpa.org or 202-463-2710.

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EcoPaper JP, Japan, has ordered from Andrtitz, Graz, Austria, a deinking plant flotation system for its Nagoya mill in Japan. By installing the new system, the power consumption will be significantly reduced, the quality of the pulp produced will be improved, and the fiber losses will be minimized. Startup is scheduled for the end of this year.

Andritz will deliver a SelectaFlot flotation system (type SFL1D), including piping, pumps, and installation work. The new flotation system will replace old flotation cells in a deinking plant for graphic papers, operating at a capacity of 150 metric tpd.

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Japan Pulp and Paper Co. (JP), Japan, has acquired a 49% holding of the available shares in KCT Trading Private Ltd., an Indian wholesale paper trading company, as part of the company's efforts to further expand its global business activities. This share acquisition will enable the JP Group to strengthen its sales network in the growing Indian paper market.

In accordance with its JP Group Mid-term Business Plan 2013, the company is striving to expand its activities in relation to its overseas, resource and environment-related businesses fields in addition to its efforts to increase the profitability of its existing operations. In terms of its overseas activities, JP is continuing to expand its global sourcing and sales network with business developments being made in a variety of areas including the wholesale supply of paper and paperboard, the manufacture of corrugated containerboard, the sale of raw materials used in the making of paper, and the manufacture and sale of household paper products.

KCT controls a nationwide sales network with offices in major cities across India including Mumbai, Delhi, and Chennai. This stock acquisition and subsequent business alliance with KCT will enable JP to create a sales structure with a solid foothold in the Indian paper market, a market expected to experience high growth in the future.

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Jeonju Paper Corp., South Korea, has ordered a FibreFlow drum pulper from Andritz, Graz, Austria, for its Cheongwon mill in South Korea. By installing the new system, the quality of newsprint pulp produced will be improved, fiber losses will be minimized, and power consumption further reduced. Startup is scheduled for the end of this year.

Andritz will deliver the FibreFlow drum (type FFD350) to replace an existing pulper in the deinking system. The FibreFlow drum will slush a mixture of old newsprint and old magazines at a maximum feed capacity of 750 metric tpd.

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Klabin, Brazil, has awarded Pöyry, Finland, a services contract for an environmental study, basic engineering, and detailed site infrastructure engineering for a new pulp mill to be built in southern Brazil. The companies agreed that the value of the assignment will not be disclosed.

Pöyry earlier conducted the conceptual and pre-feasibility studies for the new pulp mill project.

The capacity of the new pulp mill, to be built in the state of Parana in southern Brazil, will be 1.5 million metric tpy and startup is planned for the autumn of 2014. The final investment decision is expected later this year. The raw material will be eucalyptus and pine from Klabin's own plantations.

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Mercer International Inc., New York, N.Y., USA, this week announced that it has increased its offer to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Fibrek to C$1.40 per Fibrek share. Pursuant to the enhanced offer, Mercer is offering to acquire all of the outstanding Fibrek shares for consideration per Fibrek share, at the election of each holder, in one of the following forms:

• C$1.40 in cash per Fibrek share (subject to proration)
• 0.1659 of a share of Mercer's common stock (a Mercer Share) per Fibrek share (subject to proration)
• C$0.64 in cash plus 0.0903 of a Mercer Share per Fibrek share.

Under the enhanced offer, the aggregate cash consideration has been increased to approximately C$83.0 million, while the maximum number of Mercer shares available to be issued under the offer remains 11,741,496 Mercer shares.

Earlier this week, Mercer had extended the expiry date for its offer to April 16. The company previously entered into voting support agreements with its two largest institutional shareholders and its chairman and CEO, who collectively own approximately 44% of the outstanding Mercer Shares, who have agreed to vote their Mercer Shares in favor of the shareholder approval.

Mercer also announced that it has received a favorable decision from the federal Minister of Industry following his review of Mercer's proposed acquisition of Fibrek under the Investment Canada Act, and also has been granted early termination of the statutory waiting period for U.S. competition and antitrust review by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

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M-real Corp., Finland, a part of Metsä Group, has agreed to divest 7.3 percentage points of its shareholding in Metsä Fibre Oy to the Japan-based Itochu Corp. for EUR 138 million and approximately 0.5 percentage points of its holding in Pohjolan Voima Oy to Metsä Fibre for EUR 64 million. The closing of M-real's divestment of the 7.3 percentage point shareholding in Metsä Fibre is subject to German competition authority approval and it is expected to take effect by the end of the second quarter.

When the restructuring of the ownership of Metsä Fibre is completed, M-real will own 24.9%, Metsäliitto Cooperative will own 50.2%, and Itochu Corp. will own 24.9% of the company.

Divestment of the 7.3 percentage point shareholding in Metsä Fibre is being done to reduce M-real's pulp surplus and to further strengthen Metsä Fibre's business, especially in the growing Asian market. Once the transaction is completed, M-real's pulp surplus reduces from approximately 0.5 million metric tpy to 0.3 million metric tpy.

After the 0.5 percentage point reduction of shareholding in Pohjolan Voima, M-real owns approximately 2% of the company.

"We are reducing our pulp surplus according to our strategy. The transaction with Itochu provides an excellent possibility to develop Metsä Fibre further and shows also the great value of our pulp assets. Also in the future we will produce more pulp than we use, thus we continue to have a good platform to grow our profitable paperboard business. These divestments also strengthen the company's liquidity without having a material impact on our operating cash flow," M-real's CEO Mikko Helander said.

Itochu Corp. is one of the largest trading companies in Japan with approximately 130 bases in different industries in close to 70 countries. Itochu Corp.'s trading volume for the fiscal year ended on March 31 exceeded EUR 100 billion.

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Sappi has awarded ABB a five-year Maintenance Improvement Agreement to manage and improve all maintenance activities at its Nijmegen coated fine paper mill in the Netherlands. According to the performance-based agreement, ABB will manage all maintenance operations to improve overall productivity and equipment reliability at the mill, and retain and further develop all existing maintenance staff and management. ABB will also help the mill reduce its energy consumption while achieving these production efficiencies.

"This Maintenance Improvement Agreement highlights ABB's capabilities in providing comprehensive service solutions for the industrial sector. Our innovative approach to performance-based services ensures improved production and equipment performance, energy efficiency, and reliability for the entire facility," said Veli-Matti Reinikkala, head of ABB's Process Automation division.

"We are confident that together with ABB, we will achieve an improvement in paper machine performance reliability and efficiency that, in turn, enables us to better and predictably serve our customers with great product. Equally important, we aim to provide a work environment that allows growth and achievement for our people," said Wayne Thomas, mill director at Sappi Nijmegen.

Under the agreement, ABB also will focus on process optimization and equipment lifecycle management at the site, as well as manage all maintenance related third-party subcontractors and suppliers.

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SCA, Stockholm, Sweden, this week said it has decided to acquire an additional 5% of the shares in Chinese tissue company Vinda. The purchase price is around 600 MSEK. The seller in the transaction is Fu An, a company majority owned by the chairman of Vinda. SCA's share in Vinda after the transaction will be 22.6%.

Vinda is the second largest tissue market in the world. Currently the company is the third largest player in the China household paper industry in terms of market share and production capacity. Vinda has eight production facilities with a total production capacity of 470,000 metric tpy and targeting to reach 1 million metric tpy in the near future.

"The market for tissue products in China continues to grow well and continues to consolidate with the larger players, like Vinda, growing at a significantly faster speed than the market. We intend to be among the leading players in China and we have for this reason taken the decision to increase our ownership in Vinda," said Jan Johansson, SCA's president and CEO.

The transaction is subject to receiving consent from some of Vinda's lending banks.

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Södra Cell, Sweden, has begun production of the composite material DuraPulp at its facilities in Värö, Sweden. The renewable material is a biodegradable alternative to plastic.

During the past couple of years, a lamp and a child's chair have been made out of DuraPulp, attracting significant interest, the company notes, and commercial production of the new composite has now begun.

"A large number of companies have been in touch and are interested in this material. We are currently working with a number of partners who are testing DuraPulp as part of their production processes," said Henrik Wettergren, business area manager for graphic paper and specialty paper.

DuraPulp is the result of several years of collaboration between Södra and the research company Innventia. The starting point for the work was to create a new, fiber-based, biodegradable replacement for plastic. DuraPulp is made with a specially selected pulp from Södra Cell and a biopolymer. On further processing, these two components take on special properties such as moisture resistance, strength, and hardness.

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BASF India Ltd., Mumbai, India, reports that it will invest EUR 150 million to set up a new chemical production site at the Dahej Petroleum, Chemicals, and Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR), located on the west coast of India in Gujarat. The new site will house production facilities for care chemicals and polymer dispersions for coatings and paper and also will be an integrated hub for polyurethane manufacturing. With this new production site, BASF aims to ensure local supply for growing markets and industries such as architectural paper, personal care, coatings, appliances, footwear, automotive, construction, and adhesives. Production is planned to begin in 2014.

The site will employ more than 250 people at full capacity, primarily in operations. With shared infrastructure and state-of-the-art production systems, the site will also provide resource efficient BASF technologies for the conservation of energy and water.

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Cascades Inc.'s Norampac division, Canada, has acquired Bird Packaging Ltd's converting and storage facilities in Guelph, Kitchener, and Windsor, in Ontario, Canada. Bird Packaging is a family-owned business that has 130 employees. It specializes in the fabrication of corrugated boxes of all sizes and grades, floor displays, and products with high standards of printing. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

According to Marc-André Dépin, president and CEO of Norampac, "this acquisition is beneficial to Norampac and Cascades as it will allow us to broaden our market reach in Ontario by integrating plants that benefit from an excellent reputation among their customers. In addition to a well-established customer base, Bird also has state-of-the-art equipment, a team of skilled people, and a vast line of products and services that complement Norampac's product offering."

The investment is part of Norampac's development strategy that aims at expanding its geographical presence in Ontario and relying on productive assets. Furthermore, Bird's packaging products represent a compelling add-on to Norampac's portfolio and will increase its competitiveness with an improved product offering, the company noted.

"Our goal is to innovate and react promptly to our customers' needs by offering innovative packaging solutions. The addition of Bird's production plants to Norampac's assets, in line with our strategic plan, will help us to reach our target with the expansion of our spectrum of products and services in terms of corrugated, high standards of printing, and packaging solutions, just to name a few," Dépin added.

Cascades produces, converts, and markets packaging and tissue products made mainly with recycled fibers.

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Iggesund Paperboard, Stockholm, Sweden, is inviting designers world-wide to participate in what it calls "a unique learning experience." From those who apply, 20 will be chosen to join the Iggesund Design Experience in Sweden in late August of this year.

Participants will visit the Swedish forests to discover more about how they function and are managed. They will see how paperboard is made and understand why there is a "difference between paperboard and Paperboard." And they will find out how they can use paperboard to raise creativity to new heights while also making the right choices from a sustainability standpoint, Iggesund explains..

The Iggesund Design Experience will discuss sustainable design and material selection and will question experts in such fields as forest management, water pollution/purification, and food safety in packaging. According to Iggesund, participants "will return home with new insights into how to make their designs stand out from the crowd, not only graphically but also from a sustainability point of view."

Staffan Sjöberg, in charge of public relations at Iggesund Paperboard, noted that "we usually receive significantly more applications to our events than we can accommodate. To ensure a wide range of participants, we must therefore create a shortlist based on such factors as design speciality and geographic location."

Iggesund Paperboard will be the host for four days filled with experiences of nature, insights into product knowledge, and lively discussions about sustainability together with fellow designers from around the world. The summit itself will be completely free of charge, but participants will need to pay their own travel expenses to and from Stockholm, Sweden.

"The designers will invest their time – and in return we will give them some unforgettable days in the heart of Sweden," Sjöberg said.

Iggesund pointed out that this new activity was inspired by the huge response it received from the design world for its Black Box Project, which gave well-known designers free rein to create unique solutions using the company's Invercote paperboard as a starting material.

More information and a registration form for the Iggesund Design Experience are available online.

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Stora Enso Renewable Packaging, Helsinki, Finland, this week said that it plans to improve competitiveness and respond to customer needs through restructuring its converting operations at Paty in Hungary and efficiency measures in the consumer board mill at Barcelona, Spain.

"Demand for corrugated board consumer packaging has significantly weakened in Hungary, so we plan to centralize our operations in Hungary to Komarom Mill and close down Paty Mill. As a part of the plans, Komarom Mill would be enhanced with asset transfers and recruitment so it can better meet customer and market needs. The efficiency measures planned in Barcelona are intended to improve the mill's profitability. The plans announced today, in combination with earlier announcements, would improve Renewable Packaging's cost competitiveness," says Mats Nordlander, EVP, Renewable Packaging.

According to the plans, converting operations at Paty Mill in Hungary would be permanently closed down by the end of the third quarter this year, affecting 79 employees. The proposed restructuring measures would reduce the number of employees at Barcelona by 15. No decisions will be taken until after the local co-determination negotiations have concluded. Stora Enso would make every effort in co-operation with local communities to help the affected personnel find new employment opportunities, and all job openings in other Stora Enso units would be available to those affected.

These restructuring measure plans, together with ongoing efficiency plans at Skoghall and Fors mills in Sweden and at Imatra in Finland, would reduce annual costs by approximately EUR 7 million, starting gradually from the fourth quarter of 2012 onwards. Stora Enso will record a restructuring provision and a fixed asset write-down as non-recurring items of approximately EUR 9 million related to the restructuring plans in the Renewable Packaging Business Area in the first quarter 2012 operating profit.

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Wausau Paper, Mosinee, Wis., USA, a producer of release liner products, has broadened its glassine portfolio to include colored glassines. The new products meet performance specification requirements for the Pressure Sensitive Tape as well as the Advanced Composite and Sealant industry and its end users.

"Driven by customer demand and our leading position as an innovator, we have expanded our glassine portfolio to include colors," said Sheila Widule, strategic marketing manager, Wausau Paper. "We are the only North American manufacturer of a true glassine and maintain the only integrated facility that houses silicone coaters and paper machines under one roof."

The company has manufactured bleached glassines for many years and can produce sheet weights from 40 g to 90 g, offers one- or two-side silicone-coated capabilities, and provides a consistent release differential range of 1:1 to 1:10.

More information about Wausau Paper's release liner solutions is available online.

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Södra, Sweden, has raised the price of its northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) pulp. The new price of $870 per metric ton became effective with shipments beginning April 1, or as contracts permit.

Södra employs some 4,000 people. The company's four business areas produce sawn and planed timber goods, interior products, paper pulp, and biofuel.

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Suzano Pulp and Paper, Brazil, has increased the price for its bleached eucalyptus pulp (BEK) sold in Asia by $30 per metric ton. The new BEK price increased to $670 per metric ton beginning with shipments on April 1, or as contracts allow.

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Fortress Paper, North Vancouver, B.C., Canada, reports that Alfonso Ciotola has resigned as president of the company and that Chadwick Wasilenkoff has consolidated the position with his role as CEO. Ciotola will remain with the company as CEO of Landqart AG and managing director of Dresden.

In addition, Erich Sulser, COO of the company and CFO of Landqart AG, is no longer with the company. His duties will be assumed by other officers at this time.

Fortress Paper operates internationally in three distinct business segments: dissolving pulp, specialty papers, and security paper products.

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At its recent organization meeting,  the UPM-Kymmene Corp., Finland, board of directors reelected Björn Wahlroos chairman and Berndt Brunow deputy chairman. Wahlroos was also elected chairman of the Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee, and Matti Alahuhta and Karl Grotenfelt were elected members of that committee.

In addition, the board elected from among its members Karl Grotenfelt chairman of the Audit Committee, and Wendy E. Lane and Kim Wahl members of the committee. Berndt Brunow was elected chairman of the Human Resources Committee and Ursula Ranin and Veli-Matti Reinikkala were elected members of the committee.

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There is still time to register online for the TAPPI PaperCon event, April 22 - 25, in New Orleans, La., USA. 

PaperCon is where CEOs, mill managers, superintendents, scientists, process engineers, and suppliers gather to learn and network. See who is attending PaperCon.

What does PaperCon include? Program tracks include Papermakers, Coating and Graphic Arts, and PIMA Management. The PaperCon program also features: Inside and outside the box: Optimizing paperboard grades, the Sustainability Forum, an Executive Panel Discussion, a Young Professionals Program, Coating 101 Course, and other practical workshops and seminars, and features the largest PaperCon exhibit ever. Bonus Sessions (open to all PaperCon registrants) Control Systems 2012: The first USA appearance for this highly-rated biannual conference. RPTA Production-Technical Seminar, the OpEx Reliability Seminar.

In addition, PaperCon 2012 will feature two Keynote Speakers: Jeffrey Hayzlett, bestselling author, global business celebrity, and "sometime cowboy," will address the crowd on Monday, April 23, in the Opening Session, and Lisa Bauer Lotto, M.S., director, Environmental and Sustainability Programs, Green Bay Packaging Inc., will kick-off the Coating program during a special session on Sunday, April 22.

Learn more about PaperCon

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Members who would like to nominate a candidate for TAPPI's 2013 Board of Directors election should submit a nomination datasheet available online. The candidates must be TAPPI members.

Nominations should be submitted no later than May 15, 2012, by email to mcornell@tappi.org or by mail to Mary Beth Cornell, TAPPI, 15 Technology Parkway South, Norcross, GA 30092 USA +1 770 209-7210.

Thank you,

Jeffrey Siegel, TAPPI Nominating Committee Chair

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Fredric Allan Christiansen, a TAPPI member since 1969, was a Scott Paper Co. employee for more than 30 years, after which he spent 11 years as director of technology with Jacobs Engineering of Greenville, S.C. Following retirement from Jacobs, he pioneered a consulting business, FAC Consult, which he managed until his death this week in Greer, S.C.

Christiansen's 30-year tour with Scott Paper included process engineer at the Everett, Wash., mill; technical director at Anacortes, Wash.; assistant paper mill manager at the Mobile, Ala., mill; paper mill superintendent in Detroit, Mich.; and manufacturing brand manager/manager of process and product development at the company's headquarters in Philadelphia, Pa. During his long career in the pulp and paper industry, he made significant contributions in the areas of new product development and process improvement technologies.

Hunting, fishing, waterskiing, and trekking through the Cascade Mountains with his family on horseback were among Christiansen's favorite activities. He also loved salmon fishing in Alaska, working on his property in South Alabama, touring the eastern seaboard on his motorcycle, snow skiing, and spending time with his granddaughters outdoors.

A memorial will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Greenville, S.C., this Sunday, April 15, at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, Fred would have appreciated contributions to the Humane Society of Greenville and/or VistaCare Hospice of Greenville.

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To celebrate Earth Day (April 22), Professor Arthur Ragauskas, The Institute of Paper Science and Technology (IPST) at Georgia Tech, Atlanta, Ga., USA, plans to hold the third global earth day poster session on his web site. The poster session will deal with the education and science/technology of converting bioresources to biofuels, biopower, bio-based materials, and chemicals. It will open Earth Day and be available to the general public.

If you are interested in participating or would like to view the posters, please visit Professor Regauskas' web site.

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Registration is now underway for the TAPPI Hands-on Workshop for Pulp and Paper Basics June 4 - 8, 2012 at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C., USA.

Register here to reserve your seat. The number of students in the course will be limited in size - to 32 - for maximum effectiveness, and registrations will be accepted in the order they are received.

If you're wondering whether this course is right for you, it probably is! It's an essential course that teaches the basic concepts in pulp and paper manufacturing and is designed for anyone wanting to improve their role in operations. Learn more.

This workshop is especially beneficial for:

• New process engineers, manufacturing operators, and technicians who want to understand more fully how raw materials are processed into products
• Individuals who wish to broaden their knowledge of the processes through basic laboratory and pilot paper machine experiences
• Sales and service personnel, machine operators, and maintenance personnel who need to better appreciate paper machine operations by conducting a pilot paper machine trial 
• Individuals who have completed TAPPI's Introduction to Pulp and Paper course and who want to benefit from the laboratory and pilot plant experiences.

Previous participants said:

"The information was detailed and easily understood by both engineers and non-engineers. I will definitely suggest the course to others."

"This is an excellent course, providing an intense overview of the entire papermaking process."

Workshop Materials: Participants will receive a course notebook and CD with approximately 400 pg. of reference materials.

Earn CEUs: You'll earn 3.7 continuing education credits at the completion of this June 4 - 8 course. It's a lovely time to be in North Carolina.

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Reintroduced in 2010, TAPPI is pleased to bring back this essential--and popular--program for paper professionals. Plan to attend this course being held in Appleton, Wis., May 15 - 17.

This course, designed for new as well as experienced personnel, helps attendees learn how to improve the quality of their product, diminish waste, and increase output. Machine supervisors, technical resources, lead operators and technical personnel, project engineers, and suppliers can all benefit from this course, which is being led by industry-recognized instructors.

To learn more about this course and register, go to the event website.

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TAPPI Fellow Donald W. Lawton was a highly respected leader in the paper industry for nearly half a century, having lived and worked most of his career in the Holden, Mass., area. A graduate of Wentworth Institute, Lawton was first recognized as the co-inventor of a new type of paper coating drying device that revolutionized many aspects of the drying of coated paper and paperboard. He attended his first TAPPI conference in 1964 and became a full member in 1967.

As a member of TAPPI, Lawton was a key participant in many conferences and conducted popular seminars on blade coating and airfoil coating, while also speaking on new technological breakthroughs emerging in the field of paper coating. He also published articles in TAPPI JOURNAL and presented papers on the air drying of coated papers and board at technical meetings around the world. He was known as the "heart" of the TAPPI Coating and Graphic Arts Division, and was named a TAPPI Fellow in 1997.

After retirement, Lawton became very active on the Holden, Mass., School Building Committee, overseeing the building of three local elementary schools. He also served on Holden's Main Street Task Force where he was chairman of the Transportation / Circulation Committee overseeing the reconstruction of Holden's Main Street district. In retirement, he also enjoyed cross-country trips and the opportunity to spend more time with his children and grandchildren.

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Engineers involved in papermaking wet end chemistry will want to mark June 4 - 6 on their calendars. The 2012 TAPPI Introduction to Wet-End Chemistry course takes place during these three days at TAPPI headquarters in Norcross, Ga., USA.

This course will help you get up to speed on the latest technology and terminology you need for optimum papermaking performance. Instructors for this course know that cost savings is ultimately your mark for a strong finish, so they focus the three-day interactive training on innovative wet end chemistry principals and the use of additives to change or create new paper products.

Through case studies, break-out sessions, and networking with others in the course, you'll learn how to:

• Implement new technology into your mill's wet-end process to reach higher efficiency and yield consistent, quality products
• Use chemicals and other additives to change or create new products and maximize machine capacity
• Put the brakes on machine downtime and off-specification products
• Make better judgments on selection and use of papermaking chemicals
• Better troubleshoot problems on paper machines
• Get up to speed on the challenges papermakers face due to changing fiber qualities, regulations, and competitive pressures.

View the Workshop Schedule to see specific topics covered.

This introductory- to intermediate-level course is designed for those in pulp and paper manufacturing facilities with job responsibilities, such as chemical and process engineers, mill superintendents, research and development engineers, technology and chief chemists, R&D VPs, process and quality control technicians, and suppliers involved with the wet end processes.

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2012 Pulp and Paper Manufacturers Association Annual Meeting in May The Pulp and Paper Manufacturers Association (PPMA) Annual Meeting and Conference will be held May 9-11, 2012 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. PPMA provides human resource information to the pulp, paper, converting and allied industries. The meeting includes a program of expert speakers covering topics such as labor law, training and health care, extensive networking opportunities and updates on key industry research including an annual salary survey.

"The 2012 Annual Meeting will provide attendees with helpful information that can be used to improve business performance, including results from our annual salary surveys and other human resource information," notes PPMA Executive Director, Dick Kendall. "In addition, we have a strong speaker line-up including David Scheible, CEO of Graphic Packaging, who will share his views and insights on how to sustain results in a tough economic and business climate."

The theme of this year's conference is "On the Anvil." Key topics that will be covered include: how to discuss and implement a labor/management committee to help efficiency; update on current health care discussions across the U.S.; current labor law developments; OSHA rules and their impact on union and non-union operations. In addition, a review of how to use the National Network for Pulp and Paper Technology Training (NPT2) training resource will be provided.

A wide range of key trends in the industry will be addressed by an outstanding program of speakers including: David Scheible, CEO, Graphic Packaging International; Dan Murphy, Labor Law Expert; Dennis Smith, Secretary of the Department of Health Services; Daniel Van Wychen, Commissioner, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS); T.J. Murphy, Executive Director, NPT2, Mike Lies, Partner at Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Professor Emeritus C.Y. Allen and Eric Hobbs, partner at Michael Best & Friedrich Law Firm.

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This information-packed volume provides practical, industrially focused approaches to operational issues, and includes a first-ever, complete examination of the ongoing environmental and staging changes that occurred after the discontinuation of chlorine usage in 1996. Written to assist production engineers, supervisors and scientists find quick solutions to today's immediate problems, The Bleaching of Pulp (5th Edition) is designed to help both novice and seasoned professionals quickly understand a wide range of operational issues

Authors Alan W. Rudie, Ph.D., and Peter W. Hart, Ph.D., have delivered the industry's premier text on bleaching technologies. Pre-order your copy today and pay only $110, a savings of more than 50% off the May release list price of $232 (TAPPI members: $155). Or, contact TAPPI's Member Connection or call, +1 800 332-8686 (US), 1 800 446-9431(Canada), or +1 770 446-1400 (Worldwide).

But hurry, this offer ends April 30!

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Long-time TAPPI Fellow Robert E. Chamberlain was the originator of multiple concepts that revolutionized the operation of chemical recovery boilers. Among his most noteworthy accomplishments was implementation of the consumed air technique that allowed the industry to better monitor and control combustion in boiler operations.

Chamberlain made countless innovations in recovery boiler technology throughout his career, many of which were essential in improving paper industry safety and efficiency. He had a deep understanding of chemical recovery processes and controls that formed the basic blueprint for many of today's techniques used in the pulp and paper industry. He received many commendations for his work and was nominated for the TAPPI Fellowship in 1985.

Quite by accident in 1993, Chamberlain became devoted to the "chaotic splendor" of watercolor painting. He studied with the Federation of Canadian Artists and became an accomplished artist. Many will remember Chamberlain in his fine suits and crisp white shirts, but another side of him enjoyed getting his hands dirty creating stunning gardens for his family to enjoy at home. In 2004, Chamberlain was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, but this did not deter him from living his life to the fullest.

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Nominations for the major TAPPI 2013 awards are due by August 1, 2012.

The awards that may be presented in the upcoming year are:

Gunnar Nicholson Gold Medal Award - The Association's highest technical honor may be presented annually to recognize an individual or individuals for preeminent scientific and engineering achievements of proven commercial benefit to the world's pulp, paper, board, and forest products industries and the other industries that TAPPI serves.

Herman L. Joachim Distinguished Service Award - The Association's highest award for service, may be presented annually to recognize leadership and service which have significantly and demonstrably contributed to the advancement of the Association.

Paul W. Magnabosco Outstanding Local Section Member Award – The highest honor for Local Sections may be presented annually to recognize 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.

TAPPI Fellow - TAPPI Fellows are Individuals who have been members of TAPPI for not less than 10 years prior to the nomination, and 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.

The TAPPI Awards and Honors page has links to these awards which will show the qualifications required and links to the nomination forms that must be completed. You may submit all nomination forms by email to standards@tappi.org, or you may fax them to the attention of the awards department at +1-770-446-6947, or send by mail to TAPPI, Awards Department, 15 Technology Parkway South, Norcross, GA 30092, USA.

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